Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, reports from the state Capitol on the opening of the 2026 legislative session and the important decisions facing lawmakers.

9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler talks about the opening week of the 2026 legislative session, including Gov. Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address and concerns about agriculture in Washington.

Are Democrats in Washington enacting an income tax? Yes. Legislative Democrats, who are in the majority, are preparing to drop two income tax bills — one in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives. An income tax on anyone WILL become an income tax on everyone. And the voters in Washington have rejected...

Sen. Shelly Short says Democrats plan to pass an income tax without voter approval and predicts a court challenge. She also opposes SB 5974, calling it the worst bill she’s seen, as it allows an unelected board to remove elected sheriffs over enforcement disagreements.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun says the governor’s speech catered to Democratic talking points and undermined law and order by encouraging state laws that defy federal rules, calling such actions unconstitutional and harmful.

Sen. Drew MacEwen on KMAS Radio reacts to the Governor’s address, raising concerns about taxes, rising costs, and education funding. He also weighs in on public safety, governance proposals, and the real-world impacts of legislative decisions during this short session.

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate DRYDEN… Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, is pleased to celebrate with Cashmere’s Vale Elementary School for being named a 2025 National ESEA, (Elementary and Secondary Education Act), Distinguished School—one of only 63 schools nationwide to receive the honor. Vale Elementary has been recognized for outstanding student achievement and academic growth,...

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate DRYDEN… The top Republican member of the Washington State Senate Housing Committee today expressed serious concerns about the governor’s newly announced $244 million housing plan, warning that the proposal relies almost entirely on government subsidies and nonprofit development while failing to address the main barriers to large-scale housing construction....

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Senator Matt Boehnke today issued a strong warning about the Pacific Northwest’s energy future, citing a new analysis that projects potential power shortfalls in the region during extreme conditions. The analysis, conducted by Energy + Environmental Economics for the region’s largest utilities, models thousands of years of...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Although employment in Washington’s manufacturing sector is already forecast to increase over the next several years, Sen. Matt Boehnke thinks big growth is possible if lawmakers and government regulators would understand and focus on the needs of manufacturers. “Manufacturing is how Washington builds the middle class,” said...

Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, speaks with constituents in Carnation earlier in the day before the October 11 meeting with the governor/Credit: Eric LaFontaine OLYMPIA… State government can help make the future brighter for Washington agriculture by taking more of a practical, hands-off approach, says Sen. Keith Goehner, who took part in a roundtable discussion in...

WATCH KING TV’S REPORT   CENTRALIA — Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following statement today in response to reports that staff at Green Hill School in Chehalis recorded sexual acts with inmates in custody: “The reports coming out of Green Hill School are appalling. Instead of rehabilitating inmates housed at the facility,...