Friends and Neighbors,
I hope that this newsletter finds you in good health and ready for a new year. I spent this week at the Capitol in Olympia preparing for the upcoming 2025 legislative session and wanted to share some updates with you.
First, I look forward to serving the 20th Legislative District for another term. While our nation as a whole seems to be moving in a more conservative direction, our state is not there yet, making it even more important to fight for conservative voices to be heard.
This past week, my colleagues also reelected me as caucus leader. This is a duty I take very seriously. It can be a challenge to balance the variety of opinions on our side of the political aisle, but ultimately, our priorities are the same. We all want:
We also held a caucus meeting where we said goodbye to Republicans who are retiring from the Senate and welcomed those who were newly elected (all of whom are coming over from the House of Representatives). Members were also assigned the committees on which they will serve.
New to the Senate:
- Sen.-elect Paul Harris, 17th District (Vancouver)
- Sen.-elect Keith Goehner, 12th District (Dryden)
- Sen.-elect Leonard Christian, 4th District (Spokane Valley)
Being here on the state Capitol campus reminds legislators of the importance of the work we do and how much it affects the lives of everyday people across our state. If you have concerns you would like to discuss or would like to visit me during the legislative session, you can email me at john.braun@leg.wa.gov or call my office at 360-786-7638. My office is in room 314 of the Legislative Building (with the dome).
Sincerely,
John Braun
You can’t teach kids who don’t show up for school
As part of my legislative priorities this year, I plan to sponsor several bills aimed at addressing significant challenges facing our state. One of the bills I have prefiled, Senate Bill 5007, continues an effort I began last year to address the growing problem of chronic absenteeism in schools.
The bill focuses on supporting students who are at risk of not graduating because they miss more than 10% of their school days. You can’t teach kids who aren’t in the classroom, and absenteeism has become a major barrier to ensuring all students receive the education they deserve.
SB 5007 would provide tools for school districts to engage with families and help students overcome barriers to attendance. Depending on the needs identified by the district, this support might include connecting families to resources for food, transportation, or other economic challenges; offering additional academic assistance; or addressing health or behavioral-health concerns.
Importantly, this bill would not require that certain services be provided, nor does it authorize schools to provide any health services. Instead, it is about ensuring families and local school districts retain control over what works best for their students.
Chronic absenteeism is a complex issue that affects every student’s right to an education. This bill strikes a balance, respecting local and parental authority while ensuring schools have the tools to reengage students and help them succeed.
Will Green Hill School improve if overcrowding relieved by new facility?
On Nov. 25, Gov. Inslee announced the opening of a new juvenile detention facility in Aberdeen, which is intended to help alleviate overcrowding at the Green Hill School in Chehalis. Following is the statement I released in response.
“The governor’s decision comes months after I urged him to investigate the alarming issues at Green Hill. My call was driven by investigative news reports and the direct concerns of local law enforcement, who highlighted the deteriorating conditions at the facility.
“Instead of taking immediate action, the governor initially dismissed the problems, denied their existence, and chose to belittle me, suggesting I would recognize improvement ‘should I choose to become more informed.’ However, investigative reporting continued to reveal the worsening reality at Green Hill, despite the governor’s defensiveness toward those raising concerns.
“Yesterday’s announcement about a new 48-bed facility in Aberdeen offers few specifics, including how it will be funded in the short or long term. While it’s encouraging that the governor may finally be acknowledging the serious flaws in our juvenile justice system – flaws exacerbated by Democrat-led policies – this move feels like a last-minute effort by a lame-duck governor, leaving the heavy lifting to his successor.
“Opening one facility is only part of the solution. It does not address the systemic issues plaguing Green Hill, particularly the lack of staff accountability for criminal activity. Overcrowding relief alone will not rebuild integrity or improve outcomes for the young people in these facilities.
“The governor claims there is ‘more to come,’ yet his plan is troublingly silent on collaboration with Republican legislators from the districts that house both Green Hill School and the new Aberdeen facility. True reform demands bipartisan cooperation and input from all stakeholders.
“I stand ready to work with all parties to ensure these facilities provide the intervention and rehabilitation these young men desperately need. If we want real reform, we must address the root causes of these failures and commit to meaningful bipartisan solutions.”
From surplus to deficit: How did we get here?
News outlets have reported that Washington could face a budget deficit in 2025. Estimates of the shortfall range from $10 billion to $15 billion, depending on who you ask.
If you’re wondering how this is possible after years of budget surpluses, the answer is simple: the Democrat majority in the Legislature has a spending problem.
Typically, deficits arise during recessions, periods of high unemployment, or when revenues decline. But Washington’s unemployment rate remains low, no recession is expected, and revenue growth is projected to increase by $5 billion.
So, what’s driving the deficit? The Democrat majority has committed to a number of costly, ongoing programs that outpace even our robust revenue growth. These programs, combined with record spending, have turned surplus budgets into unsustainable obligations.
Do Democrats Have a Green Light to Raise Taxes?
Democrats have already signaled their intent to raise taxes this year. The Senate majority leader stated outright, “This session is about revenue.” Some have even claimed that the outcome of the recent election is a signal from voters that they are willing to pay more taxes.
It’s not.
Inflation continues to strain household budgets, and families are still struggling with higher prices on everyday goods. Raising taxes now would only add to that burden. While Governor-elect Ferguson has indicated he is not open to raising taxes, we’ve seen promises like this before.
When Governor Inslee was campaigning for what became his first term, he vowed not to raise taxes but went on to propose more tax increases than any governor in Washington’s history. Will Ferguson follow the same path?
One thing is clear: Washington’s deficit is not a result of declining revenues but of unsustainable spending. The majority party has depleted past surpluses and created obligations for programs the state cannot afford.
You can’t manage a household budget that way, and it’s no way to manage a state budget either. Rather than asking families to pay more, we need to focus on living within the means provided by the taxpayers.
Follow my bills and find out how to testify
Follow the bills I am sponsoring. I have filed three so far, but there are more to come as we get closer to the start of the new session.
Find out how to testify in committee hearings on bills that are before the Legislature.