Search Results for: town hall
NEWSLETTER: An expensive end to the legislative session -- A $77.9 billion operating budget and billions in taxes
Watch my sine die interview with TVW's The Impact Dear Friends and Neighbors, The regular 2025 legislative session wrapped up yesterday, on schedule – although a “special” session can’t be ruled out if the governor takes issue with the new budget. At times, this session felt even longer than 105 days, especially when fighting against the majority's determination to approve bad policies that will negatively affect people across the state. Being in the minority, it's easy to get frustrated by the limits on our ...
Local senators say new state capital budget funds Odessa water project
The new two-year state capital budget passed unanimously by the Legislature today includes funding for key water-infrastructure projects throughout eastern Washington, including some benefiting the Columbia Basin, according to 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler and 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick. The capital budget provides $69 million for the Columbia River Water Supply Development Program, of which $44 million is for the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, also known as the “EL 22.1 Project.” It aims to provide surface water to deep-well irrigators and ...
Joint Virtual Town Hall
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Our work in Olympia is nearing an end, with the 2025 session expected to adjourn this Sunday, April 27. If you've been receiving my updates, you know that our state has been vigorously debating critical policies and spending decisions, and there is a lot to unpack. I hope you can join this bipartisan, bicameral virtual town hall to discuss what's been happening in your state legislature. Mark your calendars. Tuesday, May 13 at 5:30 PM ...
SRC member resources for town halls and media tours
The items on this page are for SRC members to download, print and/or share during town halls, media tours, coffee chats and legislative presentations to the community.PNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINT*Courtesy of BIAW PNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINTPNG PDF FOR PRINT ...
The attack on parental rights continues in Olympia
Dear Neighbor, Late in a legislative session, the priorities of the majority come into focus. Judging from the two major policy bills that were passed Thursday and Friday by the Senate's majority Democrats, the priorities can be summed up in a word: control. Let's go in reverse order. On Friday afternoon, the big discussion was about parental control -- specifically, a second effort by Democrats to undermine the parents' bill of rights established in 2024's Initiative 2081. I have a special affinity for ...
Senate unanimously approves capital budget ‘for the entire state’
The Senate today unanimously approved its version of the 2025-27 state capital budget, with the Republicans who helped develop the spending plan praising it for addressing needs throughout Washington. “What we have is a capital budget for the entire state,” said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, the lead Republican for the Senate capital budget. “We looked at this budget and saw fewer resources, so we made tougher decisions every step of the way, working on priorities that made both our ...
Senate unanimously approves capital budget ‘for the entire state’
The Senate today unanimously approved its version of the 2025-27 state capital budget, with the Republicans who helped develop the spending plan praising it for addressing needs throughout Washington. “What we have is a capital budget for the entire state,” said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, the lead Republican for the Senate capital budget. “We looked at this budget and saw fewer resources, so we made tougher decisions every step of the way, working on priorities that made both our side ...
7th District lawmakers acclaim telephone town hall with widespread constituent involvement and support
7th District lawmakers join in telephone town hall meeting from Olympia: Rep. Andrew Engell, right, Rep, Hunter Abell, center, Sen. Shelly Short, right. Legislators from the 7th Legislative District recently held their annual telephone town hall, and they say it was was once again a wild success. “We had terrific participation in this year’s telephone town hall meeting, just as we always do in the 7th Legislative District,” said Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy. “Our district is so spread out that it takes a meeting ...
Join Me for a Virtual Town Hall April 8
Dear Friends, As we enter the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session, we'll be working late into the evenings voting on bills and negotiating the various budgets (operating, transportation, and capital). This past Saturday the Senate adopted the majority party's $78.5 billion proposal, funded with over $20 billion in new taxes, the largest increase in state history. Click here to watch my remarks and why I voted against that proposal. It is simply unsustainable, and no secret how we got here. As ...
Record-setting Tax Grab
Dear Neighbors, The legislative majority is unveiling their budget for the next two years. The Senate Democrats proposed a near $20 billion, four-year tax package - the largest in state history - to fund their $78.5 billion 2025-27 operating-budget proposal. I want to share my perspective on why this tax proposal is bad news for working families, small businesses, and our shared priorities. We are expected to vote on the proposal this Saturday and it is something I cannot support. Stay ...
Help us fight a bill would send property taxes soaring
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Shelly Short's subscribers March 29, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Short's e-newsletters, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, One of the worst tax bills of the year gets a hearing Monday in the state Senate – a bill that would unleash enormous property taxes across the state. If you want a say in it, this is your chance. Senate Bill 5798 would remove the state’s limit for property taxes that can be enacted without voter approval. ...
House committee backs Goehner bill to expand local housing options
Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Legislation sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner to expand “middle housing” options in urban growth areas took a key step forward this week, earning strong bipartisan support in the House Housing Committee. Senate Bill 5471 now moves closer to consideration by the full House of Representatives. The proposal would help to address Washington’s ongoing housing shortage by allowing counties to authorize the construction of at least one middle housing unit – such as a duplex, triplex, ...
You’re invited! Telephone town hall meeting set for Thursday
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Shelly Short’s subscribers March 25, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Short’s e-newsletters, click here. With my House seatmates Andrew Engell, left, and Hunter Abell, right. Dear Friends and Neighbors, You’re invited to a telephone town hall meeting Thursday with your 7th District lawmakers. I’ll be joining my seatmates, Reps. Hunter Abell and Andrew Engell, for a public conversation about the 2025 legislative session, now in progress in Olympia. This telephone town hall format allows you to ask ...
Majority's proposed tax hikes include one that would be terrible for tourism
Dear Neighbor, The Senate's majority Democrats will release their proposed operating budget Monday. The operating budget is the largest by far of the three budgets that will come out of this legislative session, and many of the things it funds are day-to-day priorities like K-12 education and services for our most vulnerable residents. While we wait a little longer to see the spending choices in that budget, I'm already concerned about some of the moves the majority is making on the tax/revenue ...
Get ready for the biggest tax increase in state history
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian's subscribers March 21, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. Thanks to everyone who attended our town hall meeting in Spokane Valley last Saturday! We had a great turnout and we heard many good questions about the progress of our 2025 legislative session. Let me express a special thanks to Pastor Gary Hebden, who led the invocation, and Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, who offered an introduction. An hour seemed ...
Join Me for a Town Hall in Bonney Lake – March 25
Dear Friends, I want to personally invite you to a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 25, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Bonney Lake Senior Center. This is a great opportunity for us to connect, discuss the issues that matter most to you, and update you on what’s happening in Olympia. We keep hearing about the $12-15 Billion budget deficit and the need to raise taxes. I can go over the Senate Republican budget proposal with you that prioritizes public safety, tax relief, and real solutions for ...
Legislators from 15th District to Host Virtual Town Hall
Register Here Residents of Washington’s 15th Legislative District are invited to join their state legislators, Sen. Nikki Torres and Reps. Jeremie Dufault and Chris Corry, for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. The online forum will provide constituents with an opportunity to hear updates on the 2025 legislative session, ask questions, and share their thoughts on key issues impacting the district. Topics expected to be discussed include public safety, economic development, agriculture, education, and transportation. “Our ...
6th District legislators to host telephone town hall on Tuesday, April 1
Residents of the 6th Legislative District are invited to take part in a “telephone town hall meeting” with their state legislators on Tuesday, April 1. The community conversation, which is similar to a call-in radio format, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last one hour. The 6th District’s legislative team – Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney; Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane; and Rep. Jenny Graham, R-Spokane – will take listeners’ questions and provide information and perspectives on the 2025 legislative session in Olympia. Phone calls ...
7th District lawmakers to host telephone town hall meeting March 27
Rep. Andrew Engell, Sen. Shelly Short, and Rep. Hunter Abell. / Credit: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA – Lawmakers from the 7th Legislative District will host a telephone town hall meeting March 27, giving residents of North-Central and Northeastern Washington a convenient way to speak to their elected officials about the 2025 legislative session. Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium and Andrew Engell, R-Colville, will host the hour-long meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. The telephone town hall format offers people across ...
Seen and Heard 9
Sen. Braun VIDEO: Sen John Braun recaps week 9 of the Legislative Session AUDIO: State Senate Republican Leadership Update with Senator John Braun… AUDIO: Senate unanimously passes Braun bill to improve safety, reduce overcrowding in juvenile facilities The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Senators Braun and Gildon Discuss the $ave Washington Budget Media Avail: Republican Perspective: Legislative Gains, Challenges, and Priorities Sen. John Braun SB 5278 Juvenile Rehabilitation Sen. Boehnke VIDEO: $ave WA Budget Sen. Christian Sen. Leonard Christian SB 5758 Sen. Fortunato VIDEO: Fortunato Joins Debate: Clergy Bill Sparks Confession and ...