Budget Priorities

Braun rejects pay increase until budget work is finished
May 15, 2015
Teacher strikes, education funding, and legislator pay. These three issues have grabbed headlines recently as the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials considered increasing legislator pay by 11 percent while legislators are focused on completing budget negotiations. The independent commission voted Wednesday to enact that pay increase despite... Read More...
Tuition-cap bill approved by Senate
April 29, 2015
College affordability one step closer for Washington Families The Senate Majority’s College Affordability Program, Senate Bill 5954 passed with bipartisan support but surprising opposition from half of Senate Democrats. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Sen. Barbara... Read More...
6 days left: Budget countdown continues
April 16, 2015
April 20, 2015  6 days left: Budget countdown continues I am continuing the countdown to the end of the 2015 legislative session, highlighting the need to complete budget negotiations by April 26. Today is the 99th day of the 105-day legislative session. There are only 6 days left for the... Read More...
Day 94: Budget countdown continues
April 10, 2015
April 15, 2015 Day 94: Budget countdown continues I am beginning the countdown to the end of the 2015 legislative session, highlighting the need to complete budget negotiations by April 26. Today is the 94th day of the 105-day legislative session, the 19th day since House Democrats rolled out a... Read More...
Senate tuition-cut proposal good for families and GET program
April 10, 2015
After Sen. John Braun introduced legislation to cut tuition at state colleges and universities some questions arose regarding the bill’s effects on Washington State’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program. Opponents of the proposal have erroneously stated the measure would reduce the value of credits already purchased through the state GET program.... Read More...