PUYALLUP… The budget leader for the state’s Senate Republicans says the “significant” shortfall anticipated in the next state operating budget by Gov. Bob Ferguson’s administration was completely predictable. Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, offered this reaction to budgeting instructions sent to state agencies that call for reductions without acknowledging Olympia’s chronic...

PUYALLUP… Washington families deserve an honest discussion about why they continue to pay some of the highest gasoline prices in America, says Sen. Chris Gildon. In a May 20 letter, Gildon urged Gov. Bob Ferguson to temporarily suspend the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) as a way to provide immediate relief...

PUYALLUP… Washington drivers are paying around $1.20 more than the national average for a gallon of gasoline. Sen. Chris Gildon says Gov. Bob Ferguson can reduce that by around 55 cents almost immediately by suspending the costly carbon-related policy known as the Climate Commitment Act. “The governor acknowledged more than...

    Dear Friends and Neighbors, I’ll begin by saying thanks to everyone who joined our recent town hall at the Fruitland Grange. The discussion was spirited at times but respectful, much like how we debate legislation in the Senate. You should have received our 25th District delegation’s 2026 session...

Feb. 28, 2026 This week’s “Inside Olympia” program on the TVW network was dedicated to the state operating budget. The show leads off with Sen. June Robinson, the Democrats’ budget-committee chair; my portion starts at the 27:27 mark. Click here to view it. Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Senate is...

OLYMPIA… Leaders in the state Legislature’s Senate Republican Caucus offered these comments following the majority Democrats’ passage of legislation to create a state income tax. Senate Bill 6346 was passed with a 27-22 vote: From Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia: “This income-tax bill clearly goes against our state...

OLYMPIA… Less than two years after supporting the passage of a voter-requested ban on any income tax in Washington, Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to reverse it. Their Senate Bill 6346 would impose a 9.9% income tax on Washingtonians, sparing only those earning under $1 million for now. Sen. Chris...

OLYMPIA… The Republican senators who saw their service-saving, no-new-taxes budget rejected by Democrats earlier this year are reacting cautiously to the supplemental 2025-27 operating budget proposed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, Senate Republican budget leader, said it’s essential for Ferguson to now avoid flip-flopping when...

OLYMPIA… Today’s adoption of the final state revenue forecast for 2025 means the next move in dealing with Olympia’s self-inflicted financial woes falls to Gov. Bob Ferguson, says Sen. Chris Gildon, Senate Republican budget leader. Compared to the third-quarter projection from the state’s non-partisan chief economist, revenue is now expected to...