Tag Archives: Centralia

Improving career opportunities for Washington students

Sen. John Braun was presented with the Legislator of the Year for Career and Technical Education award today by the Washington Business Alliance for his work to support career opportunities and skills training in the new state budget. Braun, who serves as chief budget writer in the Senate, fought for additional investments to better prepare students for an increasingly competitive workforce.

“With each passing year, today’s students and tomorrow’s employees face more diverse and competitive demands. In order to be prepared to earn good jobs, students must have the appropriate skills, whether that be through vocational training, apprenticeships, or four-year college,” said Braun, R-Centralia. “Not every student has the same career path just as the job market is not one-size-fits all. This should be reflected in how we support and prepare students.”

As part of the award presentation, local students, teachers, employers, and school district officials gathered to learn more and discuss the importance of providing multiple pathways to employment, including career and technical training.

The new state budget increases investments for career and technical education by more than $200 million over the next four years. Braun was the architect of the Senate budget proposal and served on both the education and overall budget negotiating teams.

“The business community is grateful to Senator Braun for recognizing the need for a talent pipeline to the technically skilled positions industry currently struggles to fill, which are vitally important to growing our Washington economy,” said Jene Jones, education policy advisor to the Washington Business Alliance. “Senator Braun’s leadership led to landmark investments for career and technical education students statewide, and we congratulate and thank him for the lasting impact of his work.”

Career and Technical Education Washington promotes and supports middle and high school programs that provide 21st century academic and technical skills for students. Through CTE, students have the opportunity to explore career options, especially in high-demand and high-growth fields. They are encouraged to identify career goals and can take classes at skills centers and community and technical colleges that apply math, science, and other academic subjects in a real-life, hands-on way. They can also pursue a registered apprenticeship, industry certifications, and two- and four-year college options.

The new 2017-19 budget, sponsored by Braun, was approved at the end of the 2017 legislative session and went into effect on July 1st.

Regular session recap, next steps

Lawmakers are currently in a special session to complete work on education funding and a new state budget. While it’s disappointing we were not able to get done on time, it’s important to understand what happened during the regular session to get us to this point.

In January, I sponsored a comprehensive education reform plan to provide a high-quality public education to every student in Washington. The Senate approved this legislation, which fully funds public schools and makes them more equitable for students, teachers and taxpayers.

We then approved a new state budget in March that pays or our education investments and protects our most vulnerable citizens. The Senate proposed and actually passed a balanced budget that does not raise taxes.

This runs in stark contrast to Democrats in the House of Representatives who offered a school funding plan that protects the status quo. Despite calling for spending increases, they offered no plan to actually pay for it.

In March, the House approved a budget that would increase state spending by billions of dollars, and required $8 billion in new taxes. Due to the House’s refusal to vote on the taxes and other bills necessary to support their budget, they are almost $11 billion out of balance over the next four years.

In April, when our work on the budget should come to an end, we were left unfinished with these options:

a balanced Senate budget that invests in our public schools without raising taxes, or
a House spending plan that maintains major inequities for students and requires massive new tax increases.

Leaders from the House have demanded we negotiate a compromise with them that includes a capital gains income tax and increases on businesses including everything from nursing homes to day cares. That is not how good-faith negotiations work. Both sides must be able to come to the table with proposals that actually have support of at least one legislative chamber.

I will not negotiate with a capital gains tax that does not even have enough votes to pass the Democrat majority in the House of Representatives.

Ultimately I remain confident we can and must work together to find a solution. Doing so will require all lawmakers to be open with the public about where they stand on newly proposed taxes and education reform.

As chief budget writer in the Senate, I will continue work during this special session to create a high-quality education system and protect our economy.

Education funding discussion on TVW

I recently had the opportunity to appear on TVW’s “Inside Olympia” program to discuss the Education Equality Act alongside a member of the House of Representatives and host Austin Jenkins.

TVW is Washington’s version of C-SPAN, and the 30-minute segment provided us with a chance to discuss the important details of our work to improve Washington’s public schools.

Click here or on the screen below to watch the segment.

Protecting the right to hunt and fish

Hunting is a major part of our state’s heritage and a generations-old activity for many families in the Pacific Northwest. However, sportsmen constantly see more government regulations affecting where and how they can hunt or fish. As demand for public lands increases, they want to know their rights are respected and protected.

That is why I sponsored a constitutional amendment that would allow Washington voters to decide whether or not to enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the state constitution.

The proposal preserves the right to use traditional means to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, identifying them as the preferred method of wildlife management in order to promote wildlife and land conservation.

If approved, our state would become the 22nd to constitutionally protect both activities.

Similar state constitutional protections were enacted as far back as 1777 in Vermont and as recently as just last year in Indiana and Kansas.

While the committee chair has indicated this proposal won’t move forward this year, the bill helped begin the conversation about this important topic and is likely to be addressed during the next legislative session.

Below is a map of the states that have already adopted protections for hunting and fishing.

Telephone town-hall meeting March 28

You’re invited to participate in a 20th District telephone town-hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28th, when we’ll answer your questions about issues currently before the Legislature.

The forum will allow participants to listen and ask questions from anywhere with a phone, enabling more people to engage without attending a meeting in person.

Many residents will receive a call inviting them to the forum when it begins and may simply stay on the line to join; you also have the option to call in by dialing 360-209-6593.

Questions may also be submitted in advance via email or phone at John.Braun@leg.wa.gov or 360-786-7638.

Budget Update

While work on a new state budget has been underway for months, one of the next steps in crafting a spending plan takes place this week when budget writers will receive an updated revenue forecast from the state’s chief economist. On Thursday, we’ll find out the amount of tax dollars anticipated to come into the state during the next four years.

Given that Washington state, unlike Washington D.C., actually must produce a balanced budget, this information allows us to finalize and release plans for the 2017-19 state budget shortly thereafter.

A major part of my new role as the Senate budget writer involves putting together the Senate proposal for a two-year “operating budget,” which pays for the day-to-day operations of state government.

More budget details will be available next week, but I can tell you that the goal is to invest in public education and protect critical state services without raising taxes.

As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Braun letter takes Governor’s budget proposal to task – previous budget decisions were “indefensible”

In advance of the Governor’s budget submittal due in December, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, sent the attached letter to the director of the Office of Financial Management. The letter seeks to ensure that recent collective bargaining agreements (CBAs),that were conducted in secret, are financially feasible as required by law.

The cost of the CBAs total over $700 million from the state’s general fund in the next two years and more than $1.7 billion over the next four.

Braun points out “indefensible” budget decisions from the previous budget cycles collective bargaining agreements that:

Reduced nursing home payments by over $100 million;
Eliminated funding for “Safe Babies, Safe Moms”;
Reduced breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings for low-income individuals by 15 percent;

And much more…

Read the full letter here.

Sen. Braun’s E-newsletter – May 09, 2016

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature finally adjourned after a 20-day special session to conclude work on the state’s supplemental budget. As the lead budget negotiator in the Senate this year, I worked to ensure a sustainable and responsible budget that would allow us to live within our means.

I believe we accomplished those goals with the budget we passed. The final agreement meets the requirements of Washington’s 4-year balanced budget law, preserves the rainy day fund, and refuses to go back to the irresponsible budgets of years past.

This is in contrast to the original proposal from House Democrats that drained the state’s rainy day fund, reduced K-3 class-size spending by $500 million, and proposed news taxes to pay for new state programs. Instead, we continue our investments in K-12 education, fully fund historic tuition cuts, and improve treatment for our state’s most vulnerable including the disabled and mentally ill. We said no to higher taxes and insisted on a sustainable budget with no gimmicks.

Unfortunately, some of our work was undone when Governor Inslee vetoed several cost-saving measures in the budget before signing it.The result was the loss of over $200 million in cost savings. The governor’s vetoes undercut this work and will make our job building a balanced two-year budget next year much more difficult.

I firmly believe that without the influence of the Senate Majority Coalition, the future of our state would be much different. Over the past four years, we have brought needed discipline to our state’s budgeting process. We have consistently lived within our means, funded our state’s real priorities such as education and our most vulnerable, and held the line on new taxes.

My work in the Legislature

In addition to working on the state’s budget, I had the opportunity to sponsor a number of bills aimed at improving our state and local community. Several of these bills were requests from constituents and local businesses who have already experienced benefits from this legislation such as changing the way the state provides industrial insurance for students and volunteers as well as expanding access to mental health services by allowing qualified physician assistants to deliver critical services. Click here for more information on bills that I have sponsored.

I have also been developing a policy newsletter, called “Economic Sense,” that takes an in-depth look at issues facing the Legislature. Please take a moment and read highlights from the latest editions and visit my website for more information.

SJR 8215: A Compromise Giving Voters a Say in Tax Increases

Simple majority of Legislature to raise taxes that must be referred to voters

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus has tried twice to give voters the opportunity to make the popular two-thirds majority tax-vote rule part of Washington State’s constitution, where it would be safe from judicial or legislative interference. Senate Democrats have stood in the way, saying it would allow a minority of legislators to block the actions of the majority. SJR 8215 offers a compromise resolving the Senate minority’s concern, while ensuring voters have a say before tax increases are enacted.

Click here to read more.

Pension Liability & Debt Service – A Growing Share of the Budget Pie

Pension liabilities and debt service are the fastest growing areas of the state budget, costing almost $4 billion together. This is more than the combined state support of the mentally ill, those with developmental disabilities, nursing homes, early learning and the UW & WSU.

These costs are putting our ability to provide essential services at risk. Reforms are needed to ensure taxpayer dollars are not consumed by long-term debt service and pension liabilities.

Click here to read more.

Who Makes our Laws?

During each legislative session I take an in-depth look at significant economic policy issues. The most recent edition of my “Economic Sense” policy paper concerns administrative rule making. My legislative proposal will rein in executive agencies that have increased the number of rules, which have the force and effect of law, by 38 percent over the past decade. The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) now contains 22,000 pages of rules that impact every aspect of our lives. The problem is that those rules are made by unelected and unaccountable agencies with minimal input from the public. My bill, SB 6396, will require all new rules to automatically sunset the year following their enactment unless legislative action is taken.

Click here to read this most recent edition of “Economic Sense” and take a look at my website to catch up on previous editions on topics ranging from state employee compensation to higher education.

Staying in Touch

You received this email report because you are a 20th Legislative District resident. Under election-related rules, Senators who are up for re-election later this year – including me – are allowed to send two e-newsletters to those who have not actively subscribed to them. If you wish to continue to receive additional updates you must subscribe.

I hope you will take a moment to sign up so I may provide you with more news about your state government. Just click on the link below. Due to those restrictions this will be the last communication you will receive from my legislative office until after the 2016 elections.

Click here to subscribe!

It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with questions or concerns regarding your state government.

Sincerely,

John Braun,

20th District State Senator

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: SenatorJohnBraun.org

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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.