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The most important issues I hear about daily from constituents in Southwest Washington and across our state are affordability and crime. Families are struggling with the rising cost of living — …
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Commentary by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia
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3/16/25
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Being on the minority side in the state Senate means playing defense against a lot of bad pieces of legislation, but there are times when we can still take satisfaction in a job well done.
One …
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Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
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3/14/25
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As lawmakers head into the final half of the legislative session, they have some big decisions to make. Do they take a middle road and keep costs under control, or do they increase taxes and add new …
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By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business
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3/10/25
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It seems like legislative Democrats are always coming up with reasons for wanting to let people out of prison sooner.
One of the latest examples is Senate Bill 5266, which is on deck for a vote …
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Commentary by Sen John Braun, R-Centralia
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3/7/25
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Any battle over tariffs between the United States and Canada, China, and Mexico is concerning, but if it escalates, it will hit Washington farmers particularly hard. Avoiding that possibility should …
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By Don Brunell
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3/5/25
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John Rogers James, an early pioneer of South Thurston County, wrote his memoirs before his death in 1929 and listed the names of people who settled Grand Mound in its early years — the same …
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Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle
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3/3/25
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At $80,500, the median annual state-employee salary in Washington is higher than the median annual private-sector pay in 38 of our state’s 39 counties.
People often seem surprised when …
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2/28/25
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Washington families feel the strain of rising costs on everything from housing to gas to groceries. Inflation has already driven up prices, yet lawmakers in Olympia continue pushing policies that …
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By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia
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2/28/25
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At a time when political turmoil and division remains on the rise, the government should be seeking more voter input, not less.
This leads me to question why legislation such as House Bill …
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2/27/25
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The Trump administration’s decision to fire more than 4,400 civil servants, including 3,400 U.S. Forest Service and 1,000 National Park Service employees, is appalling and dangerous. The men …
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2/27/25
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Washington State lawmakers have once again introduced a pay-per-mile tax. House Bill 1921 and Senate Bill 5726 would impose a vehicle miles traveled tax (VMT) of 2.6 cents per mile in response to an …
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By Sam Cardwell / Mountain States Policy Center
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2/26/25
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While people across our state continue to struggle financially, Democrats in Olympia are moving forward with tax legislation that would make living in our state even less affordable.
They …
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Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
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2/21/25
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Now that the state Legislature is in full swing and has had time to carefully consider all the challenges this year brings, it's good to see how seriously they are at solving problems for us.
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Commentary by John McCroskey / For The Chronicle
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2/19/25
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As this year’s legislative session got underway, Democratic budget leaders were talking like they had already given up on the idea of overcoming state government’s multibillion-dollar …
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Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
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2/14/25
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During the 1992 presidential campaign, then candidate Bill Clinton famously intoned, “I feel your pain,” reassuring voters he understood what they were going through.
Since then, …
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By Don Brunell
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2/12/25
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A bill that many of us believe will do exactly the opposite of its title was given a green light from the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
House Bill 1123, titled “Ensuring access …
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By Elizabeth New (Hovde)
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2/12/25
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As a husband, father and representative of Washington’s 20th Legislative District, I hear from families daily about how hard it is to make ends meet. Unfortunately, working families face the …
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Commentary by Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia
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2/10/25
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If you asked the average American how much of their hard-earned tax dollars go overseas, most wouldn't know the answer. Even fewer would know who decides where that money goes. The reality is …
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Commentary by Chad Taylor
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2/10/25
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Washington is a state of innovation and beauty, with unique advantages — but also with high costs to do business. Every new law, rule and tax layers on further costs, making it harder for …
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By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business
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2/10/25
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Between 2010 and 2023, the 65-and-older population in Washington increased by more than 40%. In 18 of our 39 counties, at least 25% of the population was at least 65 when the 2020 census was taken; …
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Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia
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2/7/25
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