Senate Republican leader: Democrats expected to push tax hikes to fund inequitable pay raises
OLYMPIA – Senate Republicans released their $ave Washington budget proposal Tuesday, proving the state budget that lawmakers must adopt for 2025-27 can be balanced without new taxes—despite a multibillion-dollar shortfall. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued this statement about the Republican budget and Democrats’ push for billions in new...
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Senate Unanimously Passes Braun Bill to Improve Safety, Reduce Overcrowding in Juvenile Facilities
OLYMPIA – Legislation from Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities and improve safety for both staff and inmates was passed by the Senate unanimously today. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 5278 responds to ongoing issues at institutions...
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Senate committee backs Braun bill to reduce chronic absenteeism
OLYMPIA… A bill introduced by Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, to help school districts address chronic absenteeism has been approved by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. Senate Bill 5007 is aimed at supporting students at risk of falling...
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NEWSLETTER: Democrats want a mileage tax AND they want to tax the tax
Dear Friends and Neighbors, People in Washington are currently struggling with a high tax burden, especially with the increases in the cost of living brought on by other government policies. But that’s not stopping Democrats from demanding new and higher taxes. This week, Democrats in the Senate and House...
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Braun files bill to step up state’s handling of child-neglect cases
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced legislation today aimed at improving the state’s response to child-neglect cases and reducing costly lawsuits stemming from inadequate intervention. Cases of child neglect are increasing, as are monetary settlements against the state for its handling of these cases. Senate Bill 5736 seeks...
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Legislative Democrats are on the wrong side of parents’ rights
On Monday of this week, I sat for an interview with John Roberts of FOX News to discuss Senate Bill 5181, which would undermine the Parents’ Rights Act that resulted from Initiative 2081 last year. (Click the photo above to watch my interview.) I was invited to respond to a statement made by...
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NEWSLETTER: Democrats undermining your right to know
Watch my weekly legislative update: Friends and Neighbors, Nearly 500,000 Washington voters signed on to Initiative 2081, knowns as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. Last session, legislators on both sides of the aisle, including me, spoke in favor of the initiative and why it was a positive step. It passed with...
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Braun proposes transforming The Evergreen State College to address Washington’s growing health-care workforce crisis
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced a bill today that would better position Washington to manage the critical demand for 3.2 million additional health-care workers within the next five years. Senate Bill 5424 would change the mission of The Evergreen State College (TESC), which, as an institution of higher...
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Braun bills aim to reform Washington’s broken juvenile-justice system
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, today introduced a package of reform legislation intended to address safety and operational concerns he and others have raised about state-run juvenile-rehabilitation facilities. The four bills stem from continuing problems with overcrowding, drug use, assaults and other criminal activity at Green Hill School...
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