College affordability one step closer for Washington Families The Senate Majority’s College Affordability Program, Senate Bill 5954 passed with bipartisan support but surprising opposition from half of Senate Democrats. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Sen. Barbara...

April 23, 2015 3 days left: Senate budget no reason for teachers to strikeSen. John Braun, R-Centralia notes that the end of the 2015 regular legislative session is fast approaching. Braun continues the countdown, highlighting the need to complete budget negotiations by April 26 and offered this statement: “The Senate’s...

April 20, 2015  6 days left: Budget countdown continues I am continuing the countdown to the end of the 2015 legislative session, highlighting the need to complete budget negotiations by April 26. Today is the 99th day of the 105-day legislative session. There are only 6 days left for the...

April 15, 2015 Day 94: Budget countdown continues I am beginning the countdown to the end of the 2015 legislative session, highlighting the need to complete budget negotiations by April 26. Today is the 94th day of the 105-day legislative session, the 19th day since House Democrats rolled out a...

After Sen. John Braun introduced legislation to cut tuition at state colleges and universities some questions arose regarding the bill’s effects on Washington State’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program. Opponents of the proposal have erroneously stated the measure would reduce the value of credits already purchased through the state GET program....

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Forest land management more efficient now that Braun bill signed into law OLYMPIA… Today the governor signed Senate Bill 6180 into law which changes how counties administer forest land and open space timber programs. This legislation authorizes counties to merge programs for more efficient and cost effective administration. Both programs...

Recent budget negotiations by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia have resulted in restoration of revenues to rural districts from forestry activities on federal lands. Local school districts would receive more than $350 thousand dollars under this legislation. Both House and Senate passed the measure today that partially eliminates reductions in basic...