News
Legislators must put priority on considering citizen initiatives no matter what majority Democrats suggest
Each state legislator takes an oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions. That promise applies to every part, not just the words with which we agree – or the words we know. The importance of this commitment came up Jan. 4 at the 2024 legislative session preview hosted by our state’s broadcasters and daily...
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Governor continues to scapegoat others for his false claims about carbon tax effect on gas prices
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, today responded to public comments recently made by Gov. Jay Inslee that attempt to divert attention from evidence in a Washington Policy Center blog showing the governor knew it was false to claim his “cap-and-trade” tax on carbon-dioxide emissions would not increase gas prices, or would do so only...
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Braun guest editorial in the Seattle Times: A sham lawsuit threatens to disenfranchise WA’s Latino voters
By John Braun Special to the Times In 2021 our state’s bipartisan, voter-created Redistricting Commission set Washington’s current legislative and congressional boundaries. In August, a federal judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Soto Palmer v. Hobbs, who claimed the map of Central Washington’s 15th Legislative District violates the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA)....
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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...
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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...
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Wilson proposal would revitalize ‘Sunshine Committee,’ emphasize public records issues
Bill is part of plan to streamline disclosure, make transparency a priority OLYMPIA – Responding to complaints that the Washington Legislature doesn’t care about public records issues, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, has introduced a bill that aims to revitalize the state’s ‘Sunshine Committee.’ Senate Bill 5779 is the first element in a Wilson plan to...
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Legislature must protect signature gatherers from harassment, senators say
Sens. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, John Braun, R-Centralia, and Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley. OLYMPIA – Lawmakers need to expand protections for initiative campaigns, say Senate Republicans, following an effort to intimidate signature gatherers promoted by the Washington State Democratic Party and the Washington chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, filed a...
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Accusation that economist was told to lie about projected gas price increase ‘very disturbing,’ says Braun
WSDOT actions latest example of executive mismanagement, lack of accountability OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered the following comments in reaction to a KING-TV story about a lawsuit that reportedly will be filed soon on behalf of a former employee of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The employee, an economist and formerly...
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You aren’t just feeling WA’s carbon tax at the pump. It drains more than pocketbooks
By Sen. Chris Gildon and Sen. Drew MacEwen Our state’s Climate Commitment Act was passed in 2021 with the stated goal of reducing and eventually phasing out carbon emissions. Among other things, the law promises protections for Washington’s agricultural sector and marine trade, and we were assured revenue resulting from the “cap-and-trade” approach would...
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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...
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Broken Inslee promise stalls behavioral-health treatment facility
CENTRALIA… Efforts to build a behavioral-health treatment facility in Lewis County are being pushed back another six months by what Lewis County lawmakers say is another broken promise from Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration. Sen. John Braun and Rep. Peter Abbarno, both R-Centralia, are particularly frustrated because the governor’s office assured them an important cost-saving change...
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Schoesler: New regional hydrogen hub would not happen without hydropower
State Sen. Mark Schoesler issued this statement following this morning’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that it will provide $1 billion to Washington, Oregon and Montana to establish eight hydrogen production sites across the three states: “This would not happen without hydropower. Our state has a strong and reliable hydropower system that provides...
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