Audio news and views from Deputy Republican Leader Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan.

Rep. Mike Steele - Deputy Republican Leader

SUGGESTED LEAD: For the fourth time in the past two weeks, Democrats on Wednesday unanimously rejected a request by Republican lawmakers for a public hearing on a citizens’ initiative. Kelley Payne reports from the state Capitol.

PAYNE: Initiative 2109 would repeal the capital gains income tax approved in 2021 by the Legislature’s majority Democrats. House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele urged his colleagues to act on the initiative, as the state Constitution directs.

STEELE: “It should be directly referred to committee so that the people of Washington state have a chance to attend a hearing to discuss their ideas – to impart their notion to us. We’ve created this process as a state and we should take it seriously – it should not be ignored.”

PAYNE: Steele repeated the case made by House Republicans to prioritize an initiative of the people.

STEELE: “Mister Speaker, over 400,000 individual citizens in Washington state have sent aa very clear message to this Legislature – deal with this initiative and do it in front of everything else.”

PAYNE: In addition to Initiative 2109, three additional initiatives have been certified by the Secretary of State. They include the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act, restoring police pursuit options and a parents’ bill of rights.

Kelley Payne, the state Capitol.

01-24-24 - RADIO REPORT: Democrats reject another GOP call for a hearing on a citizens’ initiative

Rep. Mike Steele and Rep. Keith Goehner share a legislative update with KOZI Radio. The lawmakers discuss the upcoming public hearings set for three of the six initiatives amid a push for citizen involvement. Steele and Goehner also share an update on their bills in the Senate, highlighting backcountry search and rescue, ADUs, and changes to the Main Street Program. Other topics include state revenue growth, the state’s three budgets, and providing room for real priorities, including tax relief.

02-23-24 - RADIO: Rep. Steele and Rep. Goehner provide updates on bills and initiatives with KOZI

In this interview with KPQ, Reps. Mike Steele and Keith Goehner share an update on their bills and the progress of the six citizen-driven initiatives. The majority party has decided to hold public hearings on only three out of six initiatives, prompting House Republicans to advocate for greater citizen involvement. Additionally, Goehner and Steele provide updates on their bills concerning Backcountry Search and Rescue, ADU’s, impact fees, and changes to the Main Street Program.

02-23-24 - RADIO: Rep. Steele and Rep. Goehner share an update on bills and initiatives with KPQ

House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele, R-Chelan, discussed three citizens’ initiatives that were adopted, as well as defeats of Democratic proposals on property tax increases, rent control, and hospital mergers during an appearance on the John Carlson Show on KVI.

03-07-24 - RADIO: Rep. Mike Steele highlights Republican victories in the 2024 Legislative session

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

Rep. Keith Goehner and Rep. Mike Steele give listeners an overview of the 2024 legislative session on the last day of session before adjournment. They discuss the three budgets - capital, transportation and operating, as well as what happened with initiatives. The legislators also talk about some of the disappointments and successes of the session.

03-07-24 - RADIO: Reps. Goehner and Steele talk budgets, initiatives, successes and disappointments

SUGGESTED LEAD: A bill signed into law closes a loophole and improves protections for victims of domestic violence. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: Authored by Republican Representative Gina Mosbrucker, House Bill 2048 received the governor’s signature on Wednesday, ensuring the Department of Corrections supervises repeat domestic violence offenders and prevents victims from being stalked and abused.

MOSBRUCKER: “We’ve heard from victims who said why – I knew they were getting out. I went through that secondary trauma of knowing they were going to be released and then they would come directly to that victim-survivor and family member and start the process all over again.”

SCOTT: Mosbrucker says the most dangerous times in a domestic violence survivor’s life are when they try to leave their abuser and when that offender has been released from custody. 

MOSBRUCKER: “They were getting out and going straight to the victim and the survivor – angry – angrier than ever and putting them in harm’s way.”

The bill takes effect June 6th.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-13-24 - RADIO REPORT: Governor signs Rep. Mosbrucker’s domestic violence supervision bill

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

SUGGESTED LEAD: A Republican lawmaker’s bill to extend property tax exemptions for seniors and disabled persons is awaiting the governor’s signature. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: In an effort to create more affordable housing on properties across the state, detached accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have become popular. Now, legislation authored by Representative Keith Goehner of Dryden, would extend a property tax exemption to those who qualify for ADUs detached from a primary residence.

GOEHNER: “It will help them save some money – puts more money in their pockets because they won’t have to be making that full property assessment that they’ve been bound by before.”

SCOTT: House Bill 2375 adds the tax exemption for qualified seniors and disabled persons living in detached ADUs.

GOEHNER: “Whether its attached or detached, and it’s a senior citizen or a disabled person that is already getting a property tax exemption, they should be entitled to that exemption on that detached ADU.” 

SCOTT: Goehner credits a constituent for the idea behind the legislation that brings together affordable, independent housing options and property tax fairness.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-14-24 - RADIO REPORT: Property tax exemption expanded for senior and disabled persons

SUGGESTED LEAD: The governor signs legislation to improve water use in the Columbia Basin Project area. Nic Scott reports. 

SCOTT: Representative Mary Dye authored the bill that aims to improve the use of state water resources for farming. House Bill 1752 allows the Bureau of Reclamation to request a change in the number of acres that may be irrigated in the Columbia Basin Project area. 

DYE: “With the technology that we install in the fields, we know exactly how much water is going into that soil and the plants get exactly what they need when they need it. So, we’re not wasting water – we’re being very precise with the way we use our water.”

SCOTT: Dye says by replacing failing deep wells with a new surface water delivery system, farmers could use cell phones and field sensors to determine where and when to irrigate.

DYE: “We’re not your grandpas farmer – we’re something new and different – and the water that we use goes to feed a hungry world in the most efficient manner possible.”

SCOTT: Dye says the crops grown in the Columbia Basin produce the equivalent of the annual groceries purchased by nearly nine million Americans.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-15-24 - RADIO REPORT: Eastern Washington farmers to benefit from greater access to water resource

Rep. Dan Griffey and Rep. Travis Couture of the 35th District join Hanna Scott to talk failures and solutions for the fentanyl crisis in the first episode of the Washington House Republicans Fix Washington podcast.

03-23-24 - PODCAST: Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, joins Hanna Scott to discuss our state’s crime and affordability crises. The 20th District representative talks about House Republican solutions to the problems and missed opportunities from the 2024 legislative session.

04-26-24 - PODCAST - Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Rep. Peter Abbarno

Former House Republican Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, announced earlier in the year he would not seek re-election to his 2nd District seat. Hanna Scott sat down with Rep. Wilcox on March 7, the evening of sine die (2024 session adjournment) to have the lawmaker reflect on his career in the Legislature.

05-03-24 - PODCAST - Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Rep. J.T. Wilcox

This is the official SoundCloud account of the Washington State House Republicans in Olympia, Washington. (www.houserepublicans.wa.gov)

01-24-24 - RADIO REPORT: Democrats reject another GOP call for a hearing on a citizens’ initiative

Wash. House Republicans

Related tracks