June 11, 2021

STATEMENT: Promise of good jobs defeated by Inslee’s climate agenda, says Braun

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today after Northwest Innovation Works announced it is pulling the plug on a seven-year effort to construct a $2.3 billion methanol plant at the Port of Kalama. “Knowing this announcement might come from NW Innovations doesn’t make it any less disappointing....
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May 26, 2021

Don’t force employers to become ‘vaccine police,’ says Braun

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today regarding Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent proclamation requiring employers to verify the COVID-19 vaccination status of employees who wish to work without wearing a mask. “State government has consistently shown a lack of faith in the people’s ability to take precautions...
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May 17, 2021

Braun: Inslee again violates state constitution with illegal veto

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered the following remarks after Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed parts of two bills he signed today — House Bill 1091, referred to by Republicans as the High Cost Fuel Standard, and Senate Bill 5126, also known as Cap & Tax. Together the two bills...
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May 14, 2021

Braun reacts to governor’s veto of his COVID-related provision in racial equity analysis bill

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered the following remarks after Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed his amendment to Senate Bill 5405. The bill, sponsored by Democrat Sen. Bob Hasegawa, mandates a racial equity analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC). Braun’s amendment, which was accepted by...
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May 13, 2021

Republican leaders say new CDC guidance supports June 15 reopening

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican J.T. Wilcox offered this statement today after the governor announced many of his COVID-19 economic restrictions will be lifted by the end of June. “Earlier this week members of all four legislative caucuses encouraged Governor Inslee to share the vision of...
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May 04, 2021

Braun encouraged by governor’s restraint on economic restrictions

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee announced all Washington counties will remain under their current economic-restart restrictions for two weeks, temporarily ending the threat of a rollback in more than a dozen counties. “I’m very pleased Governor Inslee eventually recognized the restrictions...
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April 25, 2021

That’s a wrap: Republican leaders wish Legislature had listened to the people more

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks as the 2021 legislative session came to a close as it prepared for the traditional “Sine Die” adjournment.   Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia: “Throughout this session Republicans have consistently offered ideas and taken positions that come from listening to the people....
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April 21, 2021

Legislative Republicans: Emergency power reform not about the governor – it’s about the people

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, offered the following statement in response to an interview Gov. Jay Inslee gave criticizing the efforts of legislative Republicans to advance bills this session addressing the reform of the governor’s emergency powers. During the interview, the governor...
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April 12, 2021

No counties should be moving backward, say legislative Republican leaders

OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders released the following statement after learning that three counties will be forced to move backward to Phase 2 in the governor’s reopening plan. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, expressed their frustration with the governor’s decision and the Democrat majorities’ inaction on executive powers...
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