Legislature

New statewide crime numbers confirm importance of reestablishing public safety, says Republican leader

July 21, 2022

CENTRALIA… The state Senate’s Republican leader says new numbers showing crime has continued to increase across Washington should give legislators even more reason to focus on public-safety measures next year – beyond what the governor is belatedly supporting. The 2021 Crime in Washington report has murder, rape, robbery and aggravated... Read More...

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...

STATEMENT: Republican leader renews call for legislators to suspend gas tax

May 16, 2022

OLYMPIA… There is one sure way to lower the cost of gasoline, says Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and that’s for the Legislature to suspend the 49.4-cent state portion of the gas tax. Braun, R-Centralia, said legislative action makes even more sense now considering how gas prices continue to rise,... 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...

STATEMENT: Senate Republican leader lauds new laws related to safety of indigenous people

March 31, 2022

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement about legislation signed today that focuses more attention and resources on the safety of indigenous people. “Some issues, like human trafficking and domestic violence, transcend partisan differences – and today’s signing of House Bill 1571 and House Bill 1725 makes it... 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...

STATEMENT: All will pay, only some will benefit with majority’s new transportation package

March 10, 2022

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm offered this reaction to the majority Democrats’ passage of a fee-heavy transportation package (Senate Bill 5974 & Senate Bill 5975) that doesn’t address the needs of most Washington communities. “The majority Democrats have tried very... 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...

STATEMENT — Republican leaders: Call special session to fix or repeal long-term care tax before tax collections begin

December 22, 2021

Governor’s delay of ‘Washington Cares’ tax won’t prevent January deductions from paychecks OLYMPIA…In response to new information about how the governor’s delay of the long-term care tax won’t stop tax collections in January, Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm issued this... Read More...

Senator John Braun

Senate Republican Leader — 20th District

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