News - John Braun

STATEMENT: Republican leader renews call for legislators to suspend gas tax

May 16, 2022

OLYMPIA… There is one sure way to lower the cost of gasoline, says Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and that’s for the Legislature to suspend the 49.4-cent state portion of the gas tax. Braun, R-Centralia, said legislative action makes even more sense now considering how gas prices continue to rise,... Read More...

Legislators should reconvene and suspend gas tax, Republican leader says after seeing revenue report

April 19, 2022

OLYMPIA… As the nation’s inflation rate hit 8.5% this past week, a report from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council indicated state-revenue collections are running more than $255 million above what it projected in February. Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia responded by calling again on the Legislature... Read More...

STATEMENT: Senate Republican leader lauds new laws related to safety of indigenous people

March 31, 2022

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement about legislation signed today that focuses more attention and resources on the safety of indigenous people. “Some issues, like human trafficking and domestic violence, transcend partisan differences – and today’s signing of House Bill 1571 and House Bill 1725 makes it... Read More...

Braun bill to extend services for developmentally disabled young people receives governor’s signature

March 24, 2022

OLYMPIA… More young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have access to “School to Work” services under legislation signed today by the governor. In areas where students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to such services, they are three times more likely to be employed when they leave... Read More...

STATEMENT: 2022 session didn’t work for all of Washington, say Republican legislative leaders

March 10, 2022

OLYMPIA… The Legislature’s Republican leaders say the just-completed 2022 session fell short on addressing concerns they and other Republican lawmakers have been hearing from people across Washington. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm: “The 2022 session will be remembered for lawmakers attempting to fix problems created in recent sessions,... Read More...

STATEMENT: All will pay, only some will benefit with majority’s new transportation package

March 10, 2022

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm offered this reaction to the majority Democrats’ passage of a fee-heavy transportation package (Senate Bill 5974 & Senate Bill 5975) that doesn’t address the needs of most Washington communities. “The majority Democrats have tried very... Read More...

Senate passes emergency-powers bill without Republican improvements

February 15, 2022

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun and Sen. Lynda Wilson, prime sponsor of two bipartisan bills to reform Washington’s emergency-powers law, offered this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 5909. The measure received a 29-20 vote, after amendments offered by Wilson, R-Vancouver, and Braun, R-Centralia, were turned down by... Read More...

Republicans lead Senate’s passage of bill to correct damage to public-safety laws

February 09, 2022

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia made this statement following tonight’s approval of Senate Bill 5919, which would restore some of the public-safety tools lost by law-enforcement agencies due to anti-police bills adopted by majority legislators in 2021: “Many people across our state feel less safe today because... Read More...

Senate majority passes ‘unconscionable’ bill that would let murderers, rapists pursue quicker release from prison

February 02, 2022

OLYMPIA… Under Senate Bill 5036, passed today by the Senate’s Democratic majority, 128 offenders now serving time for aggravated murder or first-degree murder would immediately become eligible to apply for commutation of their sentences. Another 68 such offenders would be eligible to seek commutation within the next five years. An... Read More...

Only fix for problematic long-term care tax is repeal, says Braun

February 01, 2022

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... Read More...

Senator John Braun

Senate Republican Leader — 20th District

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