Greetings Friends and Neighbors,
The Legislature finally adjourned after a 20-day special
session to conclude work on the state’s supplemental budget. As the lead
budget negotiator in the Senate this year, I worked to ensure a sustainable and
responsible budget that would allow us to live within our means.
I believe we accomplished
those goals with the budget we passed. The final agreement meets the
requirements of Washington’s 4-year balanced budget law, preserves the rainy
day fund, and refuses to go back to the irresponsible budgets of years past.
This is in contrast to the original proposal from House
Democrats that drained the state’s rainy day fund, reduced K-3 class-size spending by $500 million, and proposed news taxes to pay for new state
programs. Instead, we continue our investments in K-12 education, fully
fund historic tuition cuts, and improve treatment for our state’s most
vulnerable including the disabled and mentally ill. We said no to higher taxes
and insisted on a sustainable budget with no gimmicks.
Unfortunately, some of our work was undone when Governor
Inslee vetoed several cost-saving
measures in the budget before signing it.The result was the loss of over $200 million in cost savings. The governor’s vetoes
undercut this work and will make our job building a balanced two-year budget
next year much more difficult.
I firmly believe that without the influence of the Senate
Majority Coalition, the future of our state would be much different. Over the
past four years, we have brought needed discipline to our state’s budgeting
process. We have consistently lived within our means, funded our state’s real priorities
such as education and our most vulnerable, and held the line on new taxes.
My work in the
Legislature
In addition to working on the state’s budget, I had the
opportunity to sponsor a number of bills aimed at improving our state and local
community. Several of these bills were requests from constituents and local
businesses who have already experienced benefits from this legislation such as changing the way the state provides industrial insurance for students and volunteers as well as expanding access to mental health services by allowing qualified physician assistants to deliver critical services. Click here for more information on bills that I have sponsored.
I have
also been developing a policy newsletter, called “Economic Sense,” that takes an
in-depth look at issues facing the Legislature. Please take a moment and read
highlights from the latest editions and visit my website for more information.
SJR 8215: A
Compromise Giving Voters a Say in Tax Increases
Simple majority of Legislature to raise taxes that must be
referred to voters
The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus has tried twice to give
voters the opportunity to make the popular two-thirds majority tax-vote rule
part of Washington State’s constitution, where it would be safe from judicial
or legislative interference. Senate Democrats have stood in the way, saying it
would allow a minority of legislators to block the actions of the majority. SJR
8215 offers a compromise resolving the Senate minority’s concern, while
ensuring voters have a say before tax increases are enacted.
Click
here to read more.
Pension Liability &
Debt Service - A Growing Share of the Budget Pie
Pension liabilities and debt service are the fastest growing
areas of the state budget, costing almost $4 billion together. This is
more than the combined state support of the mentally ill, those with developmental
disabilities, nursing homes, early learning and the UW & WSU.
These costs are putting our ability to provide essential
services at risk. Reforms are needed to ensure taxpayer dollars are not
consumed by long-term debt service and pension liabilities.
Click
here to read more.
Who
Makes our Laws?
During each legislative session I take an in-depth look at
significant economic policy issues. The most recent edition of my “Economic
Sense” policy paper concerns administrative rule making. My legislative
proposal will rein in executive agencies that have increased the number of
rules, which have the force and effect of law, by 38 percent over the past
decade. The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) now contains 22,000 pages of
rules that impact every aspect of our lives. The problem is that those rules
are made by unelected and unaccountable agencies with minimal input from the public.
My bill, SB 6396, will require all new rules to automatically sunset the year
following their enactment unless legislative action is taken.
Click
here to read this most recent edition of “Economic Sense” and take a look
at my website to catch up on previous editions on topics ranging from state
employee compensation to higher education.
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Staying in Touch
You received this email report
because you are a 20th
Legislative District resident. Under election-related rules, Senators
who are
up for re-election later this year – including me – are allowed to
send two e-newsletters to those who have not actively subscribed to
them. If you wish to continue to receive additional updates you must
subscribe.
I hope you
will take a moment to sign up so I may provide you with more news about your state government. Just click on the link below. Due to those restrictions this will be the last communication you will receive from my legislative office until after the 2016 elections.
It is an honor to serve as your
state Senator. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with questions
or concerns regarding your state government.
Sincerely,
John Braun,
20th District State Senator
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: SenatorJohnBraun.org
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