Governor signs Braun bill providing schools with cost-saving student transportation options
OLYMPIA…Gov. Bob Ferguson today signed a bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, that will allow schools to use state funding for more appropriate student transportation options when using a school bus is not necessary or cost-effective. Student transportation to and from school, and to various K-12 programs and services,...
Read More
Braun: UW protests escalate into targeted harassment, criminal behavior
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following statement today in response to escalating violence and harassment during protests at the University of Washington: “The events unfolding at the University of Washington have crossed every line of decency and legality. Last night, protesters threw human feces at attendees...
Read More
Braun praises UW officials for response to Monday protests, calls for prosecutions
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following reaction to Monday’s violent occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at the University of Washington by anti-Israel, pro-Hamas protesters. The protests were in opposition to the university’s ties to The Boeing Company. “Violent antisemitic protests intended to intimidate Jewish students and...
Read More
NEWSLETTER: An expensive end to the legislative session — A $77.9 billion operating budget and billions in taxes
Watch my sine die interview with TVW’s The Impact Dear Friends and Neighbors, The regular 2025 legislative session wrapped up yesterday, on schedule – although a “special” session can’t be ruled out if the governor takes issue with the new budget. At times, this session felt even longer than...
Read More
NEWSLETTER: A victory on property taxes, but higher local levies
Areas outside Seattle will see an increase of nearly 20% next year and 55% over the next six years. Dear Friends and Neighbors, At the beginning of the week, the news media reported legislative Democrats had again decided to abandon their efforts to increase your property taxes. This was...
Read More
Governor signs Braun bill expanding technical education to 6th graders
OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to expand exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth-grade students was signed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. It will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Currently, K-12 education funding provides exploratory CTE to students beginning in seventh grade. Exploratory...
Read More
NEWSLETTER: It’s budget week in the Legislature – what does that mean for you?
Legislative budget week — the Tax Day rally Dear Friends and Neighbors, On Tax Day, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to a large crowd of Washingtonians who came to the steps of the Capitol to protest the billions in new and higher taxes Democrats...
Read More
House Democrats fumble justice-reform bill, leaving juvenile-justice facilities in crisis
OLYMPIA… On the final day for Senate bills to be considered by the House of Representatives, the majority Democrats in the House — including the Speaker of the House — fumbled a critical opportunity to alleviate dangerous overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, leaving both residents and staff members in crisis....
Read More
Just in time for Tax Day, Democrats double down on taxes
OLYMPIA…As if proposing the largest tax increase in Washington state history wasn’t enough, Senate Democrats in Olympia doubled the number of taxes proposed by introducing five tax bills just in time for Tax Day. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered this reaction: “On Tax Day, no less, Democrats have...
Read More