Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks after Sunday’s legislative deadline for bills that passed in their house origin to be considered by the opposite chamber. Bills that did not pass in both chambers by Sunday’s cutoff are considered ‘dead’ except for those considered necessary to implement the budget, such...
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New three-foot distancing order for classrooms is right move for Washington’s kids, say Republican leaders
OLYMPIA…Republican legislative leaders released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s order that the recently revised three-foot social-distancing guideline from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) would be made available immediately to every school across the state. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T....
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Republican leaders say endorsement of 3-foot spacing would help classrooms reopen
OLYMPIA… The state Legislature’s top Republican leaders today said a gubernatorial endorsement of 3-foot spacing for classrooms would help Washington schools comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 15 emergency proclamation calling for at least a partial return to regular classroom instruction. Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader...
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Senate Republican leader urges teachers’ union to ‘get to yes’ for kids
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this response to a statement from the Washington Education Association, issued after Gov. Jay Inslee declared schools must offer a minimum level of in-person instruction starting in mid-April. “The lack of access to in-classroom education is the equity issue of our time. The response...
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Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health
OLYMPIA… Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that all K-12 public schools in Washington will be required by executive order to provide safe in-person and remote learning options for students by mid-April. Senate Republican Leader John Braun,...
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Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening
Governor’s plan for Phase 3 echoes Republican’s “Open Safe, Open Now” OLYMPIA…Top leadership of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus offered these remarks after the governor announced today that Washington is moving forward in his phased approach to reopening the state in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase...
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Braun disappointed by governor’s failure to define next phase of economic restart
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered this statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee indicated Phase 3 of the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan will not be defined for several more weeks. “It looks like our entire state has hit a dead end on the governor’s roadmap....
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Republican senators make new bid to get Washington children back into classrooms
OLYMPIA… A bill to help get children back into classrooms has been introduced by several Republican senators, just as a new report shows Washington is behind nearly every other state in providing in-person instruction. Senate Bill 5464 was introduced Tuesday, the same day Senate Republican Leader John Braun wrote to...
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Senate Republicans oppose income-tax bill; Braun calls out ‘emergency clause’
OLYMPIA… Last evening a majority on the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to recommend the passage of Senate Bill 5096, which would put a 7-percent tax on income from the sale or exchange of capital assets. The proposal, which is another attempt to impose a state income tax on...
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