Watch my weekly video update.   Dear Friends and Neighbors, You may have heard that two citizen-led initiatives have been certified recently and are now before the Legislature. If passed, one would restore parents’ rights to know what’s happening to their children in public school (IL26-001).The other would ban biological...

Dear Friends and Neighbors, There’s been plenty of news lately about the defrauding of government programs, specifically by some daycare owners in Minnesota. While that issue has received a lot of attention, it is not unique. Across the country, people commit fraud against all kinds of publicly funded programs, accessing...

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Recently, The Seattle Times published an editorial that sheds light on why my bill (Senate Bill 5278) to address the dangerous overcrowding at Green Hill School failed to become law—even though it passed the Senate unanimously. I encourage you to read the piece, but I want...

OLYMPIA…Gov. Bob Ferguson today signed a bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, that will allow schools to use state funding for more appropriate student transportation options when using a school bus is not necessary or cost-effective. Student transportation to and from school, and to various K-12 programs and services,...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, says Washington teachers don’t deserve to have incentive bonuses cut in half by Democrats. Educators in Washington currently qualify for a bonus for achieving certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They can receive an additional bonus for teaching in a school...

OLYMPIA – Senate Republicans released their $ave Washington budget proposal Tuesday, proving the state budget that lawmakers must adopt for 2025-27 can be balanced without new taxes—despite a multibillion-dollar shortfall. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued this statement about the Republican budget and Democrats’ push for billions in new...

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced legislation today aimed at improving the state’s response to child-neglect cases and reducing costly lawsuits stemming from inadequate intervention. Cases of child neglect are increasing, as are monetary settlements against the state for its handling of these cases. Senate Bill 5736 seeks...

Sticking to my priorities Friends and Neighbors, One of the ways Senate Republicans decide what our legislative priorities will be each year is to take a deep and thoughtful look around the state at the problems everyday people face. What complicates their lives? What puts them in danger? What makes...

CENTRALIA…Three infants in the Everett area overdosed on fentanyl over four days this week, including a 13-month-old who died. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following reaction to these preventable tragedies. “It’s completely indefensible when an infant or child gets sick or dies because someone in the household...