Will the latest cap-and-trade carbon auction raise fuel prices again? Certain industries in Washington are subject to a statewide cap on carbon pollution. To cover their emissions, they’re required to purchase allowances. The price for a Washington carbon allowance in the May auction was just over $56. Senator Mark Schoesler joins Tracy Ellis to talk about it.

Washington workers must start paying the WA Cares long-term care payroll tax next month. Someone making just over $50,000 a year will pay about $24 a month. If you don’t move out of Washington, you’ll be eligible for a lifetime maximum benefit of $36,500 after paying into the program for ten years for extended care such as a nursing home, home health care, and dementia support. Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks to Tracy Ellis about it.

The Irv Newhouse Building on the state capitol campus in Olympia is gone. Built as a “temporary” structure in 1934, the building housed the Senate Republican Caucus until the end of 2022. Construction of a new building is getting underway and is expected to be finished in November 2024. Senator Mark Schoesler and Former Senator Jim Honeyford spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Dealing with prisoners after they’re released from custody is the impetus behind bills from Senators Phil Fortunato and Chris Gildon.

One measure aims to protect the public from them, while the other looks to protect them from themselves.

The state Legislature passed a bill in a special session that the Governor signed into law making hard drug possession a gross misdemeanor with the goal of getting people who suffer from substance abuse disorder into treatment. Two state Senators, Republicans John Braun and Ron Muzzall, spoke on the bill, not just as lawmakers, but also as uncles.

Governor Jay Inslee vetoed several budget provisos that would have improved government accountability. Senators Braun and Phil Fortunato react.

Governor Inslee approved bills from Senators Keith Wagoner, Ron Muzzall, Chris Gildon, Mike Padden, Jeff Wilson, Drew MacEwen, Mark Schoesler, Shelly Short, and Curtis King.

Senators John Braun and Keith Wagoner say the move is a bit premature.

A bill to increase the penalty for hard drug-possession failed in the House of Representatives in the final hours of the legislative session.

No Republicans voted for the bill and legislative Democrats say that surprised them.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun doesn’t understand how that’s possible.

Restore public safety, Return affordability, Reboot Education

Those were state Senate Republicans’ priorities this legislative session.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks about them.

In this three-minute podcast, Senate Republican Leader John Braun discusses hard drug possession, budgets, and special education and Sen. Drew MacEwen gives a speech opposing a ban on some rifles.