Tag Archives: Ways and Means

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.