Author Archives: kimberlywirtz

NEWSLETTER: Campground closures, the I-5 bridge over the Columbia and more

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

People all over Washington love spending time outdoors during the summer months, and those living in the 20th Legislative District are no different. We launch our boats, grab our fishing poles, and pitch tents at campgrounds around the state.

Unfortunately, our options for where to enjoy the outdoors are shrinking this year. Four state campgrounds are closing for the rest of the year. Seven others will suffer partial closures or reduced services.

In 2025, Democrats cut the budget for the recreation program administered by the Department of Natural Resources. This year, they cut another $580,000 from the maintenance budget for those campgrounds. Combined, the cuts come to nearly $8 million.

The four campgrounds facing closure:

  • Anderson Lake in Elbe
  • Rock Lakes in Conconully
  • Upper Clearwater in Forks
  • Island Camp in Glenwood (closed to overnight use, but the cabin and day use area will remain open)

Read the full list of closures and cuts

DNR also lost a partnership with the Washington Conservation Corps, which is a program for young adults that provided DNR with the equivalent of 70 staff members.

These cuts would have been unnecessary if the Democrat majority had managed the state budget more responsibly. Instead, they dug a multi-billion hole in the budget through chronic overspending and overreliance on volatile tax schemes.

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

Delaying light rail offers best hope for new bridge

The following op-ed I cowrote with Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, appeared in the April 29 issue of The Center Square. 

Boston has its “Big Dig,” New York has its Second Avenue Subway, and the states of Washington and Oregon are getting set to play in the same league. Replacing the aging Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver will be the biggest construction project our two states have ever undertaken. We’ve been working on this megaproject for 22 years, and we are closer to breaking ground than ever before.

Yet this latest effort is threatened by the same issue that killed the last big push 13 years ago. Decision-makers continue to see the new bridge as a means to get Portland light rail across the Columbia to Vancouver. They still haven’t figured out how we’ll pay for it.

Our message is simple. We need a safe bridge, and we need a bridge we can afford. We need a bridge that adds vehicle capacity and reduces traffic congestion. The oldest parts of the existing bridge date from 1917, it’s jammed with traffic morning and evening, and it’s at risk to fail in the next big earthquake. But we also need to get our priorities straight.

This is a bridge project, not a light rail project. And the only way this works is if we put light rail on hold until it makes sense for everyone – most importantly,  the people of Clark County who would be taxed for light rail operations, and who have voted against it three straight times.

What we are suggesting should be obvious to everyone who has been following the story. What surprises us is that more people aren’t saying it. Everything became clear a few weeks ago when Interstate Bridge Replacement managers finally released an updated cost estimate they had been delaying for months. Projected costs have doubled since 2022 to $14.4 billion, counting everything – new bridge, light rail and five miles of freeway improvements.

We don’t have that kind of money. So IBR managers and the governors of Washington and Oregon are proposing that we build the project in phases. We’ve lined up $5.7 billion from state and federal sources, The bridge alone will cost us $5.68 billion. Still pricey, but within the range of what we can achieve.

But the people driving this project don’t want to stop with that. They want light rail, too. “That train has already left the station,” declared Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, blithely ignoring the fact that light rail construction will add $3.5 billion we don’t have, and that the voters of Clark County still have not agreed to tax themselves for their share of operations, about $4 million a year.

The questions will take years to resolve. Will we qualify for a billion-dollar federal transit grant? What about the rest of the money? What about the public vote? Will the people of Clark County be insulated from the financial liabilities of the Portland Metro? And will the trains go all the way into Vancouver or will they stop on a viaduct 90 feet above the waterfront with no connection to local transit?

Committing to a multi-billion-dollar expenditure for light rail when questions like these go unanswered risks starving every other highway and bridge project in our two states, or pushing our bond capacity to the limit, or forcing taxpayer bailouts the entire populace will have to bear.

The problem is that this was conceived from the start primarily as a light rail project, with the bridge as a secondary element – what you might call the “rail that wags the dog.” It started in 2004 when Portlanders looked for a way to cross the river and tap the Washington tax base for light rail. They realized they would have a tough job selling Clark County, where residents of outlying communities have little interest in supporting a light rail system they are unlikely to use. But what if they sweetened the deal with a multi-billion-dollar freeway bridge?

That got our attention. The bridge part made sense. Unfortunately, advocates of what was then called the Columbia River Crossing were unable to find a way to make light rail financially feasible. Senate Republicans tried negotiating, but the governor’s office told us to take it or leave it. We said no, the deal collapsed, and here we are 13 years later with a new proposal that looks like the old one. Just think. If not for light rail, we could have had a new bridge by now.

How can we break this logjam?

  • Let’s focus on things we know we can accomplish, like building a bridge. Light rail is a separate question. We can make the bridge “light rail ready,” but who says the trains need to roll from Day One?
  • Before we build light rail, the people of Clark County need to vote. Somehow decision-makers keep forgetting this. The people who will be taxed for light rail need to say yes, and their rights must be respected.
  • Let’s keep our promises. If we’re going to sell this project as a way to reduce congestion, let’s do more than just talk. The current plan adds no capacity. We’ll still have three traffic lanes each way. The bridge will be wide enough for an additional lane in each direction. Let’s build it that way from the start.

The engineering involved in this project is easy compared to the political challenges. Until the people of Clark County say yes to light rail, let’s not force it on them. A project this big, this complex and this costly should never be railroaded.

 

 

Better oversight of DCYF needed to protect Washington’s kids

In the latest episode of my Elephant in the Dome podcast, I discuss the urgent need for oversight at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

The unanticipated impact of the “Keeping Families Together Act” has been severe. In some cases, children who should have been removed from their parents’ or relatives’ care are suffering critical injuries and even death.

While other states are handling similar agency failures through bipartisan investigation, Republicans were unsuccessful in getting the Democrat majority here in Washington to pass legislation to address this.

However, we succeeded in defeating legislation that would have made the situation worse.

One member of the House of Representatives sponsored a bill this year that would have removed the oversight duties of the DCYF Oversight Board. Thankfully, this bill did not pass. It would have been a terrible mistake.

Washington is facing $500 million in annual tort claims, largely driven by DCYF. Not only is this a staggering financial cost. It also represents the heartbreaking human toll this policy is having on vulnerable children in state care.

Republicans and Democrats in Washington must partner to hold DCYF accountable and to change the law to better protect children in state care.

NEWSLETTER: Exposed — Democrat motivations on the income tax and fraud at DCYF

 

Daycare fraud concerns should be a priority

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Since news came to light months ago about the rampant daycare fraud in Minnesota, I have been concerned about the possibility of similar fraud here in Washington.

As the legislative session got underway, I shared these concerns publicly. Democrat leaders in Olympia dismissed them as unfounded; the Speaker of the House went so far as to say such concerns were an insult to legitimate daycare owners in Washington. I said that anyone operating legitimately should want fraud to be uncovered and addressed so their own businesses don’t suffer guilt by association. Moreover, any money we lose because of fraud means fewer dollars for people who need those services.

I was right to be concerned.

A recent audit uncovered $37 million in questionable payments from federal tax dollars to daycare providers in Washington.

An article in the Washington State Standard reported, “The $37 million the audit identified is made up of $27.2 million in federal Child Care and Development Fund grants and $9.9 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program.”

This means that $1 of every $5 (or 20% of the total amount) DCYF paid out was an overpayment.

LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ABOUT FRAUD AT DCYF

While some were overpaid, others overbilled the state. While this doesn’t necessarily prove fraud in the system, it does prove that the DCYF lacks proper documentation to back up its spending and/or isn’t complying with federal requirements.

DCYF has not referred the audit findings to the Office of Fraud and Accountability for review. According to the Washington State Standard, DCYF says the cases of questionable payments did not “rise to the level of suspected fraud or intentional deception.”

I disagree.

If the fault for overpayments lies with DCYF, that indicates gross incompetence and mismanagement. DCYF claims they don’t have enough staff to adequately review hundreds of thousands of payments. That should be remedied.

But, if some daycare providers are overbilling the state and can’t provide documentation to justify their numbers, that indicates fraud and should be further investigated for “intentional deception.”

Every dollar the state spends comes from hardworking taxpayers, and while agencies such as DCYF waste 20% of their payouts on overpayments, the Democrat majority continues to raise taxes and claim that they need more and more revenue.

Republicans often say that Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem — it has a spending problem. If Democrats took audit findings such as these more seriously, there would be room in existing revenue to fund the state’s priorities without demanding another dime from you.

I’ll continue to follow this situation closely and work toward greater accountability at DCYF and in other state agencies.

READ MY RECENT COLUMN ON THE DCYF AUDIT

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

Emails show true motive for the income tax

For years, Republicans have asserted that Democrats would eventually pass a state income tax, knowing it is unconstitutional, with the intention of triggering legal challenges that would eventually force the Washington State Supreme Court to reconsider its 1933 decision that determined income is property.

We knew their hope was that the increasingly liberal Court would overturn more than 90 years of legal precedent and rule that income is not property, which would make a graduated income tax – like the one Democrats passed this past legislative session — legal in Washington.

This was recently confirmed in an article appearing in the Center Square, which quotes reports emails between the Senate majority leader and the Attorney General’s office, which were found through a public records request.

As you recall, Democrats passed that income tax after branding it a “Millionaires’ Tax” and claiming it only affects people who make more than $1 million a year. Democrats actually voted two years ago to ban an income tax at both the state and local level. When confronted with this, the Senate majority leader called the vote a “pie crust promise,” which he said was easily made and easily broken.

During the legislative session, Republicans worked hard to shine a spotlight on the details of that income tax proposal. These include:

  • Hurts small businesses
  • Contains a marriage penalty
  • Can be expanded easily – both in rate and in who it applies to
  • Will cause job providers and others to move out of state

It also contains a clause that prevents the public from overturning the tax through referendum. The Center Square article reveals that the initial draft of the bill did not include this clause — it was added at the suggestion of Solicitor General Noah Purcell.

Democrats held hearings on the income tax in both the House and Senate. Senate Republicans lead a grassroots effort calling on people to sign in to oppose the bill. More than 118,000 people signed in against it. The actual testimony heard in committee was 2 to 1 opposed.

After the hearings, when asked about the groundswell of opposition to the bill, Democrat leadership said, “We don’t pay attention to people who sign in, but not to testify” and “They’re not helping us make decisions.”

Republicans, however, fought hard to educate the public about the bill – to see the big picture about how the tax will affect Washington’s economy. We are already seeing companies such as Starbucks and wealthy individuals leaving Washington – taking with them jobs and the revenue source the tax depends on.

We will continue to fight against a state income tax next year, as we expect Democrats to attempt to broaden it.

“An income tax on anyone in Washington will become an income tax on everyone in Washington.”

– Rep. Drew Stokesbary
31st District

 

 

Survey says affordability is
still the top concern

 

The results are in for the short online survey I included in a previous e-newsletter and a recent mailer sent out to my constituents.

The biggest takeaway is that 88% of those who responded do NOT support a state income tax if it applies to them.

In fact, more than 90% think the Legislature should send major tax proposals, such as the new state income tax, to voters for approval. Less than 7% disagreed.

Approximately 92% of people in our district think state government should live within existing revenue and stop raising taxes for new programs.

Also, affordability is still the biggest challenge facing communities and families. Of those surveyed, less than 2% are not concerned about the rising cost of living in Washington. In contrast, 80% are “very concerned” or “extremely concerned.”

Other highlights:

  • 40% think preventing new taxes and tax increases should be the Legislature’s top priority in 2027
  • 22% think the top priority should be reducing government spending
  • More than 75% think Washington is currently headed in the right direction
  • 74.19% believe the Legislature should prioritize stronger laws to support law enforcement and reduce crime

When asked what they believe is the biggest factor driving up the cost of housing in Washington, answers showed:

  • Government regulation (34.43%)
  • Taxes and fees (22.95%)
  • Population growth (21.31%)
  • High interest rates (8.2%)
  • Other (13.11%)

When asked what the biggest challenge our communities face right now, the most frequent responses said the high cost of living, taxes, decaying infrastructure and increasing the number of police officers while also prosecuting more criminals.

When asked what the biggest challenge their families are facing, the most common answers were affordability (especially rent, energy, healthcare and childcare), property taxes, government overregulation, and the quality of education their children are getting.

 

 

Thank you for a successful town hall

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 20th Legislative District virtual town hall hosted online by Rep. Peter Abbarno, Rep. Ed Orcutt and me on April 13.

People asked many great questions. Not surprisingly, the new income tax and the cost of living in Washington were top concerns.

If you missed it, you can
listen to it now.

NEWSLETTER: Democrats turn sheriffs into political pawns

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Community means teamwork, and in a county that experiences floods from time to time, we unfortunately know just how true that is.

At the Packwood Improvement Club meeting last week, it was a time to pause and recognize the many people and organizations who stepped forward when rising waters disrupted lives and threatened homes.

Volunteers opened the community center to shelter neighbors who could not return home. Members of Search and Rescue, the sheriff’s office, and local fire departments worked tirelessly to save lives and property. Local businesses and organizations also stepped in, including the Packwood Inn, and groups such as the Salvation Army, United Way, and Red Cross quickly mobilized support for families in need. Local, County, and State agencies played their parts, as well.

What stood out most that evening was not any single act of service, but the collective spirit of the community. When those who helped were invited to come forward, many individuals stepped up more than once, reflecting the many hats they wear in service to their neighbors.

It was a powerful reminder that during difficult times, our greatest strength is the willingness of ordinary people to help one another.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who played a role—both those recognized that evening and the many others who quietly contributed behind the scenes. Lewis County often faces catastrophic flood events. I am always humbled by the selfless actions of our community members who are always ready to do what is necessary to help their neighbors recover.

On a practical note, I am pleased to report that the state transportation budget provides $45 million for city and county flood response statewide and Lewis County will receive some of that funding. The federal government will reimburse the state for 80% of that funding.

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

 

Democrats turn sheriffs into political pawns

One of the worst bills to pass this session puts county sheriffs in the position of being political pawns for the governor.

You can demand that Gov. Ferguson veto SB 5974.

Senate Bill 5974 gives a governor-appointed board the power to decertify and remove the sheriffs we elect — without a vote of the people.

The sheriff who is elected is the sheriff who should serve.

A process already exists to remove a sheriff in between elections. This bill is not only unnecessary, it’s undemocratic and dangerous.

Sheriffs are sworn to uphold state law, but also federal law and the United States Constitution. The Supremacy Clause in the constitution means that federal law takes priority over state law.

If a sheriff followed federal law and cooperated with I.C.E. agents who are arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants, they would violate our Washington’s sanctuary state laws — and the governor’s agenda.

The sheriff could then be decertified and removed, even though they met their sworn duty.

Unfortunately, SB 5974 is not the only bill Democrats sponsored this year to undermine the will of the people, which is a disturbing trend that Republicans continue to fight.

 

 

Final numbers for the 2026 Supplemental Operating Budget

 

  • Spending in a biennium exceeds $80 billion for the first time
  • Equals an 11.4% spending increase for the 2025-27 biennium compared to 2023-25
  • Relies heavily on one-time money: Drains our unrestricted reserves by $2.3 billion, including $880 million from the rainy-day fund
  • Assumes spending in the budget will only grow at 2.2% each biennium even though Democrats have historically grown spending by 15% per biennium
  • Suspends reality by assuming that $766 million of appropriated money will NOT be spent
  • If the revenue assumptions fall through, we will end up with another deficit up to $10 billion
  • K-12 funding drops to 42.2% of the budget, lower than at the time of the 2012 McCleary ruling
  • Education takes a larger cut in policy funding than other areas
  • Tied to the unconstitutional income tax that could be overturned by the state Supreme Court
  • The largest cost increase is driven by the harm to Washington residents caused by mismanaged state agencies, such as the Department of Children, Youth and Families
  • Despite complaining about the regressivity of Washington’s tax system, this budget provides NO direct help for taxpayers

 

 

The 2026 Legislative Session in a nutshell

Watch my last weekly update for this session.

REPUBLICAN IMPACT

Killed Terrible Legislation:

SB 5312: Sex Offender Leniency

Would have shortened the length of time pedophiles caught during an online “net nanny” sting would have to remain on the sex offender registry.

SB 5926: Reducing Daycare Transparency

Would have hidden the personal information of daycare providers. Although it was sponsored before the Minnesota daycare fraud scandal broke, it would have made it easier for people to commit the same fraud here in Washington.

SB 5942: Reducing Oversight of the Department of Youth, Children and Families

Would have removed the oversight duties of the DCYF Oversight Board. This agency is responsible for the well-being and safety of the most vulnerable children and adults, and it is riddled with mismanagement that results in injuries and deaths. It’s also responsible for the state’s largest lawsuit payouts. An organization like that needs more oversight, not less.

SB 5945: Weakening the “Three Strikes” Law

Would have removed any “strikes” committed as a juvenile from the three strikes that automatically land an offender in prison for life. These are violent crimes such as murder, rape, assault with a deadly weapon. It’s irrelevant if they were committed by an offender before the age of 18. They are the first step in a violent pattern of behavior that should result in life behind bars.

SB 5973 / 5382: Initiative Killers

Would have imposed several restrictions on the process of collecting signatures for citizen initiatives, undermining direct Democracy.

 

Fought the Income Tax:

Republicans led a grassroots call to action for people to sign in against the income tax when it was heard in committee in both the House and the Senate. More than 100,000 people signed in CON, making the income tax the most unpopular bill in state history.

Senate and House Republicans offered amendments to ensure the tax would only ever apply to millionaires, which Democrats rejected. In a first for the Washington State Legislature, House Republicans also waged a 24-hour floor fight against the bill. Of the 75 amendments offered on the bill that night, 51 were Republican. Debate on the bill began the evening of March 9 and continued nonstop until the evening of March 10. As a result, what might otherwise have occurred only in the dark of night instead played out through the light of day.

 

Listened to the People:

The people of Washington sent two initiatives to the Legislature for consideration. IL26-001 would restore school notification requirements in the Parents’ Bill of Rights. IL26-638 would prohibit biological boys from competing in girls’ sports. Democrats refused to schedule either initiative for a public hearing, denying their constitutional duty to prioritize initiatives to the Legislature. Instead, Republicans in the Senate and House held two listening sessions where people were able to give comment. After March 12, both initiatives become ballot measures and the people will get a chance to vote on them in November.

 

DEMOCRAT DAMAGE

Passed an unconstitutional income tax after voters have rejected the idea 10 times. The 9.9% tax applies to everyone, with a $1 million deduction that can be eliminated as soon as next session. The tax can’t be overturned by referendum and none of it is earmarked for education or health care. In fact, despite the governor saying he supports it because it provides free lunch for all K-12 students, the bill doesn’t actually pay for that.

Passed an $80 billion operating budget that relies on $114 million in new taxes, on top of the $12.3 billion state and local tax increase last year. It only balances if $801 million in appropriated money isn’t spent spending only grows by 2.2% per biennium (even though it’s grown by more than 15% every biennium since Democrats took control of the Senate). If those things fall through, we’ll have another deficit of $10 billion.

Refused to give either initiative to the Legislature a public hearing, ignoring their constitutional duty to give them priority over all other legislative business.

Banned law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings, even though they refuse to ban protestors from doing the same. The bill aims to prevent I.C.E. agents operating in Washington from hiding their faces, even though we have no jurisdiction over federal officers.

Ignored the crisis conditions at our juvenile rehabilitation centers, allowing the dangerous overcrowding that results in riots, assaults and other violent activity to continue.

Ignored the moral and fiscal costs of child fatalities and near-fatalities from exposure to fentanyl and from poor case management at the Department of Children, Youth and Families. House Democrats again refused to hear my bill adding fentanyl to the child endangerment statute, despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate.

 

NEWSLETTER: No surprise – governor backs down from demand for $1.6 billion in tax relief

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Earlier today, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced that he supports the changes the House of Representatives has proposed to the income tax and will sign the bill if the House passes it.

Senate Bill 6346 proposes an unconstitutional income tax — the kind of income tax Washingtonians have rejected repeatedly. It levies a 9.9% income tax on everyone, with a temporary deduction for those earning less than $1 million.

All it will take to expand the tax to everyone is for majority Democrats to amend it during a future legislative session. The bill also contains a clause that prevents the people from overturning the tax through referendum.

The House’s changes add some tax relief, but they also add what we refer to as a “poison pill,” repealing all of that tax relief if the the people repeal the income tax at any point (e.g. – through initiative).

This development is deeply disappointing. The governor previously demanded that $1.6 billion of the income tax revenue be returned to taxpayers. As amended, the bill provides less than half of that amount. 

It’s discouraging that the governor has once again backed down from his claim to protect taxpayers. By ignoring that the bill is unconstitutional and prevents voters from overturning it through referendum, the governor and the majority are disrespecting the people. By not acknowledging how the income tax will affect our economy, Democrats look indifferent to reality.

When elected leaders start looking for ways around the will of the people, that’s a serious problem. It’s no surprise that people do not trust government.

Tell the governor that his decision is wrong for Washington and demand that he veto SB 6346.

 

Call upon the governor to VETO the income tax. 

 

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

 

 

Cuts to the “Running Start” college program

 

Watch my weekly video update

 

A bill passed in the Senate this week (Senate Bill 6260)  would cut $14 million from the program that allows high school students to earn an two-year college degree at the same time they earn their high school diploma.

It’s called “Running Start,” and in 2024, the Legislature passed a Republican bill that expanded the popular program so that 10th graders could participate.

Students in the program get free community college tuition, but must pay for fees, books and supplies.

Those who complete the program get a leg up toward earning a four-year degree, allowing them to finish college earlier with less student debt than if they waited until after high school to begin their post-secondary education.

Chris Reykdal, the superintendent of public instruction, criticized the cuts to the dual-credit program, saying that they “starve students” of future opportunities. His office estimates the cuts will affect 7,000 kids annually.

Running Start is an important pathway to an advanced degree, making college possible for many who can’t afford four years of tuition. Because they can apply to a university as transfer students, the likelihood that these students will be accepted to a good school increases.

Unfortunately, this same bill cuts $32 million from the transition to kindergarten program.

This is a bad bill and it’s disheartening that when Democrats are forced to cut spending, they look toward education. It’s all about priorities.

 

 

 

LISTEN: My meeting with the governor

WATCH

LISTEN

In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, I share what was discussed in the meeting, where negotiations stand, and why Republicans believe the proposal could affect families, businesses, and Washington’s economy.

The conversation also covers concerns about the state operating budget, potential future deficits, and legislation aimed at protecting children from fentanyl exposure.

In this episode:

∙ What happened during the meeting with the governor

∙ The latest developments in the income tax debate

∙ Concerns about the proposed state budget

∙ How tax policy could impact businesses and economic growth

∙ Efforts to address fentanyl exposure among children

NEWSLETTER: Budget proposals are out — what it means for you

Watch my weekly legislative update.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Senate Democrats released their operating budget proposal this week. It’s not good for our state.

If you remember, last year, Democrats responded to a $7 billion deficit in the state budget by approving a $12.3 billion package of state and local tax increases. This year, we are right back into the red with an estimated shortfall of $1.5 billion for the current budget cycle and $4.3 billion over the four-year outlook.

Since revenue is still going up, what are Democrats going to do about it — cut spending? No.

In their proposal, Senate Democrats would actually increase spending by $2.3 billion — or 53% more than the $1.5 billion gap.

This would increase the size of the budget to more than $80 billion.

They would also increase taxes by another $114 million. Even worse — the whole budget only balances if $801 million that is being appropriated for various programs/expenses isn’t spent.

WATCH MY FLOOR SPEECH

There is never enough money to do everything that needs to be done. Legislators have to make hard choices based on the reality that the money being spent is YOURS, not ours.

The majority is not making hard choices. They are making bad choices. For example, they won’t reform the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act to prevent workers in the state’s executive branch from double-dipping and helping to run the program into the ground – but they will refuse to fund programs for developmentally disabled individuals who are on waitlists to get the services they need.

Since 2015-17, the state budget has grown 110%, while the median household income in Washington has only grown 54%. That unsustainable growth adds to the burden on the backs of hardworking people across the state.

Can you afford to pay higher taxes to fund government spending that is out of control?

There’s a reason Republicans want the state auditor to have broader authority to audit and investigate how the state is spending your money.

Read the budget proposal for yourself, knowing much of this is likely to carry through into the final budget that will come back for another Senate vote. If you don’t like what you see, contact Senate Democrats to tell them what you think and demand that they be more responsible with taxpayer money.

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

Local projects in capital & transportation budgets

 

The Senate and House also released their capital and transportation budget proposals. Listed below are the projects in our legislative district that are included in the Senate versions.

 

CAPITAL BUDGET

The state capital budget funds the construction, renovation and repair of public buildings and facilities, including schools, universities, behavioral health facilities, housing projects, water systems, and other community services.

20th Legislative District projects in the Senate proposal:

  • SW Washington Fairgrounds surface and drainage improvement = $30,000
  • Yacolt Community Center = $270,000
  • Carlisle Lake Dam Safety Project = $1.545 million
  • New security doors/locks for resident sleeping rooms at Green Hill School = $1.8 million
  • Public school modernization
    • Green Mountain (construction) = $6 million
    • Napavine (planning) = $40,000
  • Family Forest Fish Passage Program = $4.2 million
  • Port of Woodland = $5,000

Total: $13,898,000 

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET

The transportation budget funds highway construction and preservation, ferry operations, public transportation grants, and transportation safety projects to help move people and goods efficiently and safely throughout the state.

20th Legislative District Projects in the Senate proposal:

  • Improvements to I-5 corridor through Lewis County = $2.393 million
  • Improvements to I-5 corridor through Southwest Washington = $25.63 million
  • Regional transit grants = $4.023 million
  • Public transportation rideshare program = $1.205 million
  • Twin Transit e-transit station = $580,000
  • North Lewis County industrial access = $14.188 million

Total: $56,450,000

 

 

Carlisle Lake dam safety project funded in capital budget

 

The bipartisan Senate capital budget proposal includes $1,545,000 to replace the dam structure that releases water from Carlisle Lake.

This is necessary to protect the safety of residents and property in Onalaska and downstream within the Chehalis watershed.

The project also benefits a unique career and technical education (CTE) program at Onalaska High School. This program culminates in an annual event where students release hundreds of Rainbow Trout into Carlisle Lake for recreational users.

The budget proposal passed in the Senate this week, and I’m hopeful that it will remain in the final version the Legislature will pass before the end of the legislative session.

 

BILL WATCH: Status of key good and bad bills

Check out some of the best and worst bills this session and where they currently stand. I hope to be able to report in a couple of weeks that more of the bad bills have been stopped.

Affordable Solutions for Washington

Bills Washington Can’t Afford

 

 

House AGAIN refuses to protect kids from fentanyl

 

 

I don’t understand why, but the chair of the House Community Safety Committee is AGAIN refusing to allow a vote on my bill that would add fentanyl to the Child Endangerment Act (Senate Bill 5071).

The tragedy of child fatalities and near-fatalities from exposure to fentanyl in the home is costly to our humanity and our budget.

Especially now that the bill includes more provisions for treatment and parental support, it’s hard to believe that anyone would stand in the way of enacting policy to save the lives of children.

Except that the chair of the Community Safety Committee has killed the bill four times in four years, even though it had passed in the Senate with strong bipartisan support each of those four years.

The House Democrats also killed bills sponsored by House Republicans to achieve the same result — protecting children from accidental fentanyl overdoses.

House Democrats can find time to make it easier for criminals to avoid jail or get out of prison early, but not to save the lives of children.

It’s a sad commentary on their priorities.

Senate capital, transportation budget proposals include $70 million for Lewis County area

OLYMPIA…More than $70 million for projects in the 20th Legislative District is included in the Senate versions of the proposals for the 2025-27 supplemental capital and transportation budgets, which were released this week.

Both budgets were cowritten by bipartisan teams and would pay for local priorities such as flood response, public-school modernization, and improvements to Interstate 5 through Lewis County.

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, hopes the projects will make it into the final versions of the budgets that are passed by the Legislature in the final two weeks of the 2026 legislative session.

“These investments reflect the priorities I hear about every day across the 20th District, centered around improving our local infrastructure and quality of life,” said Braun. “When we work together and focus on practical needs, we can deliver results.

“I’m particularly pleased that the capital budget includes funding to replace part of the Carlisle Lake Dam to make it safer for residents in Onalaska and downstream in the Chehalis watershed. The project also benefits a unique career and technical education program at Onalaska High School where students raise Rainbow Trout and release them into the lake every year.”

The Senate capital budget proposal includes $1,545,000 for the Carlisle Lake Dam safety project.

“Our communities send tax dollars to Olympia with the expectation that we’ll invest them wisely. These projects address public safety, transportation, and economic development needs that matter to families and employers in our district. I’m hopeful that they will remain in the final versions.”

Senate and House leaders on each of the two budgets will negotiate the final versions, which both chambers will need to pass before the last day of the legislative session – March 12. Afterward, both budgets will head to the governor’s desk for a signature.

 

CAPITAL BUDGET

The state capital budget funds the construction, renovation and repair of public buildings and facilities, including schools, universities, behavioral health facilities, housing projects, water systems, and other community services.

20th Legislative District projects in the Senate proposal:

  • SW Washington Fairgrounds surface and drainage improvement = $30,000
  • Yacolt Community Center = $270,000
  • Flood response = $1.545 million
  • New security doors/locks for resident sleeping rooms at Green Hill School = $1.8 million
  • Public school modernization
    • Green Mountain (construction) = $6 million
    • Napavine (planning) = $40,000
  • Family Forest Fish Passage Program = $4.2 million
  • Port of Woodland = $5,000

Total: $13,898,000 

 

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET

The transportation budget funds highway construction and preservation, ferry operations, public transportation grants, and transportation safety projects to help move people and goods efficiently and safely throughout the state.

20th Legislative District projects in the Senate proposal:

  • Improvements to I-5 corridor through Lewis County = $2.393 million
  • Improvements to I-5 corridor through southwest Washington = $25.63 million
  • Regional transit grants = $4.023 million
  • Public transportation rideshare program = $1.205 million
  • Twin Transit e-transit station = $580,000
  • “Connecting Washington” – north Lewis County industrial access = $14.188 million

Total: $56,450,000

NEWSLETTER: Income tax to be heard in the House Feb. 24 — sign in CON again

Watch my weekly legislative update video.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

You might be tired of hearing about the income bill, and I am tired of talking about it. But this bill is so bad that we can’t stop talking about it until we stop the bill itself.

WATCH MY WEEKLY UPDATE

Senate Democrats passed the income tax (Senate Bill 6346) when it came to the Senate floor last week. Three of them joined us in voting “no.” Now the bill is being considered in the House of Representatives and the House Fiscal Committee has scheduled it for a hearing at 8 a.m. on Feb. 24.

You have until 6 a.m. that day to sign in CON on the bill. More than 61,000 people signed in CON when it was heard in the Senate. This made it the most unpopular bill in state history. We need you to do that again.

Proponents of the tax are in denial about how many people took the time to oppose the bill, saying they were bots. The Legislature’s system has safeguards against bots. Those claims are ridiculous and insulting to you, the people.

When we debated the bill in the Senate, Republicans offered several important amendments — all of which were defeated by Democrats. These amendments would have:

  • Ensured that the tax ONLY ever applies to millionaires.
  • Removed the clause in the bill that prevents the people from overturning the income tax through referendum.
  • Nullified the income tax unless voters approve an amendment to the Washington State Constitution to legalize an income tax.
  • Exempted diapers from sales tax.

You may have heard claims that stopping the income tax jeopardizes funding for education and healthcare. The truth is that not one dime of the $3.5 billion this bill is expected to raise every year is earmarked for education or healthcare.

Some Democrats have said that more than 40% of the current operating budget is spent on education — as if that means that the same will be true for any money this tax adds to the general fund. This is misleading. No such requirement exists for new revenue. The majority will be able to spend it however they want.

Tell them NO again. Sign in CON to oppose SB 6346 before it’s hearing on Feb. 24. You can also submit written testimony or sign up to testify during the hearing.

 

 

Bad Senate bills stopped in their tracks

Although a bill that hasn’t moved can be resurrected at any point during a legislative session, it doesn’t happen often. The following is a list of six bad bills that are considered “dead,” for all intents and purposes, because they were not passed by the Senate before the cutoff we reached Feb. 17.

I hope to have more to add to this list when this session ends in March, but sometimes we need to celebrate our wins as they come.

  • SB 5312 (Sponsor: Sen. Wellman): Would have shortened the length of time a sex offender convicted during a “net nanny” online sting must remain on the sex offender registry.
  • SB 5382 and SB 5973 (Sponsor: Valdez): These bills have been referred to as the Initiative Killer and the Initiative Killer 2.0. Both bills would have made it harder and more expensive for citizens to collect signatures for and submit initiatives/referenda to directly enact or overturn state laws. They would have undermined direct democracy and made it easier for legislators to pass taxes and other bills without fear that the people would intervene.
  • SB 5926 (Sponsor: Wellman): This bill would have exempted state-subsidized daycares from certain public records requirements, making it more difficult for the public to obtain information about daycares and their owners. Although it was filed before news of daycare fraud in Minnesota became public, the bill would have undermined transparency if something similar happened in Washington.
  • SB 5942 (Sponsor: Wilson, C.): A surge in lawsuits alleging various forms of misconduct has forced Washington state government to make more and larger payouts on claims for child fatalities and near-fatalities. This has become the fastest-growing part of the state operating budget as well as a statewide tragedy. SB 5942 would have made things far worse by eliminating the oversight responsibilities of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Oversight Board. Ironically, the bill also would have changed the name to the DCYF Accountability Board.
  • SB 5945 (Sponsor: Hasegawa): This would have changed the “Three Strikes Law” so that rapes, murders, robberies and assaults with a deadly weapon would not count if they were committed when the offender was a juvenile. It would have allowed the man who murdered the 80-year-old dog walker in Seattle to avoid life in prison, despite having a long history of violence, because his conviction would have only counted as strike two. Twenty-four current prisoners serving life in prison would lose a strike and could petition for resentencing.

Often, we can only shake our heads at some of the bills introduced in Olympia. As Republicans continue to fight against additional bad legislation, I’m glad to share these early victories with you.

At the end of the legislative session, I will share a longer status list of bills — good and bad.

 

My Podcast: Fentanyl, Families, and the Fight for Child Safety

LISTEN

This week on my podcast, Fostering Change Washington’s Jamie Williams and I discuss stalled child protection bills and the urgent need to update Washington’s child endangerment laws. We explore the fentanyl crisis, legislative roadblocks, and how citizens can push for accountability to protect vulnerable children from drug-exposed environments.

 

 

Lives Lost, Billions Paid: The Costly Toll of State Negligence

Mismanagement by state agencies has played a role in the deaths and near-deaths of many Washington children and put other residents at risk.

Opioid overdose is a big culprit, which is why I again sponsored SB 5071, which would have added fentanyl to the list of drugs in the Child Endangerment Act. For the fourth time, the bill has failed to move through the House, despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate.

It’s a mystery why House Democrats will not pass such a simple bill to protect children from accidental overdose.

If you need convincing about the importance of this legislation, read “Lives Lost, Billions Paid: The Costly Toll of State Negligence” on the Senate Republican website.

READ MORE

 

NEWSLETTER: Democrats pass 9.9% income tax, but wouldn’t restrict it to millionaires

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Once in a while, a legislator will refer to a bill that everyone supports as a “good little bill.” Today, however, Senate Democrats passed a big, bad bill — an unconstitutional state income tax.

Misleadingly labeled a “millionaire’s tax,” Senate Bill 6346 levies a 9.9% tax on income. To start with, it targets individuals and couples who make $1 million per year, but Democrats voted “no” to an amendment that would limit the tax to millionaires.

They left the door open for the tax to expand to include all of us. Even worse, they included a clause in it that prevents you, the people, from overturning it through referendum.

Democrats like to claim we need this tax because our tax system is too regressive, but that rings hollow because they passed the largest tax increase in state history last year and are proposing 71 other taxes this year as well.

SB 6346 gives regular people a small sales tax break on things like mouthwash and shampoo, but Democrats voted down a sales tax exemption on diapers. The biggest tax break in the bill — $250 million — goes to large tech companies.

Some claim that voting against the income tax will jeopardize healthcare and education, but not one dime of the revenue in the income tax bill is earmarked for healthcare or education.

In fact, this bill will hurt small business, farmers, and charities and non-profits that depend on large gifts.

The bottom line, however, is that this income tax is violates the Washington State Constitution.

More than 60,000 people signed in against SB 6346 when it received a rushed hearing in the Senate. That is so impressive that Democrats have tried to say bots are responsible, even though the Legislature blocks bots. We know better.

YOU still have time to stop this bill.

You can contact Democrat members of the House of Representatives, including the speaker of the House, to demand that they kill this bill and never bring it to the House floor for a vote. You can contact the governor and demand that he veto it if it makes it to his desk.

The fact that they wouldn’t accept an amendment limiting their “millionaire’s tax” to millionaires should tell you what you need to know. It’s coming for us all. Do Democrats in Olympia think Washingtonians are fools?

STOP THE INCOME TAX

If you have questions or comments, please email me at john.braun@leg.wa.gov. 

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

 

Bills undermining will of the people moving ahead

Earlier this session, I told you about two Democrat-sponsored bills that undermine the will of the people. Unfortunately, both bills are moving forward. Democrats passed them out of the Senate last week. Republicans voted against both.

Senate Bill 5973: This bill is the latest effort by legislative Democrats to restrict the citizen-initiative process, prevent challenges to their agenda, and reduce the people’s influence over our political system. It would make initiatives so expensive and difficult that the people might never again be able to challenge unpopular decisions by the majority.

SB 5973 would:

  • Prohibit organizers from paying signature gatherers “per signature”
  • Require campaigns to turn in 1,000 signatures when an initiative is filed, before the full signature drive can begin
  • Allow third parties to sue initiative campaigns, tying them up in court and reducing their chances of success

Senate Bill 5974: The sheriff elected by the people should answer to the people — not to a board of gubernatorial appointees. Yet that is exactly what would happen under SB 5974, which would give an unelected board the power to decertify a duly elected county sheriff.

Sheriffs swear an oath to uphold the United States Constitution, the Washington State Constitution, and the laws of this state. When a gubernatorial order or state law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, it places law enforcement in an impossible position:

Do they follow state law and risk violating federal law and the Constitution? Or do they honor the Constitution and risk removal for defying state directives?

The Supremacy Clause makes clear that the U.S. Constitution and federal law prevail. A sheriff’s sworn duty is to uphold them — even when doing so is politically inconvenient. No appointed board should have the authority to override the will of voters for fulfilling that constitutional obligation.

WHAT NOW?

As the bills head to the House of Representatives for consideration, you have the opportunity to oppose them by contacting House Democrats on the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee and telling them to kill the bills.

 

 

 

Watch my latest video update from Olympia