SPOTLIGHT STORIES - Top 10 House Republican audio tracks

SUGGESTED LEAD: House Republicans offered bold solutions to fix Washington in opening remarks to open the 2024 Legislative session in Olympia. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: Soon after the gavel dropped officially beginning this year’s session, House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary said Republicans are eager to work collaboratively to tap into the state’s potential.

STOKESBARY (:19) “Despite everything Washington has going for it, Madam Speaker, I’m afraid we’re confronting a catalog of crisis here in Washington state. Homelessness, cost-of-living, taxes, crime, housing, drugs, the economy and education. In too many ways, the state seems to be going in the wrong direction.”

SCOTT: Stokesbary says Republicans offer meaningful and constructive policy solutions.

STOKESBARY: (:20) “I recognize that this is an ambitious agenda, especially in a short supplemental session, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. I hope we have the honesty to admit when we were wrong and the humility to be willing to try new approaches. Washington state is full of potential and none of us would be here if we didn’t think we could help. It’s time for a change, Madam Speaker, let’s fix Washington.”

SCOTT: The 60-day Legislative session runs through March 7th.
Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

01-08-24 - RADIO REPORT: 'Let's fix Washington!" House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary exclaims

SUGGESTED LEAD: A regressive carbon tax has driven up the costs of gas and energy in Washington state. Now majority Democrats want to tie our state’s carbon market to California and Quebec. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: (:61) House Republicans in Olympia say linking our energy policy to California is a bad choice for Washington that would make our affordability crisis worse, not better. Representative Mary Dye of Pomeroy says the affordability of energy is critical in everything in our daily lives.

DYE: (:10) “Washington lawmakers will be limited in our range of policy opportunities or actions – and the timing of those actions – if we choose to link to California’s market.”

SCOTT: Representative Peter Abbarno of Centralia says its best to retain Washington’s independent decision making on energy policy.

ABBARNO: (:19) “Low-cost energy is a part of competitiveness and that creates good paying jobs and careers and industry. And it’s really for that reason that I’m opposing any long-term agreement to bind a carbon market with California. Their utilities have filed for bankruptcy, we see seasonal black-outs, and it’s all due to really a poorly regulated market.”

SCOTT: The House Environment and Energy Committee voted 9-6 Tuesday, with Republicans unanimously opposed, to advance Senate Bill 6058 to the House floor.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

02-21-24 - RADIO REPORT: Republicans reject Democrat plan to link energy policy with California

SUGGESTED LEAD: Lawmakers in Olympia came together to announce a combined effort to combat growing fentanyl abuse in Washington state. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: At a press conference Friday, Republican Representative Dan Griffey said the state needs to get tough against those who manufacture and distribute illegal fentanyl.

GRIFFEY: “Governor, I ask you to think seriously about declaring a state of emergency in Washington state, so our children – our most vulnerable in our society can have some real success.”

SCOTT: Griffey called on families and school leaders to teach youth the dangers of pill sharing and the overall use of hard drugs. 

GRIFFEY: “Our kids now need to be armored with a defense mechanism.”

SCOTT: Republican Representative Gina Mosbrucker has authored several bills including a public outreach campaign on the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

MOSBRUCKER: “We don’t want people to die to get high – we’re all here to help.”

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

02-23-24 - RADIO REPORT: Rep. Griffey asks Governor Inslee to declare state of emergency on fentanyl

SUGGESTED LEAD: Three citizen initiatives will become law June 5th following House and Senate passage Monday in Olympia. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: (:58) Representative Gina Mosbrucker says Initiative 2113 to allow “reasonable suspicion” standards for police pursuits will restore the ability of law enforcement officers to do their jobs.

MOSBRUCKER: (:06) “Police morale will go up. People won’t be disillusioned. Communities will be safe. You’ll see crime go down.”

SATTGAST: House and Senate lawmakers also approved Initiative 2081, creating a Parents’ Bill of Rights. Representative Travis Couture says it puts parents first.

COUTURE: (:09) “Because the first teacher in every child’s life is the parent. And the state does not own our kids.”

SATTGAST: Initiative 2111 would prohibit state and local personal income taxes. Representative Ed Orcutt is the House Republican Finance Committee leader.

ORCUTT: (:07) “This may not provide tax relief, but the citizens will be relieved with the passage of this bill that they will not be subject to an income tax.”

SATTGAST: The three initiatives become law without the governor’s signature 90 days after the Legislature adjourns on Thursday. 

John Sattgast, the state Capitol.

03-04-24 - RADIO REPORT: Legislature passes three citizen initiatives into law

SUGGESTED LEAD: The Washington State House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously approved a final 2024 supplemental capital construction budget benefitting communities across the state. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: Representative Peter Abbarno, the ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee says the $1.3 billion spending plan invests heavily in K-12 school construction, mental health facilities, housing, and early learning facilities.

ABBARNO: “These investments create economic opportunities – they create educational opportunities – they improve the quality of life throughout Washington state for all of our citizens.”

SCOTT: Abbarno described it as a community-up, not Olympia-down, budget that will make smart investments in communities across Washington state on bipartisan priorities such as behavioral healthcare, substance abuse treatment facilities and home ownership.

ABBARNO: “Most of the projects – the investments – are in collaboration with local governments, with local organizations and individuals that identify issues within their communities, and they partner with the Legislature to try to solve those issues.”

SCOTT: The House capital budget now goes back to the Senate for concurrent consideration.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

03-06-24 - RADIO REPORT: House lawmakers approve a 2024 supplemental capital construction budget

SUGGESTED LEAD: In the final hours of the 2024 session, which adjourned early Thursday evening, the Washington State Legislature approved new expenses in both transportation and operating budgets. Colby Buell reports.

BUELL: (:58) Representative Andrew Barkis, ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee says an additional one-point-one billion dollars will be spent on transportation, for what he calls “the backbone of economic prosperity in Washington state.”

BARKIS: (:18) “Our goal, Madam Speaker, was to present to this body and to present to the people of Washington state, a fiscally responsible budget committed to moving things forward – committed to our promises that we have said time and time again that we’re going to do – our ferry system, our state troopers, our infrastructure projects, our maintenance and preservation.”

A two-point-two billion dollars supplemental operating budget is not fiscally responsible, according to Representative Chris Corry, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.

CORRY: (:10) “There’s good funding for a variety of things – there’s also areas of concern for us. We worry about broad-based tax relief and while we are providing additional supports for some families, we believe additional support, via tax relief, should be available for all of Washington’s families.”

With the changes, overall spending in the state operating budget is nearly 72 billion dollars.

Colby Buell, the state Capitol.

03-07-24 - RADIO REPORT: Lawmakers boost spending in state transportation and operating budgets

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

Weekly radio headlines from the Washington State Capitol with Hanna Scott.

The 2024 regular session ended Thursday after 60 days. House Republican leaders say they were able to kill bad bills and Washington citizens won three initiatives that will become law in June. Three others go to the November ballot. 

Lawmakers also passed supplemental operating and transportation budgets before adjourning Thursday. 

House Republicans fought early Wednesday morning against a bill that could eventually lead to the elimination of natural gas services for Puget Sound Energy customers.

The youngest legislator in Washington state's history, Lilian Hale, was sworn into office on her 18th birthday Thursday.

03-08-24 - Capitol Buzz Headlines - 2024 Final Edition

SUGGESTED LEAD: A Republican lawmaker warns energy prices will soar with passage of the Democrats decarbonization plan. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: House Bill 1589 aims to assist Puget Sound Energy, the state’s largest utility, to meet carbon emission reduction goals by moving away from natural gas in favor of electricity. Representative Mary Dye, ranking Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee, fought with other Republicans against the measure.

DYE: “The utility is responding to the Clean Energy Transformation Act, to the Climate Commitment Act – and they’re responding to the laws and this is their answer. We’re going to make sure that our ratepayers will pay the cost of the clean energy transformation.”

SCOTT: Dye says the legislation would escalate overall costs of living for every Washingtonian.

DYE: “The cost, total, to the residential customers in the Puget Sound Energy service territory, will be anywhere between seven and 10 billion dollars.”

SCOTT: The measure barely passed the House, 50-45, with seven Democrats joining all Republicans in voting against it. It’s been delivered to the governor for his signature.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

03-12-24 - RADIO REPORT: A Republican lawmaker warns Democratic legislation will raise utility costs

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

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

SPOTLIGHT STORIES - Top 10 House Republican audio tracks

Wash. House Republicans