In a statement released by the State Senate Republican Caucus on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, held up a recent poll of Seattle voters as evidence of policy failures on the part of the Democratic majorities in the state Legislature.
The poll, conducted by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, found multiple results that the Republicans thought affirmed their priorities. A majority of Seattlites believe local taxes are higher than they should be and that the police department should be reformed and more officers should be hired. Homelessness was also considered the top concern, and most voters who were thinking about leaving the city attributed their feelings to the cost of living and safety.
“It’s very validating to see that the results of this poll line up with the Senate Republican priorities to restore public safety, to return Washington to a state of affordability and to rebuild trust in government,” Braun said. “They look to their leaders to help and are getting very little assistance from those in charge.”
Braun went on to criticize Democrats for not going far enough to “fix the anti-police laws” he accused Democrats of passing, for failing to increase penalties for the use of guns while committing crimes and for advocating bills that he believed would increase housing costs.
He further criticized Democrats for increasing spending rather than cutting taxes in the face of a $15 billion surplus, calling their decision “not only irresponsible but insulting to all those people struggling to pay the bills.”
At the end of his statement, Braun said the Democrats’ policies were “directly to blame” for Seattle’s quality of life issues and that Washington residents “can look at the results of this poll and see that many in Seattle are finally echoing their concerns.”
