Tag Archives: 2015

20th District legislators to host telephone town hall

Sen. John Braun, and Rep. Ed Orcutt, invite residents of the 20th District to join them for a live telephone town hall Thursday, January 14. The live, hour-long event begins at 6:00 p.m.

The community conversation is much like an interactive radio program, during which listeners may ask questions or just listen to the conversation about issues that affect their district and state.

“This is a great opportunity to connect with constituents during the legislative session and gain valuable insights into issues that matter most to them,” said Braun, R-Centralia.

Participants will have the opportunity to simply listen in to the conversation, or speak directly with their elected officials. Legislators will also ask residents to take part in instant-result poll questions with their phones.

“I look forward to engaging with the citizens of our district,” said Orcutt, R-Kalama. “This is a great opportunity for us to hear your ideas to improve how state government works for you.”

No RSVP is required to join the event, and members of the media are also encouraged to listen in to the call.

To join the call, residents can dial toll-free (360) 302-3005 on the night of the event and follow the prompts to join the conversation.

For more information about Rep. Orcutt, visit: www.representativeedorcutt.com. For more information about Sen. Braun, visit: www.senatorjohnbraun.com.

Senate tuition-cut proposal good for families and GET program

Senators John Braun and Barbara Bailey meet with students, April 8, 2015.After Sen. John Braun introduced legislation to cut tuition at state colleges and universities some questions arose regarding the bill’s effects on Washington State’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program. Opponents of the proposal have erroneously stated the measure would reduce the value of credits already purchased through the state GET program.

“I understand the concerns that have been raised but a close read of the bill puts those concerns to rest,” said Braun, R-Centralia. “The language is very clear that this legislation holds the value of GET for those who have already invested. The concept is similar to a stock split so that the reduction in tuition doesn’t adversely affect current GET holders. Our proposal holds these people harmless and is a long-term policy solution that ends the days of skyrocketing tuition.”

As a result of the tuition freeze instigated by the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus during the 2013-15 school years, the GET program went from an unfunded liability in the hundreds of millions of dollars to maintaining a significant surplus of over $160 million. Under the most recent Senate proposal to cut tuition by an average of 25 percent, the GET program will go from currently 106 percent funded to over 130 percent funded – a significant turnaround from a few short years ago, when there was talk in Olympia of doing away with the program.

“The bottom line is that this proposal is good for families that have purchased GET credits and the program as a whole,” said Braun. “Students and families will get more value under our proposal and it will mean more affordability for all students trying to pay for college.”

GET is a state-run 529 prepaid college-tuition plan which ‘is guaranteed to keep pace with tuition and state-mandated fees at Washington’s highest priced public university,’ according to the program’s website.