Business

Collective bargaining must be open process says Braun
January 27, 2015
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... Read More...
Braun bill aimed at better treatment of taxpayers’ appeals
January 26, 2015
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... Read More...
Impact of Supreme Court Case in Washington
August 12, 2014
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... Read More...
Inslee seeks to expand Ecology’s reach, authority
August 05, 2014
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... Read More...
State neglects tourism at its own peril
June 25, 2014
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... Read More...
Chronicle: Braun Decries ‘Culture of Regulations’
September 06, 2013
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... Read More...
Braun unimpressed by governor’s tax-increase proposal
March 28, 2013
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... Read More...
Senators Braun, Holmquist Newbry celebrate passage of pro-jobs agenda
March 14, 2013
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... Read More...
Senator Braun on how the MCC promotes job growth, education reform
March 04, 2013
Washington State’s 20th District Senator, John Braun, R-Centrailia, and Chair of the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee, talks about the 2013 legislative session, what the Majority Coalition Caucus is doing to promote job growth and how it plans to reform the education system in Washington State. Read More...