The Elephant in the Dome

What makes Senate Republicans tick? How do they come up with their priorities? What are they doing to tackle those priorities? Sen. John Braun talks public safety, affordability, education, and abortion in this episode of the Elephant in the Dome Podcast. The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: What’s important to Senate Republicans? appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

A recent Seattle Times Op-Ed asks: Washington is losing farms and food-producing land – does anyone care? Senator Ron Muzzall, a farmer, and the ranking Republican on the Senate Ag Committee explains why people should care. The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Will the last one on the farm please close the gate? appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

A Seattle teacher makes blatantly antisemitic comments. An illegal antisemitic protest blocks airport access. What’s going on? Senate Republican Leader John Braun joins host Tracy Ellis. The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Antisemitic rhetoric from teacher, and during dangerous illegal protest, Braun reacts appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Governor Inslee signed a Democrat bill that he says creates the roadmap and tools for Puget Sound Energy to get out of the natural gas business. What does that mean? Senator Chris Gildon provides a comprehensive explanation of this controversial new law. The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Inslee signs Democrat bill to transition largest utility away from natural gas – Gildon breaks down implications appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

After four decades of public service, state Senator Mike Padden is calling it a career. The Spokane Valley Republican will not seek reelection to the Senate. The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Senator Mike Padden will not seek reelection to the state Senate appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun says the three new laws on police pursuits, parental rights and income taxes that came from the citizens of the state highlight the session. He also talks about tax increase proposals, homelessness and rent control. Senator Lynda Wilson announced that she would not be returning to the Senate after ten […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: A look back at the Legislative Session and a senator says goodbye appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Democrats in the state Legislature passed a bill requested by Puget Sound Energy that insulates PSE from paying for state-mandated carbon-reduction goals by cutting off gas natural service to its customers. Listen to what Republican Senators John Braun, Chris Gildon, Drew MacEwen, Perry Dozier, Shelly Short and Matt Boehnke have to say about it. The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: The natural gas ban – HB 1589 – selling out Washington families for corporate interests appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Citizens collected more than 2.3 million signatures to put six initiatives before the Legislature. Three of the initiatives received a hearing and a vote. All three passed with bipartisan support. Majority Democrats refused to give hearings to the remaining three initiatives, so they will go to the ballot in November. Sens. John Braun and Mark […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Initiatives to the Legislature: Three pass, three go to the ballot in November appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Many small Washington stores may be forced out of business by a bill passed by legislative Democrats. The legislation calls for employee background checks and several very expensive security requirements. It forces businesses to buy and maintain costly audio/video surveillance systems with months of data storage and carry one million dollars of liability insurance. Senators […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Democrat bill expected to put stores out of business appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Legislative Democrats are allowing hearings on some of the six initiatives to the Legislature. Senate Republican Leader John Braun and Senator Matt Boehnke react to the Democrats’ decision to hold the hearings and their outspoken opposition to the three initiatives that essentially provide tax relief to Washingtonians. The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Legislative Democrats holding hearings on some of the initiatives to the Legislature appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Bills that passed in the House are now in the Senate and Senator John Braun has some concerns about the ones related to rent control, the availability of natural gas to people and businesses who need it, and allowing striking workers to collect unemployment insurance. Senator Chris Gildon has some insights on how the initiatives […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Rent control, natural gas restrictions, striking worker unemployment, and initiatives’ impact on state budget appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Democrat legislation that could have led to the largest property tax increase in state history is dead. The Democrat sponsor of the bill that would have allowed annual property tax growth to triple announced that it will not be brought up for a vote this year. That decision followed a Senate Republican news conference on […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Democrat property tax increase bill dies after Senate Republican news conference appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Senate Republican Floor Leader Shelly Short explains why she’s excited about the six initiatives to the Legislature and Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks about his concerns with the Green Hill School in his district and the agency that runs it, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Excitement over 6 Initiatives and concerns about the Department of Children, Youth, and Families appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Senate Republicans are calling for a stronger response to Washington’s opioid crisis with a package of bills aimed at preventing overdoses, coordinating state efforts to promote treatment and recovery, and restoring funding for multijurisdictional law enforcement drug task forces. The bills give the state new tools to lead the fight against opioid addiction and overdose […] The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Recovery Washington appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

In this episode of the Elephant in the Dome, Senators John Braun, Drew MacEwen, and Shelly Short talk about the initiatives related to police pursuits, cap-and-trade, and parents’ rights. The post Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Three initiatives to the Legislature are certified appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

In this episode of the Elephant in the Dome, Sen. Shelly Short talks about a Democrat bill that could cause property taxes to increase, Sen. Keith Wagoner introduces legislation in response to Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s “chicken checks” and Senate Republican Leader John Braun outlines Senate Republican priorities for the legislative session. The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: property tax hikes, chicken checks, and Senate Republican priorities appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza host the Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Sen John Braun and Rep. Drew Stokesbary talk initiatives, Brandi Kruse challenges Gov. Inslee on gas prices, and Sen. Curtis King proposes using cap-and-tax money on ferries. The post Initiatives, Gov. Inslee and gas prices, cap-and-trade money for ferries, and more appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

An economist and top staffer at the State Department of Transportation says he was pressured to lie about how much gas prices would increase because of cap-and-trade. The post Economist says he was told to lie about projected gas price increase appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

11/14/2023… Senators Ron Muzzall, Judy Warnick, Shelly Short and Perry Dozier on “Cultivate Washington,” Senate Republicans’ 2024 agenda to protect agriculture. The goal is to address overregulation, farm closures, water-rights, and other issues that threaten Washington’s agricultural industry, the heritage of rural communities and our food supply. Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza host this episode, […] The post The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Cultivate Washington appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.

11/8/2023… The biannual changing of the clocks will be a thing of the past in Washington and Oregon if two state Senators get their way. Republican Senators Mike Padden of Washington and Kim Thatcher of Oregon are introducing bills that would keep the Pacific Northwest states on standard time. Sen. Padden talks about it in […] The post Sen. Mike Padden to offer bill creating year-round standard time appeared first on Senate Republican Caucus.