Tag Archives: Education

Braun lauds bipartisan budget that cuts tuition, funds education without new taxes

Leaders in the state Senate and House have reached a significant bipartisan agreement on the state’s two-year operating budget. Included in the budget is the Senate’s proposal to reduce tuition at state colleges and universities, sponsored by deputy majority leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia. Over the next two years the legislation reduces college tuition by 15 percent at research institutions like the University of Washington, 20 percent at regional universities such as Western Washington University, and 5 percent at community and technical colleges. The budget includes significant investments in basic education, with over 47 percent of the state’s spending going to K-12 education.

“This budget is a bipartisan compromise but it is one that speaks to our values,” said Braun, a lead Senate budget negotiator. “The Senate stopped the biggest tax increases in state history. We focused our state’s spending on education at all levels: early learning, K-12 and higher education and led the nation by reducing tuition at our state universities and colleges. Our budget is balanced, sustainable and lives up to the values of our community.”

Going forward, college tuition will be tied to growth in the state’s median wage; that change and the immediate tuition cut are expected to help 200,000 college students.

“The tuition cut is the equivalent of a quarter-billion dollar tax reduction for working families and students in our state,” said Braun. “I have been fighting for this policy, fighting to make sure we have no new taxes, and fighting to ensure that our budget makes the best use of taxpayer resources. I believe that we have done that. We can go back to our communities having made significant statewide investments without raising taxes. That’s a very good thing.”

The budget, Senate Bill 6052, was approved in time to take effect July 1, avoiding a state government shutdown.

Sen. Braun’s E-newsletter – May 21, 2015

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May 21, 2015


Budget Update: Day 24 of the Special Session

The end of the 2015 special session is just over a week away. The Legislature was convened by the governor for 30 days to finish work on the operating budget that should have been completed in the 105-day regular session. During that time the Senate passed a complete, no-new-taxes budget that puts education first by increasing education spending by $2.7 billion, including $440 million for teacher pay raises and pensions.

Twenty-four days into the special session budget negotiators continue working to build a balanced and sustainable budget that reflects the priorities of our state. I believe that we can accomplish that task without additional taxes. The state is projected to receive an additional $3 billion and the latest revenue forecast showed that economic growth is continuing to fill the state’s coffers.

Monday the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced that revenues continue to grow, without raising taxes. The state is projected to bring in an additional $400 million over the budget cycle.

Since the governor announced his budget that required $1.4 billion in tax increases last December, economic growth has increased revenue projections by $1.1 billion. Gov. Inslee recently said that his tax package was no longer necessary.

Raising taxes wasn’t necessary to fund the priorities of state government during the regular session, and now, more than ever, it is time to end the special session with a budget that lives within the state’s means.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state senator.

John Braun,

20th District 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:

www.SenatorJohnBraun.com


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My Visit to Centralia College ECEAP Program

Braun Coloring

Photo by Kyle Spurr: The Chronicle

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, spent Tuesday night visiting with local preschool students in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program at Centralia College, which heavily relies on state funding each year.

Braun sat with the youths and helped them color pictures and play games. He said ECEAP is a high priority for the state and Lewis County.

“There is a lot of work that has been done,” Braun said. “In terms of bang for your buck, this is one of the best investments for the state.”

ECEAP, a comprehensive preschool program created in 1985 for children 3 to 4 years old across the state, is geared toward children in low income families. The program helps children and families with school readiness, including the children’s development and growth in physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative areas, according to the program…

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