OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun introduced Senate Bill 5965, which would repeal the wildly unpopular long-term care trust program referred to as “Washington Cares.” It would also repeal the taxes employees are required to pay through payroll deductions. More than 400,000 people applied for exemptions to the plan – a...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun shared the following comments upon learning that Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-36th District, announced he does not plan to run for re-election this year. “Reuven has served a long and distinguished career both in the House and Senate. I’ve had many opportunities over the years to...

One day a week of remote schooling without teacher contact a huge mistake OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction upon hearing Senate Bill 5735, which would allow up to one day a week of school to be held remotely on a permanent basis, will receive a hearing...

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...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun issued the following statement after the Washington State Supreme Court announced that it will accept the plan approved by the Washington State Redistricting Commission that redraws our state’s 49 legislative districts. “While the plan developed by the Redistricting Commission does not reflect exactly how we...

All four redistricting commissioners affirm redistricting plan agreed upon before legal deadline In light of this week’s announcement by the Washington State Redistricting Commission that the bipartisan group was unable to fully complete its task of drawing new boundaries for Washington’s 49 legislative districts, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released this...

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this response to today’s announcement by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, that she will step down as the 18th Legislative District’s state senator: “Having served with Senator Rivers for nine years, from a neighboring district, I know how hard she has worked for...

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today about former state Sen. Dan Swecker, who passed away Monday evening. Swecker, R-Rochester, was Braun’s predecessor as 20th Legislative District senator, serving from 1995 through 2012. “During his years as a legislator, Senator Swecker rose to leadership positions on multiple...

Inslee’s vaccine mandate on K-12 could backfire, hurt students   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following statement in response to the governor’s announcement requiring teachers and other K-12 education employees to get the COVID vaccine or risk losing their jobs and jeopardizing their district’s funding. “I am...