Income tax sweeps Senate Freedom Caucus ‘Galloping Gertie’ Awards Awards ceremony honors ‘epic fails’ of 2021 legislative session OLYMPIA – The new income tax passed by majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature earned top honors in the first annual Galloping Gertie Awards, presented by the Senate Freedom Caucus to honor the biggest fails of the 2021 legislative session. The... Read More...

Senators call for action on emergency powers issue People deserve a voice in COVID lockdown decisions, Wilson says OLYMPIA – In the final hours of the 2021 legislative session, Senate Republicans are calling on majority Democrats to restore the people’s voice in COVID lockdown decisions and other public emergencies. In a letter to Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig,... Read More...

Legislature must act before adjournment on governor’s emergency powers, Wilson says Last chance for people to have a voice in COVID shutdown – should be top priority if special session is called To see video, click here. OLYMPIA – With adjournment of the 2021 Legislature fast approaching, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, is calling on lawmakers to restore the people’s voice in... Read More...

Sen. Jeff Wilson joins Senate Freedom Caucus To promote responsible spending, economic growth, free-market solutions OLYMPIA – Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, is joining the Senate Freedom Caucus, the cadre of Washington senators focused on issues of individual liberties, economic growth and restrained, responsible government. “If ever there was a need for a Senate Freedom Caucus, the time... Read More...

Wilson calls for hearings on billion-dollar unemployment fraud, governor’s emergency powers Up to $1.1 billion lost by state agency due to fraud, auditor’s report says OLYMPIA – Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, is calling for legislative hearings on a possible $1.1 billion fraud loss at the state Department of Employment Security, as well as on the governor’s emergency powers. Wilson, ranking Republican... Read More...

State audit confirms massive dysfunction at Employment Security Department, Wilson says OLYMPIA – A new state performance audit says fraud losses at the Department of Employment Security could be nearly twice as big as previously reported, and Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, says it confirms suspicions of widespread dysfunction in Washington’s unemployment-insurance agency. “We’ve been saying for months that Employment Security was... Read More...

Cowlitz rollback: Governor ‘just doesn’t get it,’ Wilson says OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to reimpose COVID restrictions in Cowlitz County and two other Washington counties will create hardship and frustration in a region of high unemployment, warns Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. “The governor just doesn’t get it,” Wilson said. “Orders from on high are meaningless without the... Read More...

Higher fuel prices would slam state’s struggling regions, Wilson says More expensive fuel a top priority for legislative Democrats – measures OK’d Thursday by Senate Dems would cost 55 cents a gallon by 2028 To see floor speech, click here. OLYMPIA – Measures passed by Senate Democrats Thursday night would force dramatic increases in fuel costs across the state and... Read More...

Senate Democrats’ budget slams middle class, with worse to come, Wilson says OLYMPIA – A $59 billion budget passed Thursday by the Washington Senate slams middle-class working families, and the worst is still to come, says Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. Majority Democrats passed their budget bill, Senate Bill 5092, on a caucus-line vote, 27-22. All members of the Senate Republican Caucus were... Read More...

Justice ignored as Senate passes bill giving felons the vote, Wilson says ‘Bill should be paid in full’ before offenders are restored to full citizenship To see Senate floor speech, click here. OLYMPIA – A bill giving convicted felons the right to vote before they have completed their sentences scorns crime victims and rejects the notion of justice, says Sen. Jeff Wilson,... Read More...