Governor signs Rivers bill to expand telemedicine access
May 10, 2021
OLYMPIA… Sen. Ann Rivers’ legislation to allow even more telemedicine consultations throughout Washington was signed today at a state Capitol ceremony. Senate Bill 5423 was passed unanimously by the Senate and the House of Representatives during the 2021 legislative session, which ended April 25. “For years, Republicans have worked to... Read More...
Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans
April 12, 2021
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks after Sunday’s legislative deadline for bills that passed in their house origin to be considered by the opposite chamber. Bills that did not pass in both chambers by Sunday’s cutoff are considered ‘dead’ except for those considered necessary to implement the budget, such... Read More...
Rivers opposes tax-heavy, big-spending Senate budget
April 01, 2021
OLYMPIA… On a mostly partisan 27-22 vote, the state Senate today approved a $59.5 billion operating-budget proposal for 2021-23. Sen. Ann Rivers voted no, citing the sheer size of the spending plan and its reliance on imposing two controversial new taxes and draining the state’s rainy-day fund. “Today we offered... Read More...
18th District lawmakers to hold telephone town-hall meeting March 22
March 15, 2021
OLYMPIA… Residents of the 18th Legislative District are invited to join their state lawmakers for a “telephone town hall” meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 22. The telephone-based format, which is similar to a conference call, will allow Sen. Ann Rivers, Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Larry Hoff... Read More...
Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health
March 12, 2021
  OLYMPIA… Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that all K-12 public schools in Washington will be required by executive order to provide safe in-person and remote learning options for students by mid-April. Senate Republican Leader John Braun,... Read More...
Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening
March 11, 2021
Governor’s plan for Phase 3 echoes Republican’s “Open Safe, Open Now”   OLYMPIA…Top leadership of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus offered these remarks after the governor announced today that Washington is moving forward in his phased approach to reopening the state in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase... Read More...
E-Newsletter: Be Counted in the U.S. Census!
May 10, 2020
Hello, This is a quick note to let you know this will be my final e-newsletter until after the November general election is certified. That’s because legislators who are up for re-election — which includes me — are subject to certain limits on official communications, and those limits are now... Read More...
House approves updates to laws against animal cruelty
March 05, 2020
OLYMPIA… The state House of Representatives today joined the Senate in approving updates to state animal-welfare laws, including changes involving the crime of cruelty to animals and where people may take abandoned animals. “I’m a dog lover, as are many of my colleagues, so it wasn’t a surprise that we... Read More...
Rivers’ ‘more salmon for all’ bill set for Thursday public hearing
January 28, 2020
Adapting Alaska’s innovative hatchery approach could help feed orca sooner Legislation that could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of salmon in Washington waters and boost the food supply for Puget Sound’s southern resident orcas will come before the Senate’s natural-resources committee at 1:30 Thursday afternoon. The bipartisan... Read More...