Senator Braun Budget Summary With the state Legislature nearing the end of a short 60-day session, Sen. John Braun today released a supplemental budget proposal, which addresses many of the concerns found in both Senate and House Democratic plans released earlier this week. Braun said his legislation would provide nearly...

With release of distinctly different supplemental budget proposals by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate, Sen. John Braun sees significant, but not impossible challenges ahead for the two majorities to find common ground before the legislative session ends Mar. 8. Braun, R-Centralia, serves as the ranking member on...

Sen. John Braun said the new supplemental budget proposal publicly released by Senate Democrats earlier today leaves the door open for bipartisan engagement. Lawmakers are in the final stretch of a short 60-day session to update the state’s two-year operating budget, passed last year. “Early indicators show that the Senate...

Please join me for a telephone town hall meeting on Monday, February 19. The community conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last one hour. Representative Ed Orcutt and I will share a brief update on the 2018 legislative session and spend most of the time answering your questions. The event is much like...

Following yet another positive revenue forecast, Sen. John Braun said property tax relief in 2018 was not only achievable but an obvious choice. Education funding legislation approved last year increased the 2018 state property tax before local levies are reduced in 2019 as part of transitioning to a new funding...

Members of the Washington State Senate remained on the floor into the early morning hours today to debate costly legislation that circumvents constitutional protections for Washington’s individual provider home care workers. Sen. John Braun, strongly opposes the proposed policy and process by which the Senate Democratic Majority attempted to advance...

Legislation aimed at improving management of Washington state’s forest trust lands was the subject of a public hearing in Monday’s Senate Ways and Means Committee. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Braun, establishes an average annual goal of raising $230 million from activities on the state’s forest and trust lands....

Homeowners throughout the entire state would see tax relief under newly proposed legislation exempting $100,000 of the value of a primary residence from state property tax. Sen. John Braun sponsored a constitutional amendment authorizing a homestead exemption, which would go to voters in 2018, and legislation setting the $100,000 level,...

More than 170,000 students attending Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges would pay 10 percent less in tuition under new legislation sponsored by Sen. John Braun. “More jobs than ever require some training or education after high school,” said Braun. “The state’s community and technical colleges train students in a...