News from the Caucus

A bipartisan group of Senate leaders today called on state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to resign, calling his actions in office “appalling” and “unacceptable,” after he fired a whistle-blower who came forward with allegations of abusive and inappropriate workplace behaviors. “The claims of inappropriate workplace conduct were disturbing on their own and called into question...

Senate Republican budget lead asks “What are we waiting for?”   OLYMPIA…The Bureau of Labor and Statistics released May 2022 inflation data today showing Washington is suffering through an annual inflation rate of 8.6 percent, meaning real worker wage growth has failed to keep up with the current record-high inflation crippling the working and middle...

OLYMPIA… A news report about threats received by the state secretary of health has Senate Republican Leader John Braun denouncing any threats against any public official. “It’s fair to question or criticize government’s response to the pandemic. Many of us have. But it’s completely unacceptable for anyone to threaten Secretary Shah, the state Board of...

OLYMPIA…Gov. Jay Inslee released his decision today to cancel the parole granted to convicted murderer Timothy Pauley by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared his reaction. “It’s a relief that the governor came to his senses and canceled the parole order for Mr. Pauley. The governor said his decision...

OLYMPIA – As Washington state honored former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton yesterday with a long-delayed memorial service at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, members of the Senate Republican Caucus in Olympia recalled his contributions to the state and on the national stage. Gorton, 92, died Aug. 19, 2020, after a six-decade career as one of...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun shared comments in reaction to the leaked draft majority opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court’s in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion case, which proposes overturning the 1973 decision known as Roe v. Wade. “This Supreme Court opinion does not change much in our state. Democrats have been...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction to poll results released this month by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce that share insights about what registered voters in Seattle, 60% of whom identify as Democrats, think of the city’s quality of life. Since most Democratic legislators come from districts in King County, the...

OLYMPIA…  Seattle Times broke a story today about former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp personally interfering in the allocation of state housing investments, directing $2 million to a nonprofit that he started. Chopp argued that the funds weren’t being used appropriately with the King County Regional Housing Authority. With billions of state dollars having...

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun says Washington residents shocked by the continued wave of murders, shootings, car thefts and other lawless behavior should direct their anger and frustration toward Democrat legislators and their abject failure to reestablish public safety by supporting anti-crime legislation. “The majority Democrats did almost nothing this year to fix the...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, shared the following reaction to the announcement from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown that she is rescinding her vaccine mandate for nearly 40,000 state workers. Brown is quoted in Oregon’s largest newspaper as saying “extraordinary emergency” orders are no longer necessary as “we...

Reports of staff abuse are last straw, says ranking member of State Government committee OLYMPIA – Staff complaints of abusive behavior from Washington’s insurance commissioner are the latest in a series of incidents that warrant Mike Kreidler’s resignation, says Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. Staff reports allege the hot-tempered Kreidler frequently makes snide remarks and belittles...

Governor should loosen grip, trust the people, be more inclusive in pandemic decisions, says Braun   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement and accusations during his news conference earlier today.   “No governor has exerted emergency powers during this pandemic as long as Governor Inslee. Tomorrow marks...