Opinion: Setting the record straight on Gluesenkamp Perez’s new attack ad

Washington state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, left, is squaring off with U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, right, in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. Photos courtesy of campaigns

🎧 Braun Campaign Fires Back at Gluesenkamp Perez Ad

Sen. John Braun’s campaign responds to recent ad by the Marie Gluesenkamp Perez campaign

In a misleading new ad, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez attempts to deflect attention from her own record of support for massive tax and spending hikes by making deceptive and inaccurate attacks on John Braun.

“Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has remained silent and indifferent to the pressing cost-of-living concerns facing families in Southwest Washington,” said Max Lavey, Braun’s campaign manager. “This election will be a referendum on her record, and she cannot hide from it or the voters.”

Here are the facts and reality behind the claims made in Gluesenkamp Perez’s new ad:

Claim 1: “Braun Described Himself as a Lead Budget Negotiator. Under His Watch, the State Budget Ballooned by 48% in the Last Five Years.”

The Reality: Perez stood silent for years while her leftist friends in Olympia bloated the state budget.

John Braun was a lead budget negotiator when Republicans held a majority in the State Senate, but none of that happened during the five years described by the ad. Sadly, Olympia has been subject to Democrat governors and leftist majorities in the state legislature during that entire period. Braun fought tooth and nail against Democrat spending and tax hikes, but those budgets were unfortunately passed on partisan votes over Republicans’ strenuous objections.

Washington’s state budget ballooned more than 63% over the last six years under one-party Democratic control, and Perez didn’t say a word about it until now. Maybe she was too busy voting for taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime, and against the child tax credit that would have saved Washington families an average of $4,500 a year to notice.

Claim 2: “Braun Authored the Biggest Property-Tax Hike in State History.”

The Reality: This was a massive property tax CUT for the rural, middle class families Perez pretends to care about. The 2017 property tax adjustment was part of a bipartisan, court-mandated resolution to the Washington Supreme Court’s McCleary decision requiring full state funding for K-12 public education. Most property owners had their tax rates cut under the bill, with small rural homeowners especially benefiting.

Meanwhile, Gluesenkamp Perez has remained aligned with a party that continues to raise taxes and grow government and failed to pay a roughly $6,600 property-tax bill on her Portland auto shop for more than six months.

Claim 3: “Braun Pocketed a 72% Salary Increase.”

The Reality: Washington state legislators do not set their own salaries. Under state law, legislative compensation is determined entirely by an independent citizens’ commission. Braun never requested a raise, sent a letter and publicly opposed it before the commission multiple times, citing economic pressures on average taxpayers.

John Braun is a state senator representing Washington’s 20th Legislative District, which includes parts of Lewis, Cowlitz, and Clark counties. He is running for Congress to represent Southwest Washington and bring his experience in the U.S. Navy, as a citizen legislator, and as a manufacturing business owner to Washington, D.C.