Author Archives: kimberlywirtz

Is the fourth time a charm? Commonsense child safety bill passes Senate…again

Watch Sen. Braun’s floor speech on SB 5071 on Jan. 21, 2026.

 

 

OLYMPIA…The Washington State Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader John Braun, to add fentanyl to the list of substances in the child endangerment law. Senate Bill 5071 was approved by a vote of 40-9.

The Senate has approved the legislation in each of the past three years. Each time, the bill moved to the House of Representatives for consideration, it failed to receive a hearing – stopping it from moving forward.

To overcome the hesitancy about the bill, Braun successfully asked the Senate to endorse a change that maintains the bill’s protection of children without requiring prison time for those accused of endangerment. For a first offense, the person charged would automatically have access to court-ordered parent support services, which could include drug treatment. On subsequent offenses, it would be up to the court’s discretion if the individual received services or was incarcerated.

“Similar diversion programs have resulted in low recidivism rates, partly because they require a high level of oversight, including frequent check-ins for compliance,” explained Braun.

As SB 5071 moves to the House for consideration – again — Braun called upon the House to seize this opportunity to pass this new version of the bill.

“I hope House Democrats listen to the pleas of law enforcement, community leaders and families who must confront the deadly effects of fentanyl on children who are exposed to the drug by the adults in their lives. This is a chance for them to put those children first,” said Braun.

“This bill does not criminalize addiction,” Braun continued. “People with Substance Abuse Disorder need help, but they are still responsible for their actions. And actions have consequences. If someone’s possession of fentanyl endangers, injures or kills a child, they should be held to account. Put children first.”

 

Watch Sen. Braun’s floor speech on Senate Bill 5701.

Braun bill aims to protect housing grant program from fraud

OLYMPIA…Concerned by whistleblower reports of fraud and nepotism in a state housing-assistance program, Senate Republican Leader John Braun has introduced legislation to help ensure taxpayer dollars allocated to the program are distributed fairly and as state law intends.

Senate Bill 6205 aims to prevent unfair insider access to housing grants from the Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP), which is intended to help people of color become homeowners. The Centralia lawmaker said his legislation also requires the state Department of Commerce to evaluate how the grants are distributed and report to the Legislature.

Under the 2022 law creating the CRP, funding allocated for housing grants is funneled through nonprofit organizations, which are expected to distribute it equitably. However, recent news reports based on a whistleblower’s records showed that a woman who received $350,000 toward the purchase of a $425,000 home in Tacoma happens to be the daughter of the person overseeing CRP housing grants for one of these nonprofits.

Others associated with the same nonprofit also received large grants, with some of that money reportedly used to pay off a recipient’s credit-card debt.

“Defrauding publicly funded programs is stealing from taxpayers,” said Braun, who serves southwest Washington’s 20th Legislative District. “If those entrusted to allocate taxpayer dollars violate that trust by awarding housing grants inappropriately, they should be held accountable. Bad actors shouldn’t be able to exploit taxpayers for their own gain.

“The intent of the CRP is to assist people with down payments and closing costs to get them into a home. It’s certainly not about helping friends and family of those holding the purse strings to cover most of a home’s total cost while leaving other applicants with no help at all. This bill would reform the program so it can benefit more of the people it was created to help.”

SB 6205 has been referred to the Senate Housing Committee and awaits a hearing.

News stories regarding misuse of CRP funding:

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NEWSLETTER: A new year and still billions of dollars in the red

Watch my weekly legislative update to learn more about what’s happening
this early in the 2026 Legislative Session.

 

 

Elected sheriffs shouldn’t become partisan pawns

WATCH the testimony by the Sheriff of Spokane County against SB 5974.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

When voters elect a sheriff to lead the law-enforcement officers who protect their county, an unelected board that answers to the governor should not have the power to decertify that sheriff. Allowing a non-elected entity to remove an elected official undermines the will of the people—and democracy itself. It also turns sheriffs into pawns of partisan politics and the agenda of the majority party in Olympia.

This may seem like an obvious principle. Yet Democrats in Olympia are backing Senate Bill 5974, claiming it will “strengthen and modernize” the laws governing sheriffs and other law-enforcement officers. In reality, the bill would erode local control and concentrate the power over criminal justice in Olympia—to the detriment of all 39 counties across Washington.

Sheriffs are elected under processes defined by our state Constitution. They swear an oath to uphold not only that constitution, but—above all—the U.S. Constitution. They also swear to uphold the laws of our state, subject to the constraints of the constitutions.

The Democratic majority has already passed the so-called Keep Washington Working Act, which contains unconstitutional mandates aligned with their political agenda. SB 5974 represents the next step: empowering the state to remove sheriffs who recognize that their constitutional obligations count more than those dictates.

The bill received a hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee on January 15. Many sheriffs testified in opposition, raising serious concerns that we share—particularly about the negative effect on rural communities.

There are broader implications as well. The Spokane County Sheriff noted that SB 5974 would make sheriffs the only elected officials in Washington who could be removed or decertified by a non-elected board. Ask yourself: Why would Democrats care about a county sheriff differently than a county auditor, or a city mayor? Many in the law-enforcement community have described the bill as a targeted political attack.

More than 13,000 people signed in to oppose the bill at the committee level—an extraordinary level of engagement, especially on just the fourth day of the legislative session. Thank you to everyone who took part.

If you oppose this legislation, now is the time to act – before the committee can vote. Contact the chair and members of the Senate Law and& Justice Committee and demand they reject Senate Bill 5974.

Elected sheriffs should remain accountable to their voters—not to an unelected board with no connection to the communities they serve.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

My commentary in The Centralia Chronicle

An income tax on anyone in our state would
become an income tax on everyone.

Do the Democrats who run Olympia think Washingtonians are fools? It sure seems that way as we learn more about their plan to create a state income tax.

As I write this, we still don’t know the details, because no income-tax bill has been filed. But Democrat leaders clearly want to approve a state income tax this year – and now we see how they’ll try to sell it.

From Governor Ferguson on down, income-tax supporters claim it would apply only to people whose annual taxable income exceeds $1 million. That’s right in line with their divisive, make-the-wealthy-pay-more ideology. It also acts as the “bait.”

The trouble is, everyone knows a state income tax has been a Democrat dream for many decades. Common sense tells us the ultimate goal is to have every Washington resident pay it. A high-ranking member of the House Democrat majority even agrees. That’s the “switch.”

READ THE FULL COMMENTARY

 

This week on “Elephant in the Dome,” I discuss the governor’s State of the State address, income tax proposals, public safety challenges, transportation funding issues, the importance of transparency, and why debates should focus on ideas — not individuals.

WATCH

LISTEN

 

NEWSLETTER: Is Washington getting a state income tax?

Let’s cut to the chase: Is Washington getting an income tax? If Democrats and the governor get their way, the answer is yes.

Governor Bob Ferguson announced this week that he supports a state income tax, so long as it only applies to people earning more than $1 million a year. Make no mistake—this would be the first step toward a broader income tax that would eventually affect most, if not all, Washingtonians.

The governor also acknowledged that even if Democrats pass an income tax this year, the state wouldn’t see any revenue until 2029. Why the delay?

 

BACKGROUND

Washington’s Constitution prohibits a graduated income tax— one that charges different rates based on income. Any graduated income tax passed by the Legislature would almost certainly be challenged in court. In fact, Senate Democratic leadership has openly said that’s the plan.

The goal is to have the Washington State Supreme Court reclassify income so the Constitution no longer applies. We’ve seen this strategy before.

In 2023, Democrats passed an income tax on capital gains. Even though the IRS and every other state consider capital gains to be income, Washington courts rebranded it as an “excise tax” to let it stand. That ruling is now the legal foundation Democrats are relying on to justify pushing an income tax even further.

In the meantime, the state budget would not rely on the new tax revenue until—presumably—the courts approve it.

To be clear: I oppose any attempt to impose an unconstitutional income tax in Washington. Republicans in both the House and Senate will fight this because Washingtonians have been crystal clear—they do not want a state income tax. Period.

Voters have rejected income taxes more than ten times. As recently as 2024, they passed Initiative 2111, which permanently bans personal income taxes at the state and local level.

Ironically, for years Democratic governors—including Jay Inslee and Bob Ferguson—touted Washington’s lack of an income tax as a key reason businesses should locate here. A few years ago, the Department of Commerce quietly removed that selling point from its website. That should have been a warning sign.

 

 

INCOME TAX INSTEAD OF A SALES TAX?

Some people assume Washington would become like Oregon, which has an income tax but no sales tax. That is not what Democrats are proposing.

Nowhere have they promised to eliminate the sales tax. Under their plan, Washington would have both a sales tax and an income tax. In fact, the admission that the income tax would see no revenue for several years is a guarantee that the sales tax will continue, as is.

 

A SPENDING PROBLEM

Days before the governor’s announcement, he released his supplemental budget and vowed to veto sales or property tax increases. Notably absent from his list? An income tax.

Why won’t Democrats get the message? Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem. Even mainstream media is beginning to realize this.

The state operating budget is $77 billion, having ballooned dramatically over the past decade. Yet despite record spending, have we reduced homelessness? Fixed our housing shortage? Recovered from learning loss in our schools? Addressed the mental health and substance abuse crisis?

The answer is no.

Washington can’t afford to continue down the Democrats’ tax-and-spend path. Their ideology-driven budgeting has created a multibillion-dollar shortfall. The solution isn’t digging deeper into your pockets—it’s reprioritizing how your tax dollars are spent.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You can speak out against this income tax—and any others—by contacting the bill sponsors, budget committee chairs, legislative leaders, and the governor’s office. Tell them to stop pushing unconstitutional taxes and start living within our means.

When these bills receive hearings, you can sign in to oppose them and even testify—either in person or remotely.

Learn how to testify in committee.

Your voice matters.

I will keep you updated as this fight continues.

Sincerely, Senator John Braun

 

 

Washington does not have the most regressive tax structure in the nation

Democrats — and much of the press — routinely say Washington has the “most regressive” or “upside-down” tax system in the country. That claim comes almost entirely from one partisan advocacy study that’s been repeated so often it’s treated as fact.

 

WHAT THE NEUTRAL ANALYSIS FOUND

A new economics paper by professors from Princeton, the University of Minnesota, and economists at the Federal Reserve, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), reached a very different conclusion.

Instead of ranking Washington as worst-in-the-nation, the NBER study found that Washington’s overall tax-and-spending system is essentially middle-of-the-pack — about 23rd nationally.

That’s a dramatic difference.

 

WHY ARE THE RESULTS SO DIFFERENT?

There are two big reasons the NBER findings don’t match the oft-cited partisan study:

 

  1. The partisan study mostly just ranks income-tax rates

The study Democrats cite heavily weights whether a state has a high top income-tax rate. In fact, the NBER authors point out that the partisan ranking closely tracks which states have the highest income-tax rates, not which states are actually most “unfair” overall.

Washington doesn’t have an income tax — so that study effectively penalizes us from the start.

By contrast, the NBER research:

  • Looks at all income levels, not just the very top
  • Measures what people actually pay, across the full income range
  • Finds Washington’s effective tax rates for most working and middle-class residents are very close to the national average

In other words: when you look at the whole income ladder, Washington doesn’t stand out as extreme.

 

  1. The NBER study includes benefits — not just taxes

This is the most important difference.

The partisan study looks only at taxes paid. The NBER study looks at taxes paid and benefits received.

This means it accounts for:

  • Public assistance
  • Social services
  • State spending that directly benefits lower- and middle-income households

When you include those benefits, Washington turns out to be one of the more generous states in the country — and those benefits significantly offset any tax regressivity.

Very few states provide more in transfers and services than Washington.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE

When you look at the full picture — taxes and benefits — Washington:

  • Is not the most regressive state
  • Is not an extreme outlier
  • Lands squarely in the middle nationally

The claim that Washington has the “worst” tax system depends on ignoring half the equation.

 

ONE MORE FINDING THAT RAISES EYEBROWS

The NBER paper also found something Democrats rarely mention:

  • People at all income levels tend to move away from states with more progressive tax systems
  • This effect is strongest among high earners
  • States that rely heavily on income taxes tend to have higher overall tax burdens
  • States with sales and property taxes tend to have lower average tax rates

 

IN SHORT

Highly progressive tax systems may sound good in theory — but in practice, they often drive people (and jobs) elsewhere. A single tax alone might not motivate people to move, but every new tax may be the last straw that does.

 

 

UPDATE: The Green Hill School

 

Gov. Ferguson’s 2026 budget proposal includes nearly $12 million for Washington’s two most significant juvenile rehabilitation facilities — the Green Hill School and Echo Glen.

Both have been plagued by dangerous overcrowding resulting from a policy known as “JR to 25,” which allows those convicted of felonies before the age of 18 to remain at the facilities with youth offenders until age 25, when they are transferred to adult prisons.

For years, I’ve called for thorough investigations into violence among the residents, assaults against staff, poor security, and illegal activity among staff. Last year, my bill to allow the transfer of some of the adults before the age of 25 to the custody of the Department of Corrections passed the Senate but was killed in the House. If it had passed, it would have helped to alleviate the overcrowding soon after taking effect.

I also sponsored a bill last year that a bill that would require staff at these facilities to wear body cameras as a means to improve transparency, accountability and safety for everyone. Unfortunately, the Democrats never gave it a hearing.

The governor would spend the $12 million on higher salaries for current staff and additional security. While I support a variety of efforts to fix this ongoing problem, any money spent should be part of a larger effort to drastically and immediately improve conditions.

Legislative Democrats should stop playing games with the lives of the residents and staff at our juvenile rehabilitation centers and pass my reforms in 2026.

 

 

NOW RECRUITING: Senate Pages for the 2026 Legislative Session

 

Do you know a young person (age 14 to 16) who would like to be sponsored by my office to page for the Legislature this year?

Read more about the program:

“The Washington State Legislature has one of the finest page programs in the country. Each year, hundreds of students from across Washington have the opportunity to take part in the legislative process and watch the Legislature and other branches of state government in action.

Pages are sponsored by legislators and serve for one week during the legislative session. Pages spend their week learning about the legislative process while distributing materials throughout the capitol campus, assisting offices, delivering messages, working on the chamber floor, and carrying the flags at the opening of each day’s legislative session. Pages also spend time each day in Page School learning about all aspects of state government.”

To speak with Senate Page Program staff about accommodations​ or how the Senate can help facilitate a positive paging experience, please contact:  

Myra Hernandez
Civic Education Director
P.O. Box 40482
Olympia, WA 98504-0482
(360) 786-7498

Are you broke yet? Democrats ready to pass even more taxes in 2026

LISTEN: Jobs Tax. Income Tax. Innovation Tax. Sen. John Braun Says: Enough to Democrat Tax Hikes

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Affordability remains the number one concern for families across Washington, yet the policies championed by Democrats in Olympia continue to push our state further out of step with the rest of the country. Instead of easing pressures, their decisions are making Washington one of the least affordable places to live, work, and run a business.

Gas prices are falling nationwide, but Washington still ranks among the top three most expensive states in the country. Our restaurants face the highest operating costs in America while earning the lowest profit margins. Schools, nonprofits, and small businesses are still suffering from last year’s expansion of the sales tax.

As we approach the 2026 legislative session, people have every reason to be concerned. We are currently facing a $4 billion budget shortfall, but so far, we are hearing about proposals in the neighborhood of $11 billion in new or higher taxes.

Democratic leaders have already announced plans for a new tax on jobs—one that threatens our economy—and they have openly stated their intent to pass a state income tax this year.

When they tell you they plan to do this, believe them.

 

The reality about a state income tax

Washington’s constitution prohibits a graduated income tax. Any tax that applies only to individuals earning above a certain amount—while exempting everyone else—is unconstitutional. Despite this, Democrats appear determined to push one through anyway and send it to the state Supreme Court, hoping the court will reclassify it as an “excise tax.”

If that happens, the door opens for the very tax Washington voters have rejected 11 times at the ballot box.

Some voters mistakenly believe that adopting an income tax would mean eliminating our sales tax. That is not on the table. There is no proposal—none—to model our system after Oregon’s, which has an income tax but no sales tax.

Meanwhile, several of our largest employers have already stated publicly that they will leave Washington if an income tax is enacted. For decades, our Democratic governors touted the lack of an income tax as a key incentive for companies to locate here. Now, the majority party is prepared to give those same employers every reason to leave.

We have a fight ahead

Republicans will fight to protect you, your paycheck, and your job from any attempt to impose an income tax in Washington. But we cannot do it alone.

You can make a difference by contacting Democratic legislators and telling them to reject this tax. You can testify when the bill receives a hearing. And you can encourage your friends, neighbors, and family members to get involved as well.

I will keep you updated as this and other harmful proposals move through the Legislature. Your participation matters. Your voice matters.

Together, we can make sure our voices are heard.

Sincerely,

Senator John Braun

 

 

Can Washington afford it?

 

Before passing another law, we should ask one question: Can Washington afford it – not just in dollars, but
in safety, trust and opportunity?

Families across Washington are struggling to pay bills, find affordable housing, and feel safe in their
communities. Polls show “affordability” is the people’s top priority. Every decision in Olympia has a cost,
and it’s time we make affordability the test for every policy – financial, moral and generational.

As the minority, our job is to hold the majority accountable for the cost of their leadership and to offer
common-sense solutions Washington CAN afford.
This session we will connect every issue – from taxes to education to public safety – back to this simple,
people-centered truth:

Washington can’t afford policies that make life harder for the families we represent.

 

Myth vs fact:

MYTH: So much was cut from the budget last year that there isn’t anything left to cut.

FACT: The budget actually GREW by 8.2% last year. Democrats didn’t make cuts – they changed their funding priorities and programs such as one caring for drug-addicted babies were defunded.

MYTH: Last year’s deficit was $16 billion to $20 billion.

FACT: According to NONPARTISAN staff, the true deficit was $7.3 billion. Democrats made a policy choice to fund $4 billion in pay raises for state employees. They did NOT need to pass the largest tax increase in state history.

MYTH: We need more “revenue,” including an income tax.

FACT: The Democratic majority doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem. Democrats need to reevaluate their priorities. Also, a graduated income tax, which taxes people at different rates based on their income, is unconstitutional in Washington and voters have rejected a state income tax 11 times. This hasn’t deterred Democrats from pushing for one and lobbying the state Supreme Court to consider it an excise tax instead.

By the numbers:

  • The fastest growing part of the budget is lawsuit settlements worth billions of taxpayer dollars paid to victims and their families for Democratic mismanagement of state agencies and their policies that result in the injury and death of the most vulnerable.
  • Washington remains dead last nationwide for the number of law enforcement officers per capita, despite the hiring of more than 300 new officers.
  • Washington is one of the three most expensive states for gas prices due to $0.52/gal in Democratic carbon taxes
  • The average household income in Washington is roughly half what is required to qualify for the median-priced home.
  • Washington’s restaurants have to charge the highest prices in the nation, but have the lowest profit margins in the nation (1.5% compared to the 4% national average).
  • Washington is rated 35th nationwide for business climate, down from 15th in 2022. The drop is due to the income tax on capital gains.
  • Washington ranks as the 7th least affordable state for infant care, with care for one infant costing 17.8% of a family’s yearly income.
  • Democratic policies will force an 18.6% electric rate hike over the next two years for many Western Washington consumers.
  • Washington could see blackouts across the state due to Democrats’ policies that will remove 1292 megawatts of electricity from the grid in 2026.

 

Keep Washington Livable

  • Reject policies that make life more expensive
  • Advance solutions that reduce costs and reward hard work and innovation
  • Protect jobs and keep job providers in Washington

Washington can’t afford higher taxes and fewer economic opportunities.

 

Keep Washington Safe

  • Prioritize victims over offenders
  • Expand and strengthen law enforcement
  • Protect kids from overdoses, abuse and exploitation

Washington can’t afford policies that put our communities in danger.

 

Keep Washington’s Promise

  • Improve public school academic attendance and performance
  • Support stronger, healthier families
  • Reinvest in foster care and childcare programs

Washington can’t afford to neglect its responsibility to our kids and to their future prosperity.

 

Local flooding and a state of emergency

The 20th Legislative District has been impacted by heavy rains this week, resulting in localized flooding and landslides. Randall is completely cut off and Highway 12 remains closed, officials do not know when roads will reopen.

The governor has declared a state of emergency, which includes the activation of 300 National Guardsmen to assist with response (pending approval from the federal government.)

Today, at noon, he held a news conference to update everyone on the status of the response. Watch the press conference.

According to the governor and emergency management officials, the situation is unpredictable. They do not know exactly what will happen when the second wave of water reaches the lower areas of the rivers. They expect rivers to crest around 10 p.m.

This is affecting areas on both sides of the mountains and up and down the entire state.

If you have been advised to evacuate, please do so. Do not drive through standing water. Stay off of the dikes – they could fail and cause serious injury. What we will see happen this evening will test the work done after the work done in 2021 on our levies. Do not assume that because you made it through previous floods okay that you won’t experience dangerous conditions now.

The next 12 hours will be critical and will place a lot of demands on our emergency services. You can help by following guidelines and staying away from evacuated areas and flood waters.

I am concerned for all who are impacted and urge everyone to continue to take necessary precautions. As always, I hear stories of our local emergency personnel, government officials, and community members who have stepped up to care for their neighbors. I am grateful to serve a community that is defined a strong sense of care.

 

My latest column: Soft-on-crime legislators have blood on their hands, local prosecutor says

On the surface, a pair of murders in our state nearly two months ago don’t have anything in common except for each occurring in mid-October and resulting in the arrest of a young man.

One occurred in north Seattle, the other in Spokane — far from our corner of the state. Yet it’s a local prosecutor, Lewis County’s Jonathan Meyer, who sees two common denominators.

Not only are the suspected murderers both former residents of Green Hill School, the county’s state-run juvenile facility, but he ties the timing of the crimes to this year’s passage of House Bill 1815.

It’s among the latest additions to a very long list of soft-on-crime laws supported by Democrats.

READ THE FULL COMMENTARY

STATEMENT: Corruption in race-based homeownership program exploits taxpayers, undermines public trust

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, is calling for a full investigation and immediate accountability after a Seattle journalist’s months-long investigation revealed information indicating that people connected to a race-restricted homeownership program have been misusing taxpayer funds for personal gain.

The investigation involves the Community Reinvestment Program managed by the state Department of Commerce. It was launched by majority Democrats through a $200 million budget appropriation in 2022 and received another infusion in the budget adopted in April.

Braun said the apparent scandal demonstrates a deeper problem: state-endorsed discrimination creates fertile ground for corruption, allowing a select few to profit while struggling families are fed false hope.

“This mess isn’t an accident — corruption thrives wherever government decides certain people get special treatment and others don’t. When politicians divide people by race, they create a shadow system with no transparency, no fairness, and no results. That’s exactly what we’re seeing here.

“The Democratic majority funneled another $50 million to this program last year. People were told to trust this program – that it would have widespread impact in minority homeownership. Instead, the report I saw today indicates it’s been treated like a private bank account. This is about more than wasting money — it has stolen hope from families counting on a fair chance to build a future.

“When public money is hijacked by self-serving operators, every Washingtonian pays the price. Corruption at any level is morally rotten, but especially if it happens under the nose of the agency that has been entrusted to oversee this program. This financially destructive to our state and simply cannot continue.

Braun said Senate Republicans will sponsor legislation to:

  • Eliminate discriminatory housing programs that pick winners and losers based on race
  • Impose strict oversight and spending controls on state-funded nonprofits
  • Enforce performance standards so that assistance reaches real families, not insiders

 

STATEMENT: Another Green Hill scandal a continuation of ‘systemic failure’

WATCH KING TV’S REPORT

 

CENTRALIA — Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following statement today in response to reports that staff at Green Hill School in Chehalis recorded sexual acts with inmates in custody:

“The reports coming out of Green Hill School are appalling. Instead of rehabilitating inmates housed at the facility, some staff have been sexually exploiting them – and recording it.

“Arrests have already been made, which is a necessary first step — but it does not address the deeper breakdowns that allowed this to happen.

“The ‘JR-to-25’ policy expanded the juvenile-justice population without considering the resources or safeguards necessary to manage it responsibly. Mixing adult offenders with younger residents has created dangerous overcrowding and a volatile work environment. That instability has driven out qualified staff, invited misconduct, and put both youth and employees in harm’s way.

“I am calling for the immediate release of all investigation findings, the termination of any remaining implicated employees, and a 30-day corrective-action plan from DCYF that includes clear benchmarks for staffing, training, supervision, and oversight.

“The Legislature must also conduct bipartisan public hearings to examine not just these criminal acts, but the policies that created this environment. The facility is not meeting its mission and it’s costing the state three times as much to operate.

“Those in state custody are there to be rehabilitated, not used for the sexual gratification of staff who have shown they have no business working in the system. Accountability must be swift, transparency must be complete, and the culture at Green Hill must change from the top down.”

“I’ve proposed solutions to address this ongoing problem, none of which have made it out of the Democratic-controlled Legislature despite bipartisan support.”

During the 2025 legislative session, Braun sponsored legislation (Senate Bill 5278) that would have improved conditions at the state’s largest juvenile institutions – Green Hill School and Echo Glen, near Snoqualmie –by allowing them to send some of the inmates over 18 years of age to adult facilities operated by the Department of Corrections. The Senate passed the bill, but House Democrats killed it at the request of Sen. Claire Wilson, a King County Democrat whose own bill on juvenile justice lacked support.

Braun said he will urge the Senate Human Services and Ways and Means committees to coordinate hearings on the Green Hill failures, as well as the statewide effects of the JR-to-25 expansion on safety, staffing, and rehabilitation outcomes.

 

Background

  • Two Green Hill School staff have been arrested and charged with custodial sexual misconduct; at least one has entered a guilty plea.
  • In July 2024, DCYF suspended new intakes at Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children’s Center amid escalating safety and staffing problems.
  • The JR-to-25 policy allows some offenders to remain in juvenile facilities until age 25, leading to overcrowding and increased incidents of violence and assault.
  • Media and oversight reports have documented at least 21 criminal referrals involving Green Hill staff since 2024.

 

NEWSLETTER: Taxes so high even a Democrat wants cuts

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On October 1, several of the Democrats’ newest tax increases went into effect—and you may already be seeing the impacts in higher prices and banking fees. Here are just a few examples:

  • New sales tax on previously untaxed services (SB 5814). This tax will take $4 billion out of taxpayers’ pockets over the next four years and require the Department of Revenue to hire 44 employees just to administer it. One way you will feel this pinch is through higher streaming and cable fees.
  • Higher taxes on service businesses (HB 2081). The tax rate on many service providers jumped to 2.1%, from 1.75%, depending on their level of gross revenue. Because the tax is based on **gross receipts and not just profit**, this hits small-margin businesses the hardest. The result? Lost jobs and higher prices.
  • A 50% increase in the cost to access state-owned lands. The annual Discover Pass went from $30 to $45. The state predicts this will lead to 15% fewer visitors to our parks, but Democrats did it anyway.

Senate Republicans offered a responsible alternative:

  • A balanced four-year budget
  • No cuts to core services
  • No tax increases

Democrats refused to allow a vote on it.

Instead, they and Governor Ferguson imposed the largest package of tax increases in state history to fund a budget that still made deep and troubling cuts—including closing a facility that cares for drug-addicted newborns, kidney dialysis, and mothballing a much-needed mental health facility in Clark County.

Almost immediately after its passage, their budget began to unravel. According to the state’s September revenue forecast, the current two-year budget is already more than $400 million in the red. And that doesn’t even include the $2+ billion in legal settlements the state is expected to owe over the next four years due to mismanagement and lawsuits.

One Democrat is even talking about a tax cut. Is it enough? The legislator who wants to now cut sales tax  voted for the Senate Democrats’ version of the new budget, which required an astounding $21 billion in new taxes to balance, before voting for the final budget and the $12+ billion tax package that went with it. A tiny cut in sales tax would not come close to providing relief to the taxpayers.

Either way, expect them to push for even higher taxes when we address the supplemental budget during the 2026 legislative session beginning in January.

How much is enough?

Growing government while digging deeper into taxpayers’ pockets—and sacrificing vital services—is the wrong direction for Washington.

If cuts are necessary, we should start by reducing wasteful spending and bureaucracy, not programs that support the most vulnerable. Raising taxes should always be the last resort. Forcing hardworking Washingtonians to pay for the majority’s poor decisions is unacceptable.

You deserve better.

Sincerely,

Senator John Braun
R-Centralia

 

 

Our paid leave program is headed for a financial cliff

While I’m on the subject of things that are putting the state budget in a hole, I have to mention the Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFMLA). This is the program that pays a benefit to Washington workers who need to take approved family or medical leave.

The program already experiences intermittent deficits as it pays out benefits before receiving premiums, but it will see a sustained $350 million deficit in 2029. 

More than 320,000 people applied for the program between July 1, 2024 and June 30 of this year. Of those, 240,000 people received $2 billion in benefits — an increase of $300 million over the previous year.

What is the solution?

During this year’s session, many of my colleagues and I voted for a bill that would have required the total premium rate for the program to be set at the lowest possible rate necessary to maintain solvency, reduce fluctuations, and build a four-month reserve. Although the bill passed in the Senate, House Democrats killed it.

Instead, they attempted to increase the current cap on the amount of the premium for the program, which is now 1.2% of your salary, to 2%. I expect to see another attempt in the upcoming legislative session to increase or remove the cap.

I will keep you informed as this develops.

 

Protecting signature gatherers

My colleague Sen. Jeff Wilson, R–Longview, is preparing legislation to strengthen and clarify protections for Washingtonians engaged in the initiative process. Recent reports of harassment and intimidation toward signature gatherers have highlighted the need for clearer laws and more consistent enforcement.

Sen. Wilson is reaching out to law enforcement statewide to seek their input as he finalizes the bill. His goal is to ensure that officers have the tools they need to protect citizens’ rights and that everyone can safely take part in this vital form of civic participation.

Protecting the people’s voice has always been a Washington value, and this effort reaffirms our commitment to that principle.

 

 

What to do about Washington’s housing crisis?

Washington continues to face a critical housing shortage. Every year, Democrats talk about affordable housing, yet their actions make the problem worse. Instead of removing barriers, they pass new regulations, higher taxes, and increased fees that make it harder and more expensive to build homes.

Consider just a few of the ways these policies are driving prices up:

  • Restricting access to timberland When the state locks up land that could be responsibly harvested and managed, we get less lumber and higher prices. Builders can’t build with what they can’t afford to buy.
  • Overregulation and permitting delays Cumbersome permitting processes and excessive regulations slow down or stop development entirely. Time is money—and these delays add thousands of dollars to the price of every home or apartment.
  • Reduced supply drives up prices for everyone When we don’t build enough housing, homeowners and renters both pay the price. Scarcity sends prices skyrocketing.

These policies don’t just hurt families—they also hurt the state budget. When fewer homes are built, the state misses out on property-tax revenue from new housing, as well as other taxes related to real-estate transactions and construction. To make up the difference, Democrats have repeatedly raised taxes on existing homeowners in a desperate attempt to balance the budget.

The solution is simple:

✅ Make it easier and less expensive to build

✅ Increase supply

✅ Lower costs for everyone

It’s time to stop talking about affordable housing and start removing the barriers that prevent it.

Listen to my new podcast where I dig deeper into this issue with and discuss real solutions that can get Washington building again. My guest is Kurt Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at Soundbuilt Homes in Puyallup.

 

$292 million failure shows state’s incompetence is a feature, not a fluke

CENTRALIA — Senate Republican Leader John Braun, Centralia, issued the following statement today in response to the Seattle Times report that the state has suspended a $292 million IT modernization project after more than a decade of failed progress:

“Suspending this project further exposes a long-standing problem with large state contracts – the chronic mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. That the dysfunction and incompetence of demonstrated here ever got this far without results or accountability is shameful. We have a culture of apathy, excuse-making, and blurred responsibility in our state government today, and this is just one example.

“If this had happened in the private sector, someone would’ve been fired years ago. Instead, we watched the price tag skyrocket and deadlines slip while agency leaders shrugged or got bogged down in power struggles and petty squabbles. That’s not public service — it’s public negligence.

Braun called for accountability for those responsible for overseeing, or hindering, the failed IT project and urged the development of a new oversight structure for large-scale state contracts.

“Washingtonians deserve better. We need a clear process where qualified project managers with real-world experience — not political appointees — are empowered to make decisions and stop waste before it spirals out of control. And this needs to extend beyond IT projects. This process should extend to all state agencies – including the Department of Transportation, which is constantly plagued with missed deadlines and blown budgets because no one provides serious oversight or enforces standards of performance.

“The upcoming 2026 Legislative Session provides an opportunity for the Legislature to rein in government waste and prove that we take our fiduciary responsibility to the people of Washington seriously. If the majority won’t sponsor legislation to hold those in charge more accountable, Republicans will.”