Sen. John Braun’s legislation, Senate Bill 5329 that would require public employees’ union negotiations to be open to the public received a hearing in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Monday. “It is important to have transparency and openness in government,” Braun, R- Centralia, said. “We’ve recently seen private negotiations...

Taxpayers in Washington can face a lengthy and challenging process when disputing a tax assessment. To create a more open and fair process Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced Senate Bill 5449 which would create a statewide elected Tax Appeals Division of the appeals court and eliminate the executive agency comprised...

On June 30, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Harris v. Quinn which deals with the issue of workers being required to unionize. I sent a letter to the Attorney General requesting an informal opinion answering several questions about that case’s effects in our state. Does the U.S. Supreme...

I recently wrote a guest column in the Longview Daily News regarding the governor’s proposed changes to our state’s water quality standards and the challenges that presents. Please read below for excerpts and a link to the full story.     Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement regarding Washington’s water quality...

I recently co-authored an opinion piece in the Puget Sound Business Journal regarding our state’s tourism industry. I worked on legislation this session to address this need. Washington State currently does not have a state funded tourism office, but tourism is a big driver of our economy and is the...

By Pete Caster Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, on Wednesday sat across from a semicircle of small business owners and listened to a litany of state- and federal-business regulation horror stories. Braun and the dozen local entrepreneurs were joined by Patrick Connor, Washington state director of the National Federation of Independent...

Tomorrow NFIB and Senator John Braun will hold a “Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations” event at Braun’s company, Braun Northwest, a manufacturer of specialty emergency vehicles in Chehalis.  As the country gears up to celebrate the achievements of American workers on Labor Day, the event will highlight the regulatory obstacles...

20th District senator asks why college students pay for state employee pay increases Sen. John Braun’s reaction to the governor’s proposed new taxes totaling $1.4 billion in the next two years, including tax increases on businesses, oil refineries, beer and bottled-water drinkers and out-of-state shoppers, is simple: “What happened to...

Majority Coalition Caucus leaders are pleased with bipartisan support The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, Senators Janéa Holmquist Newbry and John Braun, celebrated the efforts of the Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC) to work collaboratively with several members of the minority to pass a number of...