Operating Budget

September 07, 2023

Republican leader calls for new path toward housing affordability

20th District senator says Democrat colleague’s proposal to reduce pain at pump also deserves consideration CENTRALIA… The excessive financial windfall from Washington’s cap-and-tax policy should be used to address the affordability crisis facing the state’s homeowners and renters, says Senate Republican Leader John Braun. As of last month, state government had...
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April 22, 2023

Funding for Chehalis Basin, behavioral health lead list of 20th District investments in state’s new capital budget

OLYMPIA… State government’s capital budget for 2023-25 has full legislative approval after receiving unanimous support today from the 49-member Senate. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, says the new spending plan will invest almost $133.5 million in the 20th Legislative District, including $70 million for property- and habitat-protection efforts in the Chehalis...
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March 23, 2023

Braun: Bipartisan Senate budget addresses ‘equity issue of our time’

Provides nearly $70 million for to address students’ learning loss, additional $800 million for special education   OLYMPIA…The 2023-2025 Senate operating budget proposal released today includes nearly $70 million to help Washington’s students recover from learning loss resulting from remote learning and school closures during the pandemic. It also includes...
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March 20, 2023

Senate Republican Leader John Braun shares what the Legislature is doing to address learning loss and special education

              Learn more about what the Legislature is working on to deal with student learning loss and the needs of special education students.
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October 06, 2022

STATEMENT: Republican leader says California tax refunds make Washington Democrats look heartless

CENTRALIA… Tomorrow, middle-class households across California will begin receiving tax-refund payments to help with what one state official calls “inflated costs for everyday necessities.” Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, responded by pointing out how in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic legislators have refused all year long to offer...
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July 13, 2022

STATEMENT: Republican leaders repeat call for action as inflation rates continue to climb

OLYMPIA… Another jump in price inflation at the state and national levels has Senate Republican leaders calling again for legislative action to provide financial relief to Washington families.   New numbers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show the June inflation rate in Washington was 10.1% higher than a year earlier,...
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May 16, 2022

STATEMENT: Republican leader renews call for legislators to suspend gas tax

OLYMPIA… There is one sure way to lower the cost of gasoline, says Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and that’s for the Legislature to suspend the 49.4-cent state portion of the gas tax. Braun, R-Centralia, said legislative action makes even more sense now considering how gas prices continue to rise,...
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April 19, 2022

Legislators should reconvene and suspend gas tax, Republican leader says after seeing revenue report

OLYMPIA… As the nation’s inflation rate hit 8.5% this past week, a report from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council indicated state-revenue collections are running more than $255 million above what it projected in February. Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia responded by calling again on the Legislature...
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March 24, 2022

Braun bill to extend services for developmentally disabled young people receives governor’s signature

OLYMPIA… More young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have access to “School to Work” services under legislation signed today by the governor. In areas where students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to such services, they are three times more likely to be employed when they leave...
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