Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Community means teamwork, and in a county that experiences floods from time to time, we unfortunately know just how true that is.

At the Packwood Improvement Club meeting last week, it was a time to pause and recognize the many people and organizations who stepped forward when rising waters disrupted lives and threatened homes.

Volunteers opened the community center to shelter neighbors who could not return home. Members of Search and Rescue, the sheriff’s office, and local fire departments worked tirelessly to save lives and property. Local businesses and organizations also stepped in, including the Packwood Inn, and groups such as the Salvation Army, United Way, and Red Cross quickly mobilized support for families in need. Local, County, and State agencies played their parts, as well.

What stood out most that evening was not any single act of service, but the collective spirit of the community. When those who helped were invited to come forward, many individuals stepped up more than once, reflecting the many hats they wear in service to their neighbors.

It was a powerful reminder that during difficult times, our greatest strength is the willingness of ordinary people to help one another.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who played a role—both those recognized that evening and the many others who quietly contributed behind the scenes. Lewis County often faces catastrophic flood events. I am always humbled by the selfless actions of our community members who are always ready to do what is necessary to help their neighbors recover.

On a practical note, I am pleased to report that the state transportation budget provides $45 million for city and county flood response statewide and Lewis County will receive some of that funding. The federal government will reimburse the state for 80% of that funding.

If you have any questions or comments, email me or call my office at (360) 786-7638.

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

 

Democrats turn sheriffs into political pawns

One of the worst bills to pass this session puts county sheriffs in the position of being political pawns for the governor.

You can demand that Gov. Ferguson veto SB 5974.

Senate Bill 5974 gives a governor-appointed board the power to decertify and remove the sheriffs we elect — without a vote of the people.

The sheriff who is elected is the sheriff who should serve.

A process already exists to remove a sheriff in between elections. This bill is not only unnecessary, it’s undemocratic and dangerous.

Sheriffs are sworn to uphold state law, but also federal law and the United States Constitution. The Supremacy Clause in the constitution means that federal law takes priority over state law.

If a sheriff followed federal law and cooperated with I.C.E. agents who are arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants, they would violate our Washington’s sanctuary state laws — and the governor’s agenda.

The sheriff could then be decertified and removed, even though they met their sworn duty.

Unfortunately, SB 5974 is not the only bill Democrats sponsored this year to undermine the will of the people, which is a disturbing trend that Republicans continue to fight.

 

 

Final numbers for the 2026 Supplemental Operating Budget

 

• Spending in a biennium exceeds $80 billion for the first time
• Equals an 11.4% spending increase for the 2025-27 biennium compared to 2023-25
• Relies heavily on one-time money: Drains our unrestricted reserves by $2.3 billion, including $880 million from the rainy-day fund
• Assumes spending in the budget will only grow at 2.2% each biennium even though Democrats have historically grown spending by 15% per biennium
• Suspends reality by assuming that $766 million of appropriated money will NOT be spent
• If the revenue assumptions fall through, we will end up with another deficit up to $10 billion
• K-12 funding drops to 42.2% of the budget, lower than at the time of the 2012 McCleary ruling
• Education takes a larger cut in policy funding than other areas
• Tied to the unconstitutional income tax that could be overturned by the state Supreme Court
• The largest cost increase is driven by the harm to Washington residents caused by mismanaged state agencies, such as the Department of Children, Youth and Families
• Despite complaining about the regressivity of Washington’s tax system, this budget provides NO direct help for taxpayers

 

 

The 2026 Legislative Session in a nutshell

Watch my last weekly update for this session.

REPUBLICAN IMPACT

Killed Terrible Legislation:

SB 5312: Sex Offender Leniency

Would have shortened the length of time pedophiles caught during an online “net nanny” sting would have to remain on the sex offender registry.

SB 5926: Reducing Daycare Transparency

Would have hidden the personal information of daycare providers. Although it was sponsored before the Minnesota daycare fraud scandal broke, it would have made it easier for people to commit the same fraud here in Washington.

SB 5942: Reducing Oversight of the Department of Youth, Children and Families

Would have removed the oversight duties of the DCYF Oversight Board. This agency is responsible for the well-being and safety of the most vulnerable children and adults, and it is riddled with mismanagement that results in injuries and deaths. It’s also responsible for the state’s largest lawsuit payouts. An organization like that needs more oversight, not less.

SB 5945: Weakening the “Three Strikes” Law

Would have removed any “strikes” committed as a juvenile from the three strikes that automatically land an offender in prison for life. These are violent crimes such as murder, rape, assault with a deadly weapon. It’s irrelevant if they were committed by an offender before the age of 18. They are the first step in a violent pattern of behavior that should result in life behind bars.

SB 5973 / 5382: Initiative Killers

Would have imposed several restrictions on the process of collecting signatures for citizen initiatives, undermining direct Democracy.

 

Fought the Income Tax:

Republicans led a grassroots call to action for people to sign in against the income tax when it was heard in committee in both the House and the Senate. More than 100,000 people signed in CON, making the income tax the most unpopular bill in state history.

Senate and House Republicans offered amendments to ensure the tax would only ever apply to millionaires, which Democrats rejected. In a first for the Washington State Legislature, House Republicans also waged a 24-hour floor fight against the bill. Of the 75 amendments offered on the bill that night, 51 were Republican. Debate on the bill began the evening of March 9 and continued nonstop until the evening of March 10. As a result, what might otherwise have occurred only in the dark of night instead played out through the light of day.

 

Listened to the People:

The people of Washington sent two initiatives to the Legislature for consideration. IL26-001 would restore school notification requirements in the Parents’ Bill of Rights. IL26-638 would prohibit biological boys from competing in girls’ sports. Democrats refused to schedule either initiative for a public hearing, denying their constitutional duty to prioritize initiatives to the Legislature. Instead, Republicans in the Senate and House held two listening sessions where people were able to give comment. After March 12, both initiatives become ballot measures and the people will get a chance to vote on them in November.

 

DEMOCRAT DAMAGE

Passed an unconstitutional income tax after voters have rejected the idea 10 times. The 9.9% tax applies to everyone, with a $1 million deduction that can be eliminated as soon as next session. The tax can’t be overturned by referendum and none of it is earmarked for education or health care. In fact, despite the governor saying he supports it because it provides free lunch for all K-12 students, the bill doesn’t actually pay for that.

Passed an $80 billion operating budget that relies on $114 million in new taxes, on top of the $12.3 billion state and local tax increase last year. It only balances if $801 million in appropriated money isn’t spent spending only grows by 2.2% per biennium (even though it’s grown by more than 15% every biennium since Democrats took control of the Senate). If those things fall through, we’ll have another deficit of $10 billion.

Refused to give either initiative to the Legislature a public hearing, ignoring their constitutional duty to give them priority over all other legislative business.

Banned law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings, even though they refuse to ban protestors from doing the same. The bill aims to prevent I.C.E. agents operating in Washington from hiding their faces, even though we have no jurisdiction over federal officers.

Ignored the crisis conditions at our juvenile rehabilitation centers, allowing the dangerous overcrowding that results in riots, assaults and other violent activity to continue.

Ignored the moral and fiscal costs of child fatalities and near-fatalities from exposure to fentanyl and from poor case management at the Department of Children, Youth and Families. House Democrats again refused to hear my bill adding fentanyl to the child endangerment statute, despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate.