February 15, 2022

Senate passes emergency-powers bill without Republican improvements

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
February 09, 2022

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

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
February 02, 2022

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

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
February 01, 2022

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

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
January 24, 2022

Braun: Retiring Senator Reuven Carlyle kind, professional public servant

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...
Read More
January 20, 2022

Senators propose linking property-tax relief and substantial increase in support for K-12 schools

Bipartisan legislation would move toward education equity in every ZIP Code OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) and Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) say state government’s positive financial outlook has given legislators an opportunity to make significant new investments in Washington’s K-12 schools, bring local school-levy rates down and avoid a repeat...
Read More
January 17, 2022

Proposal to slash in-person schooling alarming, says Braun

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...
Read More
December 22, 2021

STATEMENT — Republican leaders: Call special session to fix or repeal long-term care tax before tax collections begin

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...
Read More
December 03, 2021

Supreme Court’s acceptance of Redistricting Commission maps best solution, says Braun

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...
Read More