House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary told members of the media that Republicans have made written requests for House committees to hold public hearings for six initiatives to the Legislature. Stokesbary said Republican ranking members this morning sent letters to chairs of the committees to which the initiatives were referred, formally requesting hearings after Democrats rejected Republican motions for hearings last month on the House floor.

Republicans also expressed frustration that the Democratic majority has blocked or ignored their solution-oriented bills on drugs, law enforcement, housing, affordability and more. Joining Stokesbary were House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele, Senate Republican Leader John Braun and Sen. Shelly Short.

02-06-24 - NEWS CONF: Republican leaders express frustration that solution bills gain no traction

SUGGESTED LEAD: Ranking Republican lawmakers have sent letters to Democratic committee leaders in the state House, making another request for public hearings on six initiatives of the people. Nic Scott reports from the state Capitol.

SCOTT: (:49) House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary said the letters from House Republican ranking members and assistant ranking members urges the House Democratic chairs and vice chairs to set aside time to hear from the people. 

STOKESBARY: (:07) “We have now asked the committee chairs, in a formal manner, to hold hearings as is their prerogative. We should begin scheduling hearings right away.”

SCOTT: The written requests from Republican lawmakers reminds Democrats of their constitutional obligation, and that thousands of citizens signed the initiatives to instruct the Legislature of the important policies that should be considered. 

STOKESBARY: (:11) “The excuses that we were given by the House Majority Leader were along the lines of these decisions are up to the chair of the committees and because these initiatives aren’t subject to cut-off, there’s plenty of time later in session to take them up.”

SCOTT: Still, Democrats have shown no interest to conduct public hearings.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

02-06-24 - RADIO REPORT: Republicans ask Democratic chairs for hearings on initiatives

Following Tuesday's house of origin cutoff, Republican leaders provided an update just past the midpoint of the 60-day legislative session.

House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary said Republicans were pleased that a number of bad bills died, but expressed frustration that bills advocating rent control, a natural gas ban and unemployment insurance for striking workers were passed by House Democrats.

Joining Stokesbary to speak with the media were Rep. Peter Abbarno, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and Sen. Chris Gildon.

02-14-24 - NEWS CONF: Republican leaders share halftime report of session following cutoff

SUGGESTED LEAD: House Republican lawmakers share disappointment that Democrats have rejected proposals to make life more affordable, and communities safer, and to address the drug and homelessness crises. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: Reflecting on what the Legislature has done so far this year, Representative Peter Abbarno of Centralia said at a press briefing on Wednesday, majority Democrats have missed several opportunities to “Fix Washington.”

ABBARNO: “There were a number of really good policies – Homes for Heroes and rent relief incentives that didn’t even get hearings. The real difference we saw, in the priorities from at least the House majority, was spending versus finding more efficient programs that would make bigger difference.”

SATTGAST: House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary told reporters he was most troubled with three pieces of legislation.

STOKESBARY: “One is that would effectively ban natural gas for Washingtonians – I think that’s the wrong direction. Two others that passed this week that I think we’re concerned with are unemployment insurance for striking workers and rent control. Ultimately, they are going to do more harm than good.”

SATTGAST: Bills that passed out of the state House are now being considered by the Senate.

John Sattgast, the state Capitol.

02-15-24 - RADIO REPORT: House Republicans say Democrats missed opportunities to Fix Washington

Republican leaders joined the media Tuesday to discuss majority party budget proposals in the House and Senate, and a recent decision by Democrats to hold public hearings for three of six initiatives to the Legislature late in the 60-day legislative session.

In addition to questions about initiatives and budgets, legislators responded to reporter inquiries about collective bargaining for legislative employees and rebates for high gas prices caused by the Climate Commitment Act.

Joining the media from the House were Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary and Rep. Chris Corry, the House Republican budget leader. Participating from the Senate were Republican Leader John Braun and Sen. Lynda Wilson, the Senate Republican budget leader.

02-20-24 - NEWS CONF: Republican leaders discuss budgets, initiative hearings with media

SUGGESTED LEAD: With a predicted increase in state revenues over the next year, Republican leaders briefed reporters on Tuesday on how best to invest for the public good. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: Representative Chris Corry, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, has concerns with the majority Democrats’ additional spending in the new supplemental operating budget proposal.

CORRY: “We’re seeing a lot of money spread thin rather than focusing on what I would consider our core issues facing Washingtonians. When you look at issues like home affordability, there’s no addressing any concerns there – there’s nothing around the price of groceries. What we’re seeing is just a lot of money spread over a lot of different areas, so that’s really concerning to us.”

SCOTT: House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary shared a different vision than that of majority Democrats on the $71 billion operating budget.

STOKESBARY: “The budget growth has far outpaced the cost of inflation and population growth. It is far past time for the majority to have returned some of this budget to the taxpayers in the form of broad-based tax relief. Our caucus wants to do a lot of good to help a lot of people with targeted investments actually helping folks and improving lives, and it’s not just being spread around like peanut butter to make ourselves feel better.”

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

02-20-24 - RADIO REPORT: House Republicans favor strategic investment for the best public benefit

House and Senate Republican leaders met with the media Thursday, commenting on recent hearings for the three initiatives to the Legislature and answering questions on long-term care, the supplemental operating budget, and their major concerns as the 2024 legislative session winds into its last week.

Joining reporters were House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary, House Republican Floor Leader Jacquelin Maycumber, Senate Republcan Leader John Braun and Sen. Mike Padden.

02-29-24 - NEWS CONF: Republican leaders discuss initiatives, long-term care, final days of session

House and Senate Republicans met with the media Tuesday and said they were pleased to see a number of bad bills die before Thursday's scheduled adjournment of the 2024 legislative session, including several bills that would have granted increased authority to the state Office of the Attorney General.

Republican leaders also told reporters they were encouraged when the House and Senate voted Monday to adopt three initiatives that will now become law — I-2113 (restoring police pursuit standards), I-2081 (establishing a Parents' Bill of Rights), and I-2111 (prohibiting state and local personal income taxes).

Joining media members were House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary, House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and Sen. Matt Boehnke.

03-05-24 - NEWS CONF: Republicans celebrate legislative wins, passing of three initiatives

SUGGESTED LEAD: Lawmakers at the state Capitol in Olympia adjourned the 2024 legislative session early Thursday evening. House Republicans say they were able to stop some bad bills and pass three citizens’ initiatives, but more work is needed to fix Washington. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: (:59) The 60-day session ended with a pound of the gavel.

SPEAKER: (:02) “(Gavel pounds) The Legislature is adjourned!”

SATTGAST: House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary said Republicans stopped bills that would have increased property tax increases, imposed rent control, and put felons on juries. But he’s frustrated majority Democrats ignored policy solutions on the state’s drug crisis, housing, childcare, education, public safety, and affordability. 

STOKESBARY (:07) “I think we did a pretty good job this session, stopping us from continuing to go in the wrong direction. But we’ve still done very little to actually fix Washington.

SATTGAST: House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele says Washington citizens won passage of initiatives on police pursuit, income tax, and parents’ rights. Three other initiatives on the carbon tax, long-term care, and capital gains will go to the November ballot.

STEELE: (:12) “The work is not done. One of the things that’s super important is that we come back here in the next legislative session, and we’re prepared to stop these bad policies. And we need to continue to fight to ensure those Washingtonians that I represent are not continually hurt over here in Olympia.”

SATTGAST: John Sattgast, the state Capitol.

03-07-24 - RADIO REPORT: Lawmakers adjourn the 2024 session after 60 days of work to fix Washington

House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary joins Ari Hoffman on Seattle's KVI Radio to reflect on the successes and disappointments of the recently completed 2024 legislative session.

03-12-24 - RADIO: Rep. Drew Stokesbary reflects on 2024 legislative session with KVI's Ari Hoffman

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