Tag Archives: 20th Legislative District

Governor signs Braun legislation to extend insurance to student volunteers

Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Senate Bill 6293, sponsored by Sen. John Braun. The new law, which won unanimous legislative approval, will allow businesses to offer industrial insurance to unpaid interns and student volunteers.

“This legislation will help expand opportunities for students to gain valuable experience in the workforce,” said Braun, R-Centralia. “Employers now have options to take on student interns, where previously they could not afford the risk of injury on the job.”

Currently, businesses may choose to cover volunteers or interns who are in high school, but they are not allowed to cover any college student who is unpaid. Braun’s legislation expands coverage to student volunteers enrolled and participating in a program authorized by any public or private school, including institutions of higher education.

Centralia College educators in the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management (BASM) program were instrumental in the passage of the legislation. Students in this program are required to participate in an internship for graduation.

Brian Cummings, the internship instructor, and Larry McGee, the original program director, recognized that allowing businesses to cover these students is critical to the program. “So much has changed in our state in the last 10 years to enhance educational pathways for our students,” said McGee. “We want nothing to inhibit the provision of high quality internships.”

Bipartisan agreement reached on 2016 supplemental budget

Budget leaders from the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives today announced they have reached agreement on an update of the state’s current two-year operating budget. Work on a supplement to the 2015-17 budget has been under way since the 2016 regular legislative session gave way to a special session March 10. The updated spending plan includes adjustments that will pay for the costs of fighting the 2015 wildfires and increased funding for mental health care, while complying with the state’s four-year balanced-budget requirement.

“Last year we found broad bipartisan agreement on a sustainable two-year budget that made historic investments in K-12 education and reduced college tuition, while living within the means provided by taxpayers,” said Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is a lead budget negotiator. “This year’s budget update builds upon those investments and addresses the needs of Washington residents, including significant improvements in mental health treatment and care for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bipartisan agreement Tuesday.

“Every legislative session is an opportunity to do something to improve the lives of Washington’s seven million residents,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “It took a little longer than I had hoped, but this budget was worth the wait. The Legislature will make key investments that address the teacher shortage crisis, improve mental health services, reduce homelessness, and improve the lives of foster kids. It’s not everything we wanted, of course, but that’s the reality of a divided government. The only path forward is through compromise and that’s what we’ve done with this budget agreement.”

Final budget details will be available online at leap.leg.wa.gov by Tuesday morning.

Senate approves Braun bill to rein in authority of state agencies

Today the state Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia to limit the power of state agencies by changing the way they make rules. Senate Bill 6396 would require proposed rules to be submitted to the state attorney general’s office for an opinion on their constitutionality. In addition, any new rule would automatically expire after a year unless the Legislature acts to extend it. The measure was approved by a vote of 26 to 23 and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“The problem with the flood of agency rulemaking is a lack of transparency and accountability,” said Braun. “State agencies have created 6,100 new pages rules and regulations over the past 10 years that have the force and effect of law, often with minimal public input or transparency. Laws are meant to be made by the Legislature; putting that power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats is a detriment to our state’s democracy.”

The Washington Administrative Code contains 22,000 pages of agency rules and has increased by 38 percent in the past decade. Although state agencies are granted rulemaking authority by law, Braun’s legislation would make it clear that an agency also must show it has the authority to propose a particular rule.

“This is a reasonable approach to restore accountability in lawmaking to the citizens’ elected representatives,” Braun said. “Currently, too many rules are made by agencies citing their general purpose rather than a clear delegation of authority by the Legislature. If agencies know that we will be reviewing those rules, it will give them pause to reflect on exactly what legal grounds they are making the rule. The simple fact is that rulemaking lacks the transparency and public input of the legislative process. As representatives of the people, we should not be handing that function of government over to the Executive Branch.”

Braun’s bill is modeled after practices in Colorado where any new rule adopted or amended expires after one year unless the Legislature renews the rule via legislation.

Braun bill to boost state’s mental-health system approved

Today the state Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia to expand the pool of medical professionals capable of addressing mental-health needs of Washingtonians. Senate Bill 6445, which cleared the Senate unanimously, would clarify state law to include physician assistants in the delivery of mental-health services.

“Our state needs more mental-health professionals to meet the significant demand for treatment,” said Braun. “Our state has invested significant financial resources into our mental-health system in the past three years. This legislation clarifies that physician assistants with the appropriate education, training and experience can deliver these critical services.”

Physician assistants are not listed in the state Department of Social and Human Services rules regarding the delivery of mental-health services. Braun’s bill would allow these medical professionals to be classified in the mental-health code along with psychiatrists, physicians, and psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioners, while maintaining high standards of practice already in place.

“These medical professionals are licensed to provide many vital health services under supervision of a physician,” Braun said. “And it only makes sense that if they have the training and education they should be part of our state’s mental-health care system.”

Senate approves Braun bill to bring timber money back to schools

The state Senate today approved Sen. John Braun’s legislation that would make permanent a state policy that returns money from federal timber sales to local schools. Senate Bill 6292 would eliminate the reduction of state school funding to districts based on what they receive in federal forest revenues. The measure cleared the Senate by a vote of 35-14 and moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“This bill makes a small but needed change to restore resources for many of our school districts, especially in rural areas,” said Braun. “The state has been reducing its basic education funding to districts that received federal timber revenues, and that places extra burdens on the districts that are least able to handle them.”

Currently, 21 percent of property in Washington is designated as national forest, which is exempt from property tax. These federal funds are designated to go to the school districts in those areas to make up for lost property tax revenue. However, the state has been deducting that same amount from their basic education funding, effectively negating the goal of the program. Braun’s bill would eliminate the reduction in state basic-education funding to school districts that receive federal forest revenue, restoring the original intent of Congress.

“I’ve worked over the past several years to keep these funds available through the budget to the 215 school districts that receive federal forest revenues and this legislation provides a permanent solution,” Braun said.

Braun stands for taxpayers, votes to put 2/3rds tax increase amendment to the people

Deputy Majority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia voted Friday to let Washingtonians have the final word on requiring a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to raise taxes. Senate Joint Resolution 8211, which would let voters decide on a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to raise taxes, failed to receive support from the Senate’s minority Democrats, falling short of the 33 votes needed to move to the House of Representatives.

“The voters in our state have said numerous times that it should be more difficult for the Legislature to raise taxes and I’m disappointed that the measure failed,” said Braun. “Today’s vote was about letting the taxpayers exercise their right to amend their constitution concerning taxes.”

Voters approved Initiative 1185 in 2012 which would have limited the Legislature’s ability to raise taxes, requiring a two-thirds majority vote. However, the state Supreme Court ruled that initiative unconstitutional in 2013.

“I believe that Washingtonians deserved an opportunity to vote on an amendment to our state’s constitution on this issue,” said Braun. “In 2012, 75 percent of the voters in my district supported making it harder for the state to take more of their hard-earned money and I don’t think that sentiment has changed. I’m disappointed that some here in Olympia think the only solution to the problems facing our state is more taxes and are unwilling to let the citizens vote on this constitutional change.”

SJR 8211defined “raise taxes” as any action or combination of actions that increase state tax revenue deposited into any fund, budget, or account. It also required a simple-majority vote in both legislative chambers to impose or increase a fee; that change would end lawmakers’ practice of delegating the fee-setting authority to various state agencies.

District survey results

Late last year I conduced a survey of our legislative district to receive input on issues that the Legislature would possibly be considering this session. Please take a look at how our neighbors responded to the survey.

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.

Looking ahead to the 2016 legislative session

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

In order to ensure fair and proper elections, Washington State has stringent rules on the use of public resources during election years. Senators who are up for re-election in 2016, including me, must follow specific rules and laws concerning our written communications with you. As of December, I am not allowed to send out e-newsletter updates until the beginning of the 2016 legislative session – and then I may only send these updates to those who have actively subscribed.

If you wish to continue receiving my e-news updates from Olympia, please click on the link below to subscribe.

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In the coming year I will be working on a variety of issues that many of you have brought to my attention. In addition, I will continue to work on the significant budget and policy challenges facing our state. Washington must address education funding. This means taking a serious look at reforming our state’s K-12 levy system and giving school boards and educators the freedom they need to educate our children.

In addition to school funding, the Legislature must act to protect school choice and allow the 1,200 students and their families that chose charter schools the opportunity to learn in an environment that works for them. The state Supreme Court has ruled that the way we are funding the state’s charter schools is unconstitutional. I will be working on a legislative fix to ensure those schools have the resources they need to educate our students.

When the Legislature convenes in January 2016, we will be working to address the voter-approved initiative 1366.This measure requires legislators to send a constitutional amendment to the people requiring a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes or face a reduction in the state sales tax. The people of this state have made their opinion clear multiple times, voting to make it harder for the Legislature to raise taxes. It is time for the Legislature to follow up on the will of the people.

Although the recent revenue forecast projected growth, we face another budget challenge as a result of mismanagement by the state Health Care Authority. Costs are coming in much higher than projected. Over half of the Health Care Authority’s cost increase can be attributed to managed care rates that are significantly higher than previously budgeted.

2015 stands out as a banner year for taxpayers in Washington. The Legislature adjourned after numerous special sessions with a two-year operating budget that reflects the values of our communities and state. We invested in education, promoted policies to stimulate job creation and invested in our college students with a historic and nationally unprecedented tuition cut.

We need to continue this momentum and make our state’s education system and economy the best in the nation.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I look forward to connecting with you when the Legislature convenes in early January.

Contact Me:

Email:John.Braun@leg.wa.gov

Olympia Office:

407 Legislative Building

PO Box 40420

Olympia, WA 98504-0420

Phone:(360) 786-7638

Website: johnbraun.src.wastateleg.org

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