Although state government expects to take in $2.3 billion in additional tax revenue, the Senate Democrat majority is still looking to raid budget reserves using what Sen. John Braun called a felony budget gimmick. Braun said the Democrats’ proposed amendment to Senate Bill 6614 violates the spirit and intent of...

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing this afternoon on legislation reducing the state business and occupation tax for manufacturers of marine vessels and related parts. Sen. John Braun supports this bill, but continued calls for expanding it to all manufacturers, a policy that...

I was very proud to sponsor a Senate Resolution honoring Centralia’s founder George Washington as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birthday. Our George Washington was an African-American pioneer who founded Centralia in 1875 after running a pole ferry across the Chehalis River. Washington overcame many significant hardships to...

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...