Author Archives: kimberlywirtz

Newsletter: Our kids are still behind academically due to pandemic shutdowns

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The state of Washington’s K-12 education system remains one of my top priorities as we approach the 2024 legislative session. And, according to the Seattle Times, significant learning loss remains a critical problem.

 

The equity issue of our time

Last year, I worked to get funding for intensive tutoring and other solutions to address the significant and lingering learning loss from remote instruction during the COVID-19 closures.

Some of my accomplishments for K-12 education last session included:

  • $372 million additional funding for special education
  • $2 million for intensive tutoring
  • $2 million for an online tool to improve math instruction
  • $340,000 for a math-improvement pilot program in the Chehalis School District

These programs have made a difference but we must do more.

The children hardest hit by the school shutdowns were children of color, children living in rural areas and children with special needs. It’s not an exaggeration to say that that remedying this is the equity issue of our time.

“Our detailed geographic data reveals what national tests do not: The pandemic exacerbated economic and racial educational inequality.”

Tom Kane and Sean Reardon The New York Times

 

Too many are failing English and math assessments

It’s unacceptable that around half our kids attending public schools for grades 4 – 11 can’t pass the official assessment in English and more than 70% can’t pass the assessment in math. In response to criticism about these results, Chris Reykdal, Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, downplayed the significance of the tests and advocated for abandoning them.

That would be the wrong approach.

“Math, reading and history scores from the past three years show that students learned far less during the pandemic than was typical in previous years. By the spring of 2022, according to our calculations, the average student was half a year behind in math and a third of a year behind in reading.”

Kane and Reardon, New York Times.

While standardized testing might not be ideal, it does offer us a look at where our kids stand so we know how much academic intervention they need.

After the isolation and other challenges of remote instruction during the pandemic shutdowns, these scores are even more critical to our decision making about additional funding for specific education programs, especially because the need for extra help continues.

 

Vigorous interventions make a difference.

Analysis of the results from interventions such as tutoring and academically-focused summer school programs shows they significantly improve academic performance, which is reflected in higher test scores. Our efforts can make a difference. We must continue them and look for additional creative and innovative ways to further support our kids.

Regards,

Sen. John Braun

 

Sen. Nikki Torres swearing in during opening day ceremonies in the Washington State Senate, January 9, 2023.

Democrats to neglect constitutional duty

Government transparency to suffer, public shut out

I want to highlight recent decisions that were handed down in two lawsuits that challenged the way the 15th Legislative District in central Washington was redrawn in 2021 by the bipartisan Washington Redistricting Commission.

 

At first look, you might not think this issue concerns you, but it does.

Currently, the district is more than 51% Hispanic and it elected a Latina legislator — Sen. Nikki Torres. The lawsuits called for the district to be redrawn, however, because the plaintiffs argued that the racial mix of the district did not satisfy the federal Voters Rights Act.

The judge in one of the lawsuits, known as Soto-Palmer v. Hobbs agreed that the district should be redrawn and directed legislators to do so. If the final maps are not submitted by Jan. 8, 2024, a federal judge would make the ultimate determination of the district’s boundaries. The majority opinion in the Garcia v. Hobbs agreed.

 

You live in the 20th Legislative District, so why should you care?

You should care about this development because Democratic leadership has decided to neglect their civic duty and abdicate it to the court.

Instead of doing their job by calling a special session immediately so the Legislature can reconvene the redistricting commission, they’ve decided to lazily toss the responsibility to the court.

This means the map will be redrawn in the proverbial smoke-filled back room rather than in the light of day with public input. The people will have no say whatsoever.

It also means the plaintiffs will get to sidestep the Washington State Constitution.

 

What happened to “fair and independent”?

Democratic leadership seems to think this would be easier and better than doing its constitutional duty. If avoiding a bipartisan agreement with public oversight is better, then sure. But it’s not. The irony is that it was Democrats who, in 1983, pushed a ballot measure to create the redistricting commission in the first place.

At the time, they argued this would ensure the process was “fair and independent.”

Why aren’t they supporting the same fair and independent process now?

Although the 2021 commission was criticized for not complying with open public meeting laws and for its lack of transparency, I am confident the commission would NOT make the same mistakes if it was reconvened. The press and the public would act as watchdogs to make sure that Democrats do not sabotage the process as they have been accused of doing in 2021.

Washington’s is still widely seen as one of the best systems in the country for redistricting because the public has a role in making sure that the results are fairly negotiated boundaries that do not benefit one party over another.

 

Possible outcome: Oust a senator who was elected fair and square

One possible outcome of this entire situation is that Sen. Torres could be “redistricted” out of her Senate seat, meaning the district boundaries would change enough that she is no longer a resident. How does ousting a Latina senator elected by a predominantly Hispanic district serve the Voters Rights Act? It doesn’t.

Shutting people out of the democratic process in any district is relevant for all of us – because if it can happen to them, it can happen to us.

I’ll be monitoring the developments on this issue and will report back to you.

 

Strategies to reboot education

Address learning loss

  • Target existing state and federal funds to address learning loss by providing targeted, high-quality tutoring and rigorous extended learning programs.

Support parental involvement

  • Clarify and reinforce parents’ rights in education by increasing and protecting parental participation in our K-12 school system.

Support school choice

  • Support charter schools as an alternative to traditional public schools.

Increase school safety

 

Important Clips:

 

 

 

Newsletter: Gas prices expected to increase again — by 6 cents per gallon

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As I shared in my previous newsletter, I suspected the carbon-pricing auction held by the Washington State Department of Ecology on August 30 (as part of the Democrats’ “cap-and-tax” plan) would result in another increase in the price of fuel.

The results of that auction were made public yesterday and confirm my suspicions.

The cumulative hike the price of gasoline due to selling “carbon allowances” is now expected to equal 51 cents per gallon, up from the 45 cents per gallon resulting from the May auction.

While a 6-cent increase might not seem like much, it’s now expected to increase the cumulative hit from cap-and-tax on Washington families by nearly $2 billion from when legislators left town after the 2023 session. (Budget writers then assumed $2.5 billion from this policy; now it looks like over $4.25 billion of your money will be brought in through 2023-2025.)

Not only will this increased cost affect your wallet at the pump, the cap-and-tax policy will also raise prices for any goods being shipped, and home heating fuel, further adding to the high inflation eating away at your family budget.

While the Democrats and Governor. Inslee continue to scapegoat the oil companies for doing what every business does — increase end-product prices to cover increased production costs — the truth is, it’s the state is the one “price gouging” consumers. While they try to hide that fact, even Washington’s Utilities and Trade Commission admits that the increase in the cost of fuel is a result of “cap-and-tax.”

The worst thing about this is that some are hit harder than others. Democrats pay lip service to the hardships faced by those with lower incomes, but their actions say otherwise. Five cents here, six cents there. It all adds up. Those struggling to put food on the table can’t take it.

I am working on legislation to address this assault on Washington’s hard-working families and plan to make it public soon. I hope the Democrats will realize there is room to provide relief.

“At this point it is unlikely that the Governor or legislators will take steps to reduce the burden of increasing energy costs on families and business. Denial and distraction are likely to be their preferred strategy. And energy costs will keep rising.”

Todd Myers
Director, Center for the Environment
Washington Policy Center

Regards,

Sen. John Braun

 

 

Protecting our children from online pornography

The success of online pornography sites, and the ease with which anyone of any age can access those sites, pose a strong threat to our children and society in general. They are suspected of showing video of sex trafficking of minors. They encourage the degradation and exploitation of women. And they foster a distorted attitude toward sex among our youth.

Parents are right to be concerned.

I am working on a bill that would force sites that contain material which is harmful to minors to require age verification.

Several other states have enacted bills to address this issue and I am reviewing those and working to determine what would work best in Washington. Several options exist, including requiring digital identification cards or third-party verification. We are evaluating these and other solutions to craft a bill that will successfully protect kids from harmful online material.

When my bill is ready, I will share the draft with you. In the meantime, if you have ideas about how we can lockdown access to online obscenity, you can email me.

On Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s own website, he says “As the state’s chief legal officer, Bob is committed to protecting the people of Washington against powerful interests that don’t play by the rules.” That accurately describes the online pornography industry. Will the AG do his job and join my efforts to protect our children?

 

Are we headed for another mask mandate?

I’ve heard from many of you who are concerned that news of a recent uptick in COVID cases in some areas of the country will result in another mandate requiring Washingtonians to wear face masks.

Neither a COVID spike nor new vaccine or mask mandates are imminent in Washington, despite fears spreading on social media. To be clear, I would oppose any effort to enact such mandates.

 

Important Clips

Braun: Legislature has duty to reconvene Redistricting Commission

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun shared the following comments on the heels of two recent court decisions saying Washington’s legislative district maps, which were created by the Washington State Redistricting Commission during the 2022 redistricting process and went into effect this year, must be redrawn for the 15th Legislative District.

The judge in Soto-Palmer v. Hobbs determined that Latino representation in the district is insufficient to satisfy the federal Voting Rights Act. Currently, the 15th District is at least 51.1% Latino and Sen. Nikki Torres, a Latina, represents the district in the state Senate.

The Legislature has the authority and duty to reconvene the Redistricting Commission by a vote of two-thirds in each chamber. New maps must be drawn by the Commission by Jan. 8, 2024 or the court will intervene and determine the new boundaries for the 15th District and surrounding districts. Once the Commission completes the new maps, the Legislature would have 30 days to amend the maps by a population change of up to 2% before they are considered approved.

 

“Judges in two different cases have said the Redistricting Commission should reconvene.  I expect our caucus would whole-heartedly support that.

“The Washington State Constitution stipulates a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber is required to reconvene the Redistricting Commission. The Legislature should do its duty and call itself back into session for this purpose. I would urge that we do so immediately. 

“Washington has a bipartisan commission to do redistricting because the people were tired of backroom deals and attempts to gerrymander. They wisely and overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment requiring redistricting be done in a fair, bipartisan manner which favors no political party.

“If majority leadership prevents the Legislature from reconvening the Redistricting Commission, it will be another effort on their part to abdicate our duty and authority to another branch of government for political gains.”

 

 

Article II, Section 43  of the WA State Constitution:

(8) The legislature shall enact laws providing for the reconvening of a commission for the purpose of modifying a districting law adopted under this section. Such reconvening requires a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected or appointed to each house of the legislature. The commission shall conform to the standards prescribed under subsection (5) of this section and any other standards or procedures that the legislature may provide by law. At least three of the voting members shall approve such a modification. Any modification adopted by the commission may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected and appointed to each house of the legislature. The state districting law shall include the modifications with amendments, if any.

 

Footnote 4 in the Soto-Palmer case praises the redistricting process:

“Though not relevant to the results analysis which ultimately resolves this case, the evidence at trial showed that the Commission faced and overcame a set of challenges unlike anything any prior Commission had ever faced. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic prevent the Commissioners from meeting face-to-face, but the Commission’s schedule was compressed by several months as a result of a delay in receiving the census data and a statutory change in the deadline for submission of the redistricting plan to the Legislature. In addition, the Commission was the first in Washington history to address the serious possibility that the VRA imposed redistricting requirements that had to be accommodated along with the traditional redistricting criteria laid out in Washington’s constitution and statutes.

In addressing these challenges, the Commissioners pored over countless iterations of various maps and spreadsheets, held 17 public outreach meetings, consulted with Washington’s 29 federally-recognized tribes, conducted 22 regular business meetings, reviewed VRA litigation from the Yakima Valley region, obtained VRA analyses, and considered thousands of public comments. Throughout the process, the Commissioners endeavored to reach a bipartisan consensus on maps which not only divided up a diverse and geographically complex state into 49 reasonably compact districts of roughly 157,000, but also promoted competitiveness in elections. The Court commends the Commissioners for their diligence, determination, and commitment to the various legal requirements that guided their deliberations, particularly the requirement that the redistricting “plan shall not be drawn purposely to favor or discriminate against any political party or group.” Wash. Const. art. II, § 43(5); see also RCW 44.05.090(5).”

Republican leader calls for new path toward housing affordability

20th District senator says Democrat colleague’s proposal
to reduce pain at pump also deserves consideration

CENTRALIA… The excessive financial windfall from Washington’s cap-and-tax policy should be used to address the affordability crisis facing the state’s homeowners and renters, says Senate Republican Leader John Braun.

As of last month, state government had already raked in $919.5 million from the combination of quarterly and other auctions of “carbon allowances” allowed under the cap-and-tax policy – formally known as the Climate Commitment Act. The state Department of Ecology announced Wednesday that nearly 8.6 million more allowances sold at a “settlement price” of more than $63 apiece at its third-quarter auction, held Aug. 30. The exact proceeds from that auction will be announced later this month.

Under the cap-and-tax law, roughly $720 million in cap-and-tax proceeds are to be reserved for transportation purposes each fiscal biennium. Braun says the remaining auction proceeds, which could easily top $1 billion before legislators convene for their 2024 session, should be turned into financial relief for property owners and renters.

“While Republicans are determined to address our state’s affordability crisis, many on the majority side seem content to let the cost of living climb even higher,” said Braun, a Centralia resident who serves the 20th Legislative District. “The governor and majority Democrat leaders apparently believe they must discourage fossil-fuel emissions by any means available, even though their climate policy is functioning just like another one of the regressive taxes they often complain about. It’s obvious to everyone but Governor Inslee that cap-and-tax is the reason Washington has had the highest or next-to-highest gas prices since June – which are blowing up the budgets of working people and families, with low-income families hit hardest of all.

“As Democrats are clearly unwilling to join Republicans to reduce the cost of gas in our state, let’s at least bring housing costs down instead,” Braun said. “Take the excess proceeds from their cap-and-tax policy – meaning the money not promised for transportation – and commit those to providing property-tax exemptions and credits to renters, as Republicans had proposed during this year’s legislative session.

“Those who truly believe Washington’s tax system is regressive and are convinced that higher gas prices mean less consumption and therefore fewer emissions should jump at this. They can be true to their climate agenda while putting those carbon-pricing dollars to work making housing more affordable, especially for low-income people. It is inexcusable not to do this.”

Braun also voiced support for a new proposal from Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, that is aimed at reducing the cap-and-tax policy’s inflation of Washington gas prices.

“Senator Mullet has put a thoughtful package of ideas on the table. It appears to respond to concerns I’ve heard and also is in line with some of what a group of lawmakers proposed to Ecology in July. I appreciate that he also is proposing tax relief, in the form of a temporary reduction in car-tab costs, and following through on the fuel-cost exemption that was promised but has not been delivered to our state’s agricultural and maritime industries.

“Like our housing-affordability proposal, his deserves serious consideration sooner rather than later from the leaders on his side of the aisle. We must do better.”

Newsletter: Attorney General’s office tells PSE to hide reason for increase to your power bill

Dear friends and neighbors,

Republicans have talked a lot about the record increases in the price of gas. We’ve been clear that the tax program the Democrats refer to as “cap-and-trade” or “cap-and-invest” (but we call “cap-and-tax”) is to blame for Washington having the highest/second-highest gas prices in the nation.  The governor and the Democratic majority dispute this and use oil companies as a scapegoat.

FACT: Washington’s gas prices have risen 32%
since Jan. 1, 2023 — the same day the “cap-and-tax” program went into effect.

And it isn’t only gasoline that is increasing in price. The cost of home energy is also going up as a direct result of that same program, which is part of the majority’s Climate Commitment Act. Except Puget Sound Energy is not allowed to tell you that on your billing statement — a fact uncovered by the press. 

The commissioners at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) ruled last week that it is illegal for PSE to disclose that information to you as a stipulation for approving a 3.25% increase to your bill to cover $16.8 million in losses PSE expects as a result of that program.

Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center sums up the ruling as one of the “most brazenly dishonest rulings” he’s ever seen.  In it, he says the UTC:

  • Admits the new CO2 tax increases energy prices
  • Contradicts another one of the false claims by Gov. Inslee and the Department of Ecology
  • Brazenly tries to hide those very facts from the public

Worse is that the office of Attorney General Bob Ferguson says including that detail would “unnecessarily complicate” your statement and that your bill should only share information that is “beneficial” to you.

 “…this is not only dishonest but violates the spirit of Washington’s laws and constitution. The position of the Public Counsel in the Attorney General’s office is that they know what the public should know and what they shouldn’t. The claim that transparency is bad for the public is remarkable and revealing.”

Todd Myers, Washington Policy Center

This is lying by omission. By not being transparent about why your power bill is going up, the government dodges any accountability for it.

Their excuse — that full disclosure makes the bill too complicated for you — treats you like you aren’t smart enough to understand it. In reality, they fear that you are too smart not to realize they are at fault for another increase to your cost of living.

The sad irony is that the Department of Ecology claimed that the cap-and-tax program would decrease the cost of energy.

And, in the regulatory proceeding with the UTC, left-wing environmental activist groups who previously released statements blaming oil companies for price increases told a different tale. They admitted the cap-and-tax program, which is part of the Climate Commitment Act, is the cause. Were they lying then? Or are they lying now?

Any rebates offered to offset the increase are the equivalent of a store marking up a product and then offering a fraction of that as a discount. They want you to think you are getting a deal, but you’re really getting swindled.

As leader of the Senate Republicans, I continue to fight against policies that chip away at your family budget, and I defend your right to keep more of your money. Hardworking families like yours don’t need state government taking more of your paycheck year after year.

You also don’t need Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office advising state government to deceive you because they think you are too easily confused by the facts. You deserve better.

Sen. John Braun

 

Survey shows reducing the cost of living is your top priority

Thank you to everyone who completed my survey that asked you to identify what you think should be the legislature’s top priority in the 2024 legislative session. As you can see from the graph above, many of the priorities were neck-and-neck. Lowering gas prices and preventing new and higher taxes came out ahead, which coincides with polls taken nationwide. People are less and less able to afford everyday expenses. This, along with the high priority of restoring public safety and eliminating continuing K-12 learning loss caused by remote instruction, are my top priorities as well.

In order, of how they appear in the graphic above, they are:

  • Reducing homelessness
  • Protecting farmers, ranchers and fruit growers from dam breaching and anti-agriculture regulations
  • Repealing and/or replacing the payroll tax to fund the problematic long-term care program
  • Supporting parents’ rights in health and education decisions of minor children
  • Further reducing K-12 learning loss
  • Preventing new and higher taxes
  • Lowering gas prices
  • Increasing the number of police
  • Fighting hard drug use and drug-related crime

 

“Washington’s fatal drug overdose rate increasing fastest of any state”

Center Square reports that “between March 2022-March 2023, the number of predicted cases of fatal drug overdose increased by 28.4% from 2,356 to 3,024. The number of reported fatal overdose deaths increased by 25%, from 2,351 to 2,948.”

Oregon has the dubious honor of coming in second.

The Democratic majority’s refusal to adequately deal with this problem out of “compassion” is allowing people to die in the streets.

These policies aren’t sympathetic. They are apathetic. And we need to take this problem more seriously. If you’ve lost a loved one to a deadly addiction to opioids, you can understand how state government is failing them.

We must do better.

 

More corrections officers needed in Lewis County

Lewis County Jail in ‘dire need’ of corrections deputies, undersheriff says (The Chronicle)

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department has nine vacancies in its corrections department and expects three more soon. It’s critical for our safety that those positions be filled. For more information, contact jail administration.

Newsletter: What are your legislative priorities for 2024?

Dear friends and neighbors,

Although the legislature isn’t in session, it’s important to continue updating you on developments that will affect your families.

At the moment, Washington has the second-highest gas prices in the nation. On Aug. 30, another carbon credit auction for the Democrat-sponsored cap-and-tax program will take place. It’s likely that the results of that event will translate into even higher gas prices than you are already paying, once again making ours the highest in the country again.

I should learn the results of that auction during the first week of September, and I will share those with you at that time.

Despite the governor’s rhetoric blaming oil companies for the high prices, our prices remain more than $1 per gallon higher than neighboring states. It’s clear that the governor and the Democratic majority are the ones price-gouging Washingtonians. Not oil companies.

If they cared at all about the rising cost of living and the daily struggle real families face, they wouldn’t be digging deeper into your pocket. They’d be looking at meaningful tax relief instead.

I support reducing carbon and improving our conservation efforts. But recently, the governor lied to the public and impugned our motives for wanting to lower gas prices when he said Republicans don’t want cleaner air, but do want more kids to suffer from asthma.

Instead of making ridiculous accusations for political points, the governor should have the humility to take a serious look at how the cap-and-tax program is hurting everyday people.

Republicans will fight for more relief for your family budget in 2024, which includes fighting policies that are making it impossible for some families to commute to work. More on this topic after I see the auction results.

Sen. John Braun

 

Watch & Listen: Elephant in the Dome Vodcast

Listen to the latest episode of the Elephant in the Dome vodcast where I discuss my top priorities and some of the practical solutions.

I believe in the people of the state of Washington. We’re going to have to keep fighting in the Legislature for the safe, affordable and educated Washington we want. We’re not going to give up until we get there. But, we will get there.

 

What’s your top concern?

Your opinion really does make a difference. Please take a moment to answer my two-question survey to share what you think are the most important issues the Washington State Legislature should address in 2024. I will share these results in my next newsletter.

 

Senate and House Republican collaboration will continue in 2024

Recently, Rep. J.T. Wilcox stepped down as leader of the House Republican Caucus. The Centralia Chronicle published Rep. Wilcox’s reflections on his time as leader, in which he was very kind about our partnership and collaboration during the time we both led our caucuses.

Since divisiveness is so dominant in politics right now, Rep. Wilcox’s reflections are a welcome commentary on the importance of working together toward common goals. I will miss working so closely with him in leadership, but I’m confident that his successor, Rep. Drew Stokesbary, will continue his legacy as we prepare for the 2024 legislative session.

Newsletter: Long-term care tax hits everyone’s paychecks

Another example of how the government thinks it can spend your money more wisely than you can

Did you notice recently that the state of Washington deducted an additional 0.58% of your paycheck? This is to fund what the Democrats are calling “Washington Cares,” which is a state-administered long-term care program that has some serious flaws. More people are speaking out against it since they see it as another example of how the government thinks it can spend your money more wisely than you can.

My office has received calls and emails with questions about the program. I wanted to answer some of them here.

Read more about why the long-term care tax is a disaster.

 

Q: I have a private long-term care policy, but I didn’t realize that I needed an exemption from the Employment Security Department. Can I apply for the exemption now?

A: The exemption window for a having private coverage expired on 12/31/22. A worker wouldn’t be eligible to opt out unless they happen to meet one of the other limited exemptions listed here:

  • 70% Disabled Vet
  • Active duty military spouse
  • Non-immigrant resident visa holder
  • Live outside of Washington.

 

Q: Will there be another opportunity to purchase a private long-term care policy and opt out?

A: Not unless legislation passes to reopen the opt-out window. I recently announced the only proposal to create a new, permanent opt-out opportunity. Many of my colleagues are exploring the option to repeal the program. And others are looking at ways to replace it with something that has more flexibility for you. I support any options that would provide people of the state with more personal choice.

 

Q: I don’t plan to retire in Washington state. Will I be able to take the benefits with me? 

A: No. The benefits for the program are not portable. Regardless of how long you work in Washington state, or how much money you end up contributing to the program, you lose any access to the benefits if you move out of state. If this program is to continue, that flaw must be fixed.

 

Q: I have retired from my career and have gone back to work part-time. Do I have to pay into the program?

A: Yes. The tax applies to all wages, even if you will never be able to take advantage of the benefits.

 

Q: What do I get for my money if I need to use the benefits?

A: Generally speaking, after you pay into the program for 10 years (or three of the previous six years), you would be eligible to tap into the lifetime maximum benefit, which is only $36,5000 and But that can only be used if you stay here in Washington. This amount is significantly lower than the actual costs of long-term care, which can reach $10,000 to $15,000 a month.

 

Contact me if you have additional questions about the program
advertised as “Washington Cares.” Or learn more about it online.

 

 

Republican letter to Hobbs and Ferguson: Investigate anti-Democracy intimidation and harassment 

Republican legislators recently wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hobbs and Attorney General Ferguson asking them to look into reports that members of the Democrat Party here in Washington were intimidating and harassing people who might want to sign the petition for Referendum 101, which would have repealed a controversial law that compromises parents’ rights.

Reports of the incidents were first made public by Brandi Kruse on her podcast “unDivided” and in a letter she wrote to Sec. Hobbs. Regardless of the topic of any potential ballot measure, the referendum and initiative process here in Washington is democracy in action. Our request was based only on the concern that this process was being threatened.

This week, we received a response from Sec. Hobbs, who is also concerned about the reported incidents. In part, Sec. Hobbs says, “My office’s roles in administering elections do not include authority to investigate or enforce suspected violations of RCW 29A.84.250 (4). Additionally, the Legislature has not allocated funding to this office to create an investigative role.”

I would support legislation that provides the Secretary of State’s office with the authority and resources to investigate suspected violations. And I hope the attention this issue receives will prevent similar activity in the future. If we also receive a response from the attorney general, I will share that with you as well.

Listen to my interview on the Lars Larson Show

 

Inslee’s denial of the real cause for highest gas prices in U.S.

Under increasing pressure from the public, Gov. Inslee held a press conference recently to deny that his new “Cap and Invest” program, which should be called “Cap and Tax,” has had anything to do with skyrocketing gas prices here in Washington. He and several legislators said that we needed “radical transparency” to combat price gouging by the oil companies. He spread misinformation by blaming a pipeline closure that has been shown to have been immaterial. And he said he and Democrat legislators would look to California for inspiration on legislation to sponsor in 2024.

He also told us before that the program would only increase gas prices by “pennies.” Now we have the highest gas prices in the nation. Are we to believe his claims now? No.

The news conference was an attempt to scapegoat the oil industry. It is completely unrealistic to assume the oil companies would just absorb the hit from the governor’s tax. The simple truth is that companies pass increases in their overhead on to their customers through higher prices – just as small business and gig workers pass along increased costs from other taxes and regulations to their customers in the form of higher prices. If the oil companies really wanted to cash in, why would they choose to do so in Washington over the dozen other states that have higher populations? It’s nonsense.

The reality is that gas prices rose to historically high levels in Washington at the same time the “Cap and Tax” program began. Any new proposals that don’t deal with this program won’t bring down fuel prices. Arguments to the contrary are only meant to distract the people from the core issue – Washington’s Climate Commitment Act is the cause of the highest gas prices in the nation and is disproportionately affecting those with lower incomes.

It’s been clear for many years that Democrats push for policies that make fossil fuels more expensive as a way of forcing the people to change their behavior and not drive as much or to switch to expensive electric vehicles. It’s a similar concept to the soda tax, which they claimed was necessary to motivate people to drink less soda. They use taxes to manipulate public behavior.

What I hope is now clear to Democrats is that the so-called ‘polluters’ suffering most from their policy are hard-working people and businesses who rely on their vehicles and can’t afford alternatives – or reasonable alternatives that are not yet available. Working people are angry. And they have every right to be.

Rural areas are burdened more than others, since rural residents have to drive longer distances, even for basic services, and farmers can’t increase prices to account for the huge increase in fuel costs to run their equipment. Policies like “Cap and Tax” threaten the survival of rural communities and farms, and the governor is either oblivious to this threat or does not care.

What are your thoughts on this?

Contact the governor’s office at 360-902-4111 or my office
at the phone number or email address below.

Governor’s “Cap and Gouge” program responsible for highest gas prices nationwide, says Braun

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following comments today after the governor and legislative Democrats held a news conference to announce legislation aimed at limiting the profits of oil companies.

Braun reinforced his previous statement about what is causing Washington’s gas prices to remain the highest in the nation.

“The governor’s news conference today was a blatant attempt to scapegoat one of his favorite boogeymen, which is the oil industry. It is patently ridiculous to assume the oil companies would just absorb the hit from the governor’s ‘Cap and Gouge’ plan. The simple truth is that companies pass increases in their overhead on to their customers through higher prices – just as small business and gig workers pass along increased costs from taxes and regulations to their customers in the form of higher prices. If the oil companies really wanted to cash in, why would they choose to do so in Washington over the dozen other states that have higher populations? It’s nonsense.

“The reality is that gas prices rose to historically high levels in Washington at the same time the ‘Cap and Gouge’ began. Any new proposals that don’t deal with the carbon program won’t bring down fuel prices. Arguments to the contrary are only meant to distract the people from the core issue – Washington’s Climate Commitment Act is the cause of the highest gas prices in the nation and is disproportionately affecting those with lower incomes.

“It’s been clear for many years that Democrats push for policies that make fossil fuels more expensive as a way of forcing the people to change their behavior and not drive as much. It’s a similar concept to the soda tax, which they claimed was necessary to motivate people to drink less soda. They use taxes to manipulate public behavior.

“What I hope is now clear to Democrats is that the so-called ‘polluters’ suffering most from their policy are hard-working people and businesses who rely on their vehicles and can’t afford alternatives – or reasonable alternatives are not yet available. Working people are angry. And they have every right to be.”

 

Bill to expand standard for vehicular pursuit “simply not enough,” says Senate Republican Leader

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun today provided the following comments after the Senate’s narrow passage of legislation that is a half-step toward letting law-enforcement officers engage in vehicular pursuits in more situations than Washington law has allowed since 2021.

Senate Bill 5352 was passed with a 26-22 vote, representing the mixed feelings about the bill on both sides of the aisle. Some law enforcement organizations and victims’ families have said the final version of the bill does not do enough to protect the public. Sen. Braun agrees.

“As I’ve said before, SB 5352 is only a half-step in the right direction. And, while I appreciate that the majority allowed a pursuit-reform bill to pass the Legislature, I am disappointed that certain legislators, through their own hubris, posed such an enormous barrier to improving public safety.

“Democrats continue to frame this argument with a false choice between protecting life vs protecting property. It’s all about protecting life. They are the ones quoting bad data and ignoring the experiences of the police and victims who have shared their stories. And that’s a dereliction of duty.

“I believe our law-enforcement officers are trained and capable of making good choices regarding pursuits and should be trusted to do so. The majority’s maneuvering on this issue demonstrates a clear lack of trust in the police, which has been part of a larger assault against law enforcement. And we are all suffering because of it. Crime is out of control. The police need more tools, not fewer.

“Despite SB 5352 being inadequate, I know my Democratic colleagues will say they acted on pursuit-reform. I voted no because SB 5352 is simply not enough. This is not over. Republicans will continue to fight for additional pursuit reform. We must do better.”