News from the Caucus

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s fast-rising rate of opioid addiction and overdose deaths are targeted by a pair of bills that emerged from the state Senate this week, sponsored by Sens. John Braun, R-Centralia and Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver. Both measures passed the Senate 49-0 and now move to the House. The bills launch a coordinated statewide...

The fight against income taxes is heating up with two initiatives to the state legislature. Initiative 2109 would repeal the capital gains income tax. Initiative 2111 would ban all state and local income taxes.

  OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, made the following comments in reaction to the announcement that the proposal to allow local governments to raise property taxes by up to 3% annually without a vote of the people is dead for this legislative session. The Democratic sponsor of Senate Bill 5770 told The Washington State...

Sent to Gov. Jay Inslee on Feb. 9, 2024   Governor Inslee, It’s no secret that the environment at Green Hill School in Chehalis has become extremely dangerous for students and staff. News reports have shown you claiming the situation at the facility is improving. The reports of repeated riots, multiple drug overdoses, smuggling of...

She worked with her parents in the fields; now she’s the first Latina state Senator from Central Washington.  

SB 5770 would triple the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments from 1% to 3%, costing taxpayers $6 billion over the next 12 years. It will raise property taxes AND it will raise rents, which renters can’t afford during Washington’s affordable housing crisis.

Higher property taxes and rents could be on the way if legislation headed to the state Senate floor eventually becomes law. Tracy Ellis reports the bill triples the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments.

OLYMPIA – A bill launching a public education campaign to prevent drug overdoses cleared the Senate Ways and Means Committee before a key deadline Monday for passage of bills in the 2024 legislative session. Other elements of the ‘Recovery Washington’ package announced by Senate Republicans did not advance, but lawmakers said growing alarm in Oregon...

A bad bill Senate Democrats sponsored last year is being given a chance this year to move forward. Senate Bill 5770 would triple the 1% cap on the growth of local property taxes, taking $6 billion more of your money over the next 12 years. It is likely to come to the Senate floor for...

Initiative 2117 would repeal the state cap-and-trade scheme known as the Climate Commitment Act enacted by Democrats. Governor Jay Inslee claimed any effect on gas prices from the policy would be ‘minimal’ or ‘pennies.’ It’s estimated that cap-and-tax has increased Washington’s gas costs by as much as 50 cents a gallon.

  OLYMPIA – A bill that would have put teeth in a state law preventing harassment of initiative signature-gatherers died Tuesday in the state Senate when Democratic leaders on the Senate State Government and Elections Committee refused to allow a vote. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, the bill’s sponsor, calls it a clear demonstration of a...

Restores the authority of a peace officer to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law and the officer follows appropriate safety standards