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Republican leaders oppose new taxes, pitch alternative budget and press public-safety priorities
Summary
Senate and House Republican leaders told reporters they will fight what they called a "tax-and-spend" budget, promote a Republican alternative they describe as balanced, and continue pushing public-safety and K-12 priorities. They left open the possibility of a special session if disagreements persist.
OLYMPIA — Senate Republican leader John Braun and House Republican deputy leader Chris Corey used a weekly media availability to summarize their priorities for the second half of the 2025 legislative session and to criticize the majority's approach to the budget.
"We're focused on public safety," Braun said, and he added Republicans would "continue to work on" finding funding for law enforcement after a bill by Sen. Jeff Holy that would have added $100,000,000 "didn't make it out of the senate." Braun said there remains "a path" to address law-enforcement funding through the budget.
Corey called cutoff "a huge success," credited his floor team for blocking bills they regarded as harmful and singled out rent-control proposals as measures that "restrict the supply side" and would drive rental costs higher. "We've had 12, 13 years now of just getting to say yes to everything," Corey said, arguing the legislature must return to fiscal discipline.
Republicans framed the debate as a choice between raising taxes and cutting spending growth. "They think taxes are part of the answer here," Braun said of the majority; he added that his caucus believes a budget can be written "that doesn't require new taxes" while maintaining services and increasing education funding. He warned that large tax increases would raise the cost of living for Washington residents.
Responding to a question about how much tax increases might total, Braun and other Republican speakers referenced a broad range of possible proposals and cautioned against passing large new revenues this year. "If they pass all of these taxes this year, we're not going to have many options next year," one Republican said, noting federal uncertainties such as potential changes to Medicaid reimbursement.
On whether the Legislature might be forced into a special session, Braun said the outcome depends on how the Democratic majority proceeds: "If the majority pushes forward with a tax-and-spend budget with a lot of new taxes and there is significant pushback, I think that could likely push us into a special session."
The Republican leaders said they remain willing to work with Gov. Jay Inslee (referred to in remarks as governor Ferguson in the transcript) to find bipartisan solutions but that they will "push back where appropriate" if the majority advances plans they view as harmful.
The media availability concluded with Braun reiterating the caucus's top priorities: public safety, affordability and K-12 public education. The caucus said it will press its alternative budget proposals as negotiations proceed.
The press availability did not include a formal vote or binding action; Republican speakers described policy preferences and negotiating positions and answered reporters' questions about specific bills and initiatives.
