Tag Archives: Chehalis

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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Braun holds first Latino legislative forum in 20th District

More than 50 members of the 20th Legislative District’s Latino community joined Sen. John Braun on Sunday afternoon in Chehalis for a discussion about priorities for the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 12.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout,” said Braun, R-Centralia, who had invited members of the area’s faith community and leaders from the broader Latino community. “I’m glad that people took time to voice their concerns and help me understand the issues facing the community. I’m looking forward to reviewing the issues that were raised and finding constructive solutions.”

Braun’s goal for the forum, held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, was to better engage and address concerns in the Latino community. Participants spoke at length about issues ranging from school quality, business regulations, access to affordable health care and parental involvement in schools.

“I see a great deal of alignment with some of my legislative priorities for the coming session,” Braun said. “Having parents more involved in their children’s education, fostering entrepreneurship and having quality educational opportunities are values we all share. The issues that we discussed at this event are important for people across the state, not just one community. I will be working hard this coming session to prioritize our state’s spending that reflects these shared commitments to improving education and our state’s business climate.”

The community forum was Braun’s first; he hopes the positive results will encourage other legislators to connect with diverse communities around the state. His goal is to build consensus and broader understanding of how issues cross language, cultural and district boundaries.

Chronicle: Transportation Reform in Washington Can’t Wait

Op-ed by Sen. John Braun

It’s time to get Washington’s transportation system moving again.

Here in Lewis County, we are highly dependent on a functioning highway system, without which our timber industry as well as other businesses would be unable to ship their products.

Many people also commute long distances to and from work. Our highways need to be first-rate to accommodate our need for mobility; unfortunately, they are not always up to the task. Continue reading →

Chronicle: Braun Decries ‘Culture of Regulations’

By Pete Caster

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, on Wednesday sat across from a semicircle of small business owners and listened to a litany of state- and federal-business regulation horror stories.

Braun and the dozen local entrepreneurs were joined by Patrick Connor, Washington state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and Erin Shannon, director of Washington Policy Center’s Center for Small Business, at the event held at Braun Northwest in Chehalis. Continue reading →