Tag Archives: Priorities

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.”

Legislative Update – Jan. 12, 2015

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January 12, 2015

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

The 2015 Legislative Session begins this coming Monday. It will be challenging, as we build a budget that reflects the values of the people of our state and district and prioritizes jobs, education and responsible spending. I will focus my efforts on policies that make our state more prosperous with better educational opportunities and abundant jobs.

It is an honor to serve as your state senator.

John Braun,

20th District Senator

Committee Assignments

This year, in addition to serving on the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications committee, I will serve as vice-chair of three committees: Trade and Economic Development, Commerce and Labor, and Ways and Means. I also have the honor of serving as the Senate Deputy Majority Leader.

My Priorities for 2015

Our state must prioritize its investments to produce the best results for citizens. We need better educational opportunities and outcomes as well as a business climate that lets companies create jobs and compete without onerous regulatory burdens. I am working on a variety of issue areas including access to affordable college education, fairness in our tax system, job creation and investing in our state’s water resources and infrastructure.

My approach to solving the problems that face our state is to use common sense and participate in a healthy debate on the issues. In light of the governor’s recent budget proposal, we have a lot to do to insure that citizens are getting the best from their government. Although we face significant pressure to fully fund basic education, we need to invest wisely in programs that produce results for our students. The reality is that more money is available for budgeting in 2015-2017 –  nearly $3 billion in revenue growth – than in the previous (2013-2015) budget cycle. I believe this is sufficient to maintain current state government programs and make the necessary investments in basic education required by current law and by the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, without additional taxes.

Meeting the McCleary requirements to fully fund basic education will be challenging because we do have other obligations. However, the challenge is not insurmountable. With necessary reforms to how our state conducts business, we can find cost-savings, protect tax-payers and invest in a brighter future for students.

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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