OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today regarding Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent proclamation requiring employers to verify the COVID-19 vaccination status of employees who wish to work without wearing a mask. “State government has consistently shown a lack of faith in the people’s ability to take precautions...

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...

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...

Sen. John Braun introduced Senate Bill 6195 this session that would create a task force to study how the state can better market the state’s tourism industry. Tourism is the fourth largest export industry in the state and accounts for more than 150,000 jobs. Today the governor signed the House...

Growth Management Act: A Burden on Our Communities I have cosponsored legislation recently that addresses some serious concerns I have regarding the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The fact is that our communities know what is best for planning and managing growth. The GMA is overly burdensome and this proposed...

Washington State’s 20th District Senator, John Braun, R-Centralia, talks about the budget impasse that appears to be necessitating a second special session, plus he comments on the workers’ compensation reform package recently passed by the Senate.

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...