No counties should be moving backward, say legislative Republican leaders
April 12, 2021
OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders released the following statement after learning that three counties will be forced to move backward to Phase 2 in the governor’s reopening plan. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, expressed their frustration with the governor’s decision and the Democrat majorities’ inaction on executive powers... Read More...
Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans
April 12, 2021
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... Read More...
New three-foot distancing order for classrooms is right move for Washington’s kids, say Republican leaders
March 25, 2021
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.... Read More...
Republican leaders say endorsement of 3-foot spacing would help classrooms reopen
March 18, 2021
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... Read More...
Senate Republican leader urges teachers’ union to ‘get to yes’ for kids
March 12, 2021
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... Read More...
Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health  
March 12, 2021
  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,... Read More...
Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening
March 11, 2021
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... Read More...