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Senators
2025 Democrat Taxes
$12.5 billion in state and local taxes
- $1.6 BILLION: Property-tax increase
- $3.9 BILLION: Sales-tax increase
- $5.6 BILLION: Business and occupation-tax increase
- $637 MILLION: Capital gains and Death-tax increase
- $170 MILLION: New tax on storage units and more
- $281 MILLION: New Tesla Tax
PLUS…
- 50% increase in the Discover Passes
- 38% increase in hunting & fishing licenses
- 50% increase in liquor licenses
2025/26 Layoffs & Closures in Washington State
Total Workers Affected Statewide
Notable Examples:
- Microsoft – Over 3,200 layoffs across Redmond and Bellevue
- Amazon – Over 2,300 layoffs across multiple locations
- Starbucks – Over 1,300 layoffs and closures across multiple locations
- Fred Meyer – Over 980 layoffs from store closures (Tacoma, Seattle, Kent, Everett, Redmond)
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News from the Caucus
Washington State Legislative Letter of Support, Rural Health Transformation
The Honorable Dr. Mehmet Oz CMS Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 200 Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Administrator Oz, We submit this letter in strong support of Washington State’s application for funding under the CMS Rural Health Transformation (RHT) initiative [CMS-RHT-26-001] and urge your approval of the maximum amount of allowable...
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What Can Washington Afford—and Not Afford—to Do?
Sen. John Braun unpacks the affordability crisis in Washington—from groceries to housing to Medicaid. He explores priorities, long-term costs, and what lawmakers must do to keep essential services sustainable. TRANSCRIPT
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AUDIO: Sen. Braun on Race-Based Housing Scandal on KVI Radio
Sen. John Braun joins KVI’s Morning Ride to discuss an investigation into alleged misuse of taxpayer funds tied to a race-restricted homeownership program.
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AUDIO: Braun: Corruption in race-based homeownership program exploits taxpayers, undermines public trust
The state Senate Republican leader is demanding a full investigation into taxpayer money tied to a race-restricted housing program. Tracy Ellis reports.
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AUDIO: Green Hill scandal ‘a systemic failure,’ demands accountability, transparency, reform
State Senate Republican Leader John Braun is demanding action after reports of staff recording sexual acts with inmates at Green Hill School. Tracy Ellis reports.
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The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Housing Gridlock: What’s Driving Washington’s Crisis?
Senators John Braun and Chris Gildon join builder Kurt Wilson to unpack why housing is unaffordable and scarce in Washington—from rent control to red tape—and what Republicans say must change to get homes built and prices down. TRANSCRIPT Please share with your network. The more voices in the conversation, the closer we get to real...
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News from the Senators
Action needed as region’s shortage of reliable energy nears crisis level, Boehnke warns
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...
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Keep Washington building, says Boehnke, through support for manufacturers, more trade and less red tape
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...
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Sen. Goehner: Farmers don’t need more government programs, they need fewer barriers
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...
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STATEMENT: Another Green Hill scandal a continuation of ‘systemic failure’
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,...
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12th Legislative District Town Hall
Sen. Goehner, R-Dryden, Rep. Steele, R-Chelan, and Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Wenatchee, will hold a town hall on Oct. 11. My colleagues and I, Rep. Mike Steele and Rep. Brian Burnett, will hold a community town hall on Saturday, October 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Miller’s, located at 4597 Tolt Ave. in Carnation. If...
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Apply now for the 2026 Legislative Internship Program
Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate One of the best opportunities the Legislature offers each year is the chance for college students to serve as legislative interns. This program places students directly at the heart of the lawmaking process, providing them with real-world experience, professional skills, and a front-row seat to how decisions are made...
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Social Media
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Washington State Senate Republican Caucus
The official Facebook page of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus
#TBT WA was in national news for directing $340 MILLION in COVID payments to non-citizens. It was authorized by Legislative Democrats, former Gov. Jay Inslee, and the Biden Administration. WA families and individuals could have used that relief. #waleg![]()
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ow.ly/V0s050WjouH
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!![]()
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Legislative Democrats rushed through the LARGEST TAX INCREASES IN STATE HISTORY from massive property tax & rent hikes to a mountain of many more taxes on you and your family, after voting to shut the public out of the budget process. Their budget also cuts childcare and domestic violence prevention programs, cuts college tuition aid, cuts supports to state & local fairs, and jacks up fishing and hunting licenses by 38%, as well as the Discover Pass by 50%.![]()
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The Senate Republican Budget has NO new taxes, NO tax increases, NO cuts, and NO fee increases on fishing licenses-hunting licenses-and the Discover Pass. Our Budget also funded the police officer hiring grant program. We fought for open, transparent government with fiscal restraint.![]()
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You and your family deserve so much better.![]()
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The Seattle Times: ow.ly/hXTz50VIvzk![]()
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#WADeservesBetter #UnaffordableWA #GovernmentGreed #UnsafeWA
New Democrat Sales Tax Expansion Hits School Districts: Olympia Democrats passed a major expansion of the regressive state sales tax (SB 5814). Now, School Districts are learning they are subjected to the new tax too, cutting into their budgets.
![Sen. John Braun joins Brandi Kruse on [un]Divided to critique Washington’s proposed high-earner tax, warn of economic fallout, and demand transparency in the state’s equity program amid whistleblower claims of self-dealing and community outrage.](https://src.wastateleg.org/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png)
