Braun dismayed by lack of major tax relief in Senate budget proposal OLYMPIA…Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia and budget leader for Washington’s Senate Republican Caucus, offered this statement about the supplemental operating budget proposed today by the state Senate’s Democrat majority. “The majority could have done something truly memorable with this budget. With the state’s revenue situation running 1.5 billion dollars ahead of... Read More...

In the News: Billion-dollar tax hike is latest example of government greed The Daily News, Longview Feb. 16, 2020 Opinion — Senator John Braun There are a billion reasons to be concerned about a big tax bill signed by the governor Monday after it zoomed through the state Legislature. The word “billion” applies for two reasons. First, the tax takes another billion... Read More...

Braun hopes for action on bill to help with impacts of homelessness Legislation offers grants to assist businesses with security, sanitation needs With time starting to run short for Senate policy committees to move bills forward in the 2020 session, Sen. John Braun is hoping to see action soon on his proposal to address sanitation and security needs in commercial districts with... Read More...

Braun proposes long-term answer to transportation funding Proposal would slowly shift tax on vehicle purchases away from operating budget OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun is proposing to add a major new funding source for transportation needs across Washington without imposing a new tax. The Senate Republican budget leader plans to file legislation that would begin shifting the state... Read More...

In The News: The 2019-21 Budget (interview with Washington State Wire) The Wire caught up with Sen. Braun post-session to talk about the budget, tax bills that passed, and his forward-looking priorities. Click here for Part 1. Read More...

Braun not surprised by governor’s support for record state budget, huge tax increases OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun remembers the big-taxes, big-spending budget Gov. Jay Inslee proposed to lawmakers before their 2019 session, so it was no shock today when Inslee endorsed an avalanche of unnecessary new taxes and a record state operating budget to spend them. “The governor wanted a business-tax increase and... Read More...

Another night, another onslaught of new Democrat taxes OLYMPIA… The state Senate moved into the final day of the 2019 legislative session with majority Democrats extending their streak of overnight tax votes, the worst of which would slap a 20-percent rate increase on some 40 industries and categories of professional-service providers. That bill was passed at approximately 5... Read More...

Braun astonished by new taxes, spending in proposed budget OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun says Washington taxpayers are in for it if the new taxes and spending in the next state operating budget are even close to what’s in the tentative budget he saw today. “It’s astonishing. We came into this session with the best budget situation of the century,... Read More...