Executive mismanagement, bad law result in child’s death
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement after foster families protested at the Capitol yesterday against a bill they believe is partly to blame for the death of a 3-week-old Port Townsend infant born with fentanyl in its system who died after being placed in the care...
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Bill to protect rights of victims and survivors passes Senate
OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, that would prioritize the safety of crime victims by expanding their right to be informed of the trial and sentencing hearing of the offender in their case passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday. Senate Bill 5635 applies to victims and the...
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Fentanyl education bill passes Senate committee as pills fall to 25 cents in Portland
OLYMPIA – A bill launching a public education campaign to prevent drug overdoses cleared the Senate Ways and Means Committee Monday before a key deadline Monday for passage of bills in the 2024 legislative session. Other elements of the ‘Recovery Washington’ package announced by Senate Republicans did not advance, but...
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ALERT: Democrat bill to TRIPLE the increase in property tax
A bad bill Senate Democrats sponsored last year is being given a chance this year to move forward. Senate Bill 5770 would triple the 1% cap on the growth of local property taxes, taking $6 billion more of your money over the next 12 years. It is likely to come...
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NEWSLETTER: Taxes that will increase the cost of housing during a housing crisis are a bad idea
Watch: My weekly video update – session, taxes and natural gas FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, We are about to hit some milestones in this 60-day legislative session, which makes it a good time to explain what happens to legislation from here. Next Wednesday, Jan. 31, is policy-committee cutoff. This is...
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Republican senators take aim at opioid crisis with ‘Recovery Washington’ drug-treatment package
See press conference on TVW at the following link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2024011527 OLYMPIA – Senate Republicans are calling for a stronger response to Washington’s opioid crisis with a package of bills aimed at preventing overdoses, coordinating state efforts to promote treatment and recovery, and restoring funding for multijurisdictional law enforcement drug...
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Mistaken “yes” vote on SB 5462 explained
The following is my response to inquiries regarding the “yes” vote I made in error on Senate Bill 5462. Thank you for checking in on this bill. I was pulled off the floor to discuss another matter and thought they were voting on a different bill when they called...
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Bill on Holocaust, genocide education to receive Senate hearing tomorrow
OLYMPIA…A bill from Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, that would require Washington public schools to teach about the Jewish Holocaust and other campaigns of genocide will receive a public hearing tomorrow (Jan. 17) before the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. The committee meeting will begin at 10:30...
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Call to conserve power proves need for better energy policies
OLYMPIA…Millions of power customers in Washington received a notice over the weekend to lower their thermostats and limit their use of hot water to alleviate pressure on the power grid while Washington experienced winter weather. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement in response. “This weekend’s energy...
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