Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: Senator John Braun Discusses Tax Hikes and Transparency on KVI Radio

Published on April 25, 2025
Senator John Braun critiques proposed tax increases in Washington, calling them economically harmful. He highlights transparency issues in the legislative process and urges bipartisan efforts for better governance. Braun also discusses Governor Ferguson’s stance on taxes and public safety funding.
Read More

AUDIO: Rent Control Showdown: Democrats Push for Caps as Republicans Warn of Economic Risks

Published on April 24, 2025
Sen. Keith Goehner delivers a speech on the Senate floor with Sen. John Braun observing intently Rent control legislation, decried by Republicans for potentially shrinking housing supply and raising rents, continues to advance in the state legislature. Tracy Ellis explains.  
Read More

AUDIO: Senator Nikki Torres Discusses Tax Hikes and Education on KVI Radio

Published on April 22, 2025
Senator Nikki Torres joins Ari Hoffman on KVI Radio to critique proposed school levy increases that are framed as funding for schools. She points out that wealthier districts would benefit more from these levies, while poorer districts might struggle to raise funds or gain voter approval.
Read More

AUDIO: Senator Braun Talks Taxes, Trucks, and Tesla with Lars Larson

Published on April 21, 2025
On the Lars Larson Show, Sen. John Braun blasts Washington’s scaled-back wealth tax as a legal setup and warns electric truck rules could cripple transport. He questions taxing Tesla’s success and calls for market-based policies—not mandates—from Olympia.
Read More

AUDIO: Democrat legislators still on track for supporting property-tax hikes

Published on April 21, 2025
The proposed property tax increase hike from State Legislative Democrats is off the table, but concerns remain over a plan to raise the school levy cap. Tracy Ellis reports.
Read More

News from the Caucus

April 22, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Governor signs Braun bill expanding technical education to 6th graders

OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to expand exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth-grade students was signed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. It will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Currently, K-12 education funding provides exploratory CTE to students beginning in seventh grade. Exploratory CTE introduces students to a...
Read More
April 17, 2025
John Braun

House Democrats fumble justice-reform bill, leaving juvenile-justice facilities in crisis

OLYMPIA… On the final day for Senate bills to be considered by the House of Representatives, the majority Democrats in the House — including the Speaker of the House — fumbled a critical opportunity to alleviate dangerous overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, leaving both residents and staff members in crisis. Senate Republican Leader John Braun,...
Read More
April 04, 2025
Matt Boehnke

8th District lawmakers highlight proposed capital budget funding for local projects, pledge continued advocacy to secure final approval

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, Rep. April Connors, and Rep. Stephanie Barnard are championing critical 8th District investments included in the proposed 2025-27 House and Senate capital budgets. Both proposals must still be reconciled before final approval by the Legislature and...
Read More
March 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: Democrats announce nearly $20 billion in new and higher taxes

Republican budget leaders on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package “A new kind of March madness”   OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the $20 billion, four-year tax package proposed by the Senate’s majority Democrats today, ahead of the anticipated Monday rollout of their 2025-27 operating-budget proposal. From...
Read More
February 18, 2025
John Braun

Senate committee backs Braun bill to reduce chronic absenteeism

OLYMPIA… A bill introduced by Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, to help school districts address chronic absenteeism has been approved by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. Senate Bill 5007 is aimed at supporting students at risk of falling behind academically due to excessive...
Read More
April 08, 2024
John Braun

Sen. Braun on Sen. Rivers’ decision not to seek reelection: ‘We will deeply miss her leadership and service’

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this response to today’s announcement by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, that she will not be seeking a new term as the 18th Legislative District’s state senator: “Having served with Senator Rivers for more than a decade, from a neighboring district, I know how hard she has worked...
Read More
April 08, 2024
John Braun

Braun: Retiring Sen. Mike Padden Legislature’s strongest advocate of public safety

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following sentiments after an announcement by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, saying he will not seek reelection to the 4th District Senate seat he has held since 2011. Sen. Padden is currently the lead Republican on the Senate Law & Justice Committee. He was previously the chair...
Read More
April 03, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

Braun: Retiring Sen. Mike Padden Legislature’s strongest advocate of public safety

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following sentiments after an announcement by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, saying he will not seek reelection to the 4th District Senate seat he has held since 2011. Sen. Padden is currently the lead Republican on the Senate Law & Justice Committee. He was previously the chair...
Read More
January 16, 2024
John Braun

Bill on Holocaust, genocide education to receive Senate hearing tomorrow

OLYMPIA…A bill from Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, that would require Washington public schools to teach about the Jewish Holocaust and other campaigns of genocide will receive a public hearing tomorrow (Jan. 17) before the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. The committee meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. Senate Bill 5851, which...
Read More
December 20, 2023
John Braun

Braun bill aimed at getting chronically absent students to re-engage with classes, resume path to graduation

OLYMPIA… Chronic absenteeism is among the major obstacles preventing Washington children from recovering from pandemic-related learning loss. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, has introduced legislation to help school administrators, teachers and parents get students to show up to school and take part in class. Senate Bill 5850 would provide support for students who are...
Read More
December 15, 2023
John Braun

Poor awareness, rise in antisemitism necessitates more education about Jewish Holocaust of WWII

Bipartisan bill would make K-12 curriculum Nazi genocide of Jews mandatory   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, pre-filed a bill today (Senate Bill 5851) for the 2024 legislative session that would make it mandatory for Washington’s K-12 public schools to teach the Jewish Holocaust curriculum developed by the Office...
Read More
November 04, 2023
John Braun

Braun: Drug contraband, obstruction of justice at Green Hill School warrants thorough investigation

CENTRALIA…Upon learning that 114 bags of contraband were discovered at Green Hill School, and that it was necessary for law enforcement to issue a search warrant because school officials refused to turn the items over, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following comments. “I strongly support the call for an investigation of Green...
Read More
1 2 3 4