Budget

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

July 13, 2022

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,... Read More...

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

April 19, 2022

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... Read More...

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

March 24, 2022

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... Read More...

STATEMENT: 2022 session didn’t work for all of Washington, say Republican legislative leaders

March 10, 2022

OLYMPIA… The Legislature’s Republican leaders say the just-completed 2022 session fell short on addressing concerns they and other Republican lawmakers have been hearing from people across Washington. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm: “The 2022 session will be remembered for lawmakers attempting to fix problems created in recent sessions,... Read More...

Senators propose linking property-tax relief and substantial increase in support for K-12 schools

January 20, 2022

Bipartisan legislation would move toward education equity in every ZIP Code OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) and Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) say state government’s positive financial outlook has given legislators an opportunity to make significant new investments in Washington’s K-12 schools, bring local school-levy rates down and avoid a repeat... Read More...

Legislature sends Braun’s taxpayer-protection measure to ballot

March 09, 2020

Proposed constitutional amendment would bring stability to long-term care fund OLYMPIA…More than a year before Washington workers are required to begin paying into a long-term care fund, Washington voters will have an opportunity to direct those payroll-tax dollars into investments that could strengthen the fund while protecting taxpayers. Late Thursday... Read More...

Don’t replace botched tax hike, says budget leader, just abandon it

January 21, 2020

Tax would balloon to $1 billion from $773 million under Senate majority proposal The state Senate’s majority Democrats should simply repeal the badly flawed business-tax increase that took effect Jan. 1 rather than pursue a new plan that would take far more money from professional-service providers, says Sen. John Braun.... Read More...

Senate backs Braun measures to address mismanagement, improve care for developmentally disabled Washingtonians

March 13, 2019

OLYMPIA…The Senate today gave unanimous approval to bills from Sen. John Braun aimed at addressing concerns about the care of developmentally disabled Washingtonians and the management of health care for low-income residents. “It’s wrong that developmentally disabled people who don’t have medical needs are effectively being abandoned at hospitals –... Read More...

Senate majority presents landmark plan for K-12 funding — Education Equality Act would make student-centered, teacher-friendly reforms

January 27, 2017

OLYMPIA…Senate Majority Coalition Caucus members today introduced landmark reforms that would return state government to the role of primary provider for Washington’s K-12 schools while finally connecting school funding with the actual cost of educating students. The MCC’s Education Equality Act is the first complete, ready-for-voting solution proposed by lawmakers... Read More...

December 12, 2016

Greetings Friends and Neighbors, In this newsletter you will find the eighth edition of my policy letter, Economic Sense. This edition looks into the Governor’s historically expensive proposed collective bargaining agreements and examines whether they are the best use of taxpayer funds. It addresses lost opportunities, and provides context around... Read More...

Senator John Braun

Senate Republican Leader — 20th District

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