We first came to know John Braun when he ran for state Senate for the 20th District in 2012 against longtime incumbent Sen. Dan Swecker.
We’ve been impressed from the get-go. So were the citizens that voted out a powerful incumbent and voted in Braun with 55 percent.
First we learned he is a successful businessman as president of the family-run Braun Northwest. He’s a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Now he’s a freshman legislator, and he’s making his mark despite only being in session for three months.
At the start of the session, he landed several key committee assignments that more often than not are reserved for more senior members of the Senate.
Braun was named chair of Trade and Economic Development, vice chair of Commerce and Labor, and serves on Government Operations and Ways and Means.
Braun’s main campaign promise was to tirelessly work to gain jobs in Washington state.
Braun is proving effective, which is not a surprise.
Four of his bills aimed at creating and preserving private-sector jobs passed out of the Senate and will now head to the state House.
House Bill 5158 would protect employers from penalties if they inadvertently fail to pay minimum wages or overtime compensation.
House Bill 5656 would allow a more streamlined process for obtaining business licenses and paying occupation taxes.
House Bill 5697 would lower the frequency the Department of Revenue can change sales and use tax rates.
House Bill 5726 would prohibit the ability of a city, town or county from requiring paid sick leave if the employee does not reside within the jurisdiction.
These bills are not earth shaking in and of themselves. But collectively, by taking small steps to improve the ability of a business to turn a profit, we get that much closer to job preservation and creation.
They fulfill what Braun promised back when he was campaigning. These bills will help the small business owner make a profit, hire new employees, increase pay and benefits and invest back into their endeavors.
For far too long, Olympia has taken the opposite tack. It was death by a thousand lashes of the noodle for business owners.
More regulations. Higher taxes.
It seemed like everyone had a representative in Olympia — except the job creators, the entrepreneurs, and the men and women who take the risk and put in the hard work to build up a business.
Installing Braun in Olympia was the right move for voters in the 20th District.
