Education

June 26, 2024

STATEMENT: Budget leader worries drop in state revenue will bring attempt to expand state tax on capital-gains income

OLYMPIA… The budget leader for Senate Republicans says a sharp decline in the amount of state capital-gains tax being collected is behind the largest negative state-revenue forecast since the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, is concerned the drop-off in income-tax revenue may prompt an effort from legislative Democrats to...
Read More
March 04, 2024

Wilson says passage of voter initiatives is ‘huge win for the people’

OLYMPIA… The Legislature today followed through on three requests from Washington voters by approving initiatives that will lift restrictions on police pursuits, ban any income tax in Washington and create a parental bill of rights in public education. Sen. Lynda Wilson helped pass Initiative 2111, Initiative 2081 and Initiative 2113...
Read More
November 22, 2023

E-Newsletter: Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, While the next legislative session won’t begin until January 8, the prep work is already under way. Earlier this month several members of our Clark County legislative delegation visited the Fort Vancouver clinic operated by Fresenius Medical Care, where we talked with staff and...
Read More
November 20, 2023

NEWS: Year’s final revenue forecast should end talk of new taxes

OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson is viewing 2023’s final quarterly forecast of state-government revenue as yet another reason to take a firm line against tax increases in 2024. “There’s no budget deficit on the horizon. It was confirmed today that government has more than enough revenue to maintain services and programs....
Read More
September 14, 2023

E-News: The ‘gaslighting’ about high gas prices continues

Sept. 14, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Earlier this week the gas-prices webpage from AAA had this headline: “Gas Prices Slump Slightly as Summer’s End Approaches.” Maybe in other states, but not ours. When I last checked in with you, it was mid-July and gas in Skamania County was $5.22...
Read More
April 17, 2023

E-News: Who thinks property taxes are too low? A majority of Democratic senators…

  With Senate Republican Caucus Chair Judy Warnick of Moses Lake during a break in voting this past week. April 17, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Tomorrow is “tax day” in America – as April 15 fell on a weekend and today is a holiday in Washington, D.C. – and...
Read More
April 12, 2023

STATEMENT: Republican leaders call foul on Democrats’ late-session bid to raise property taxes

OLYMPIA… In what amounts to the ninth inning of the 2023 legislative session, more than two-thirds of the state Senate’s majority Democrats have slid an extreme tax-increase proposal into the lineup of bills still in play. Senate Bill 5770 would raise the limit on increases in state and local property...
Read More
March 31, 2023

E-News: Senate passes better budget for our state

  March 31, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, For the second Friday in a row, the Senate Ways and Means Committee is working the late shift. A week ago we were handling bills related to the Senate budget proposal. This time it’s because of the 2023 session calendar: Wednesday was...
Read More
March 23, 2023

STATEMENT: Republican budget leaders encouraged by ‘inclusive’ Senate operating-budget proposal

OLYMPIA… Key Senate Republicans say there is much to appreciate about the 2023-25 operating-budget proposed by the state Senate majority today, starting with a lack of new taxes and a much lower spending increase than in recent years – and how it responds to Republican concerns, especially regarding K-12 education....
Read More
January 11, 2023

Bipartisan bill to reform antiquated emergency-powers law is likely dead already, days into new session

OLYMPIA… It appears Democrats in the state Senate have already decided to keep protecting the ability of Washington’s governor to unilaterally take control of residents’ lives for an indefinite period. Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, said she was informed yesterday – day two of Washington’s 2023 legislative session – that bipartisan...
Read More