Tag Archives: John Braun

Senate budget moves state forward with no new taxes

The Senate Majority Coalition’s budget proposal makes education the top priority and delivers tax relief and college affordability to families across Washington without raising taxes. Senate budget leaders released their 2015-17 state operating budget proposal today committed to capturing savings and keeping the state’s economy moving with more investments in education.

“Our state is projected $3 billion more in revenue over the next two years without raising taxes. I have been committed to spending tax-payer resources effectively and responsibly. The additional $3 billion is more than enough to meet our constitutional requirements to fund education and continue to provide essential services that protect the vulnerable,” said Braun.

Braun, R- Centralia, notes the Senate’s 2015-17 spending proposal invests an additional $1.3 billion toward basic education, cuts college tuition by 25 percent, and adds over $70 million for mental health services, all without raising taxes on working families and small businesses.

Braun said the Senate proposal is the best path forward compared to the House majority’s plan, which would raise state spending by 15 percent and require a $1.5 billion in tax increases.

“I believe middle class families and small businesses would be thrilled with an 8 percent increase in their income. It is disappointing to me that the House majority is saying that an 8 percent increase is not enough for the state,” said Braun.

Braun believes the people he serves in the 20th Legislative District will see the Senate budget as a better way to move the state forward: protecting taxpayers, family budgets and vital services.

“We are putting forth a strong budget that is balanced, sustainable and best of all, it doesn’t need new taxes. We aren’t making unnecessary cuts or slashing the social safety net; we are prioritizing our state’s resources to invest in education and protect the vulnerable, not grow government for special interests.”

Budget negotiators need to reach agreement no later than Sunday, April 26 for the Legislature to conclude its 105-day session on schedule.

Braun, Orcutt holding telephone town hall March 24

Contact: Laudan Espinoza, Senior Information Officer – (360) 786-7504 – Sen. Braun

20th District legislators Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, will hold an hour-long telephone town hall on Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. The phone number for the telephone town hall is (360) 302-3005.

During the call, participants can ask questions, vote in surveys or simply listen in on the latest news from the state legislature.

For more information about Sen. Braun, visit: www.senatorjohnbraun.com.

Braun tuition-cap bill clears higher- education committee

Washington Education Association opposes tuition cuts for students

Senate Bill 5954, known as the Senate majority’s College Affordability Program, moved quickly through the Senate Higher Education Committee this week. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, received a public hearing Tuesday and was passed by the committee today. It would reduce tuition by as much as 30 percent at state-run research institutions and cap tuition to a percentage of the state’s average income. This would reverse decades of regular, sometimes double-digit tuition increases and ensure a statutory policy that ties any future growth in tuition to wage growth.

Braun noted the Washington Education Association listed itself as being in opposition to the bill but did not follow through with testimony before the committee Tuesday.

“I don’t see one good reason to oppose this piece of legislation,” Braun said. “I think it is concerning that the association representing educators would oppose a bill that would make college affordable for students. I would have loved an opportunity to hear their concerns but the committee did not get that chance.”

Braun, vice chair of the Senate budget committee, was instrumental in advocating for a tuition freeze in the 2013-15 budget. That gave students relief from regular tuition increases for the first time in more than 30 years.

“Skyrocketing tuition has acted like a tax on the middle class. It’s time we prioritize our state’s investment in education,” Braun said. “We face challenges in this budget cycle, but in the context of a $37 billion budget this investment is doable and will have benefits to our state’s economy. I would hope that everyone concerned about education would support a way to make college more affordable and accessible.”

Bailey, Braun propose program to make college affordable

Today Sen. Barbara Bailey, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and Sen. John Braun, deputy Senate majority leader, announced a sensible new approach for making college affordable. Senate Bill 5954, the College Affordability Program, would reduce tuition by approximately 30 percent at the University of Washington and Washington State University, the state’s public-research institutions.

By linking resident-undergraduate tuition to a percentage of the state’s average wage, depending on the type of institution, SB 5954 would continue the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus’ effort to keep college within reach of middle-class students and families. Tuition at the state’s public two- and four-year colleges was frozen for 2013-14 and 2014-15 thanks to the MCC’s budget priorities.

“College has become increasingly unaffordable for our students,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “I have been working to find a way to address the issue of skyrocketing tuition that has acted like a tax on our middle-class families and students. The College Affordability Program is a step in the right direction to begin addressing this issue.”

The College Affordability Program takes a comprehensive approach to the complexity of higher-education funding by making up for lost tuition revenue, making resident students a priority and keeping institutions’ funding levels consistent.

“Higher education is vital to our state’s economic health,” said Braun, R-Centralia. “Without affordable college options we are seeing increased student debt that will have ripple effects throughout the economy. Students are delaying major life events like starting a family or buying a home. This bill makes sense for all students and invests in higher education after years of neglect.”

MEDIA ADVISORY: Sens. Bailey and Braun announce major revamp to college tuition

OLYMPIA… Students will join chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Sen. Barbara Bailey and Deputy Majority Leader, Sen. John Braun to unveil a new plan for higher education affordability in a news conference Thursday, Feb. 12.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 12 at 12:45 p.m.

Locations: Senate Hearing Room 2, John A. Cherberg Bldg.

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.

Inslee seeks to expand Ecology’s reach, authority

I recently wrote a guest column in the Longview Daily News regarding the governor’s proposed changes to our state’s water quality standards and the challenges that presents. Please read below for excerpts and a link to the full story.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement regarding Washington’s water quality standards includes a dramatic proposal that raises many red flags for communities and families throughout the state.

There is consensus that it is time to update our water standards. No one is suggesting that we should do less to protect our environment, but the goal must be to balance cleaner water with protecting family budgets and jobs. What we don’t need is another war on jobs with more uncertainty and threats of regulations that are impossible to measure or attain.

In addition to new rules on water quality standards, Gov. Inslee said that it was time to “take a broader approach to areas that are not currently regulated.” He defined those areas as “up stream at the source,” and that “the majority of toxins come from what we build.”

Read the rest of the guest column in the Longview Daily News, here.

My Visit to Centralia College ECEAP Program

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…

Click here to read the rest of this article.

State neglects tourism at its own peril

I recently co-authored an opinion piece in the Puget Sound Business Journal regarding our state’s tourism industry. I worked on legislation this session to address this need. Washington State currently does not have a state funded tourism office, but tourism is a big driver of our economy and is the fourth largest industry in our state.

Sen. John Braun, R-Centrailia, chairs the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee and is president of Braun Northwest, a family-owned company that builds emergency vehicles and employs more than 150 workers. Louise Stanton-Masten is the executive director of the Washington Tourism Alliance.

Washington has it all for visitors. Spectacular mountains, beautiful seashore, abundant outdoor recreation, desert sunshine, mountain snow, urban sophistication, wineries and much more – it’s all here.

You might think we’d shout from the rooftops about the wonderful things we have to offer, but surprisingly, we don’t.

This is unfortunate, because despite the state’s benign neglect, tourism is a major Washington industry with the potential to be even bigger. The industry driven Washington Tourism Alliance has stepped up to the challenge, and it is incumbent on all of us to support its efforts to re-establish industry viability.

Tourism is Washington’s fourth-largest industry. Last year, it supported 154,500 Washington jobs with earnings of $5 billion…

Click here to read the rest of this article.