Watch: Debunking false claims about impact of initiatives 2109 and 2117
Watch my latest video update.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I sent out an e-blast yesterday to alert you to the opportunity to sign in to testify in support of the three initiative below, all of which are receiving hearings next week. This is a huge win for Republicans.
In case you missed it, here is how to sign in to testify or have your opinion put on the record. Any testimony is helpful, but showing up in person to demonstrate your support is most effective.
Testimony can be given in person, virtually or through written testimony.
I-2111 to ban an income tax in Washington
- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27
- House Hearing Room A, John L. O’Brien Bldg., Capitol Campus, Olympia
I-2081 to protect parents’ rights
- 8 to 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28
- House Hearing Room A, John L. O’Brien Bldg., Capitol Campus, Olympia
I-2113 to restore the standard for vehicular pursuit
- 9 to 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28
- Senate Hearing Room 4, John A. Cherberg Bldg., Capitol Campus, Olympia
Although each hearing is only one hour long, I encourage you to sign in to testify on them or provide written testimony that committee members can read even after the hearings end.
Even signing in “pro” or “con” makes an impact, whether you actually get to speak or not.
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY
All three are scheduled to be voted out of committee on Friday, March 1. From there, it will be up to the majority to bring them to the floor for a vote.
If any of them are approved by the Legislature, they will not need to be on the ballot in November. They will be enacted.
The bad news is that the majority will NOT grant hearings to the other three initiatives. We still have two weeks left in the session and will continue to fight for the majority to give these initiatives hearings as well.
- I-2109 to repeal the capital gains tax
- I-2117 to repeal the hidden gas tax
- I-2124 to repeal the “long-term care” program
This means that these will become ballot measures once the legislative session is over and the people will get to decide their fate in November.
If you have any questions, contact me at john.braun@leg.wa.gov.
Sincerely,
Sen. John Braun
Democrat electioneering?
House Democrats’ budget proposal includes a $200 rebate for low-income families who are especially burdened by the impact of the hidden gas tax in the “Climate Commitment Act” (CCA). The Senate budget proposal includes a similar rebate.
The difference between the two is that the House version gives out only HALF the rebate about three weeks before the November election. It only gives people the second half of the rebate IF the initiative to repeal the CCA (I-2117) FAILS.
House Democrat leadership claims that this is because the state won’t have the money to pay for that second half unless the initiative fails. THIS IS FALSE.
The Senate budget pays for the full rebate from money the state has already collected.
One might say that offering voters money before an election and promising additional money after the election ONLY if a certain ballot measure fails is electioneering.
In fact, state law forbids legislators from using state resources to directly, or indirectly, influence a campaign. One might say tying half of the rebate to the outcome of an election is doing exactly that.
This is unacceptable and I hope the Senate’s version of the rebate is included in the final budget.
I will keep you updated.
Democrats are wrong to use children as defense of income tax
In an opinion piece I recently wrote for The Chronicle in Centralia, I call out Democrats for using children as a way to tug at your heart strings and defend the income tax they imposed in 2021, which is currently limited to capital gains but could easily be expanded. This is despite the knowledge that voters have rejected an income tax in Washington 11 times and more than 400,000 people signed the petition for Initiative 2109, to repeal the capital-gains tax (not to mention Initiative 2111, which would ban any income tax).
This is unfair and makes political pawns out of Washington’s kids.
2024 budget proposals
Both the Senate and the House have announced their supplemental budget proposals. You can learn more about the Senate versions below.
If you have questions, email me at john.braun@leg.wa.gov.