Andy Billig
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Andy Billig
|office = Majority Leader of the Washington Senate
|term_start = January 12, 2019
|term_end = January 13, 2025
|predecessor = Sharon Nelson
|successor = Jamie Pedersen
|state_senate1 = Washington
|district1 = 3rd
|term_start1 = January 14, 2013
|term_end1 = January 13, 2025
|predecessor1 = Lisa Brown
|successor1 = Marcus Riccelli
|state_house2 = Washington
|district2 = 3rd
|term_start2 = January 10, 2011
|term_end2 = January 14, 2013
|predecessor2 = Alex Wood
|successor2 = Marcus Riccelli
|birth_name = Andrew Swire Billig
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|5|1}}
|birth_place = New York, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democrat
|education = Georgetown University (BA)
|website = {{url|sdc.wastateleg.org/billig|State Senate website}}
}}
Andrew Swire Billig (born May 1, 1968){{cite web |url=https://leg.wa.gov/LIC/Documents/Historical/Legislative%20Manuals/2019-2020%20Legislative%20Manual.pdf |title=2019-2020 Legislative Manual |work=State of Washington |year=2019 |access-date=2021-12-14}} is an American politician of the Democratic Party and co-owner of the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-07 |title=Outgoing state Sen. Andy Billig appointed to Spokane Airport Board |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jan/06/outgoing-state-sen-andy-billig-appointed-to-spokan/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=2024-03-04 |title=WA Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig not running for reelection • Washington State Standard |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/04/wa-senate-majority-leader-andy-billig-not-running-for-reelection/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Washington State Standard |language=en-US}} On November 6, 2012, Billig was elected to the Washington State Senate, representing the 3rd Legislative District until his retirement in 2025.(November 7, 2012) [http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/07/democrats-holding-edge-in-legislature/ "Democrats holding edge in Legislature"], Spokesman Review. Retrieved on December 5, 2012. He served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2019 to 2025.[https://washingtonstatewire.com/billig-elected-senate-majority-leader/ "Washington State Wire"],
Personal life
Billig grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is of Jewish descent. Billig graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1990 with a degree in government. He has two children, Isabella "Bella" and Samuel, and is an active runner and triathlete, having completed the Coeur d’Alene Ironman Triathlon in 2004.[http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2010/washington-primary-election/candidates/andy-billig/ "The Spokesman-Review Election Center"], Retrieved on June 26, 2012.
Political positions
In 2011, Billig received the Inter-Continental Smackdown Champion Award from Fuse Washington for his work against phosphorus pollution in Washington's lakes and rivers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fusewashington.org/sizzle/2011/#smackdown |title=The 2011 Sizzle-Fizzle Awards - Fuse Washington |access-date=2013-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220081306/http://www.fusewashington.org/sizzle/2011/#smackdown |archive-date=2012-12-20 |url-status=dead }} He has expressed support for gun control, including a bill that would ban possession of high-capacity magazines.{{Cite web |title=Looking Back at What WA Lawmakers Accomplished in 2022 Session |url=https://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/78309-2 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=www.publicnewsservice.org}}
Washington House of Representatives
After he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, Billig immediately assumed a transportation leadership position in the House, serving as vice-chair of the House Transportation Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/pages/Billig.aspx |title=Billig |access-date=2012-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810084351/http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Representatives/Pages/billig.aspx |archive-date=2012-08-10 }}, Retrieved on June 26, 2012. In that role, he helped write the state's two-year transportation budget.[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Finance/budget/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605045443/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Finance/budget/|date=2012-06-05}}, Retrieved on July 10, 2012. Billig also served on the Education, Environment, and Technology & Economic Development committees.
Washington Senate
In 2012, Billig was elected to the Senate, where he was given a leadership position as the Minority Whip. In 2015, he was chosen to represent the caucus as the Deputy Leader and served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2018 to 2024.{{cite news |last1=Cornfield |first1=Jerry |title=WA Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig not running for reelection |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/04/wa-senate-majority-leader-andy-billig-not-running-for-reelection/ |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=Washington State Standard |date=March 4, 2024}} During the 2018 legislative session, he served on the Early Learning & K-2 Education, Ways & Means, and Rules [http://sdc.wastateleg.org/billig/ committees]. One of his primary achievements of the 2018 session was the DISCLOSE Act,{{Cite web|url=http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5991&Year=2017&BillNumber=5991&Year=2017|title=Washington State Legislature|website=apps2.leg.wa.gov|access-date=2018-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328042435/http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5991&Year=2017&BillNumber=5991&Year=2017|archive-date=2018-03-28|url-status=dead}} which increases transparency of campaign contributions and closes campaign finance disclosure loopholes. In 2024, Billig announced he would not seek reelection for a fourth term.
Spokane Indians Baseball Team
In 1992, Billig became general manager of the Spokane Indians Baseball Team.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} He later became president and co-owner of the team and remains active in management and ownership.[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-148665 "Northwest League Awards"], Retrieved on June 26, 2012.
=Awards=
Billig has been recognized repeatedly for his leadership with the Spokane Indians, being voted Northwest League Executive of the Year in both 1994{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} and 2004. He was also nominated for the Larry MacPhail Award for promotional excellence several times and won the Joe Martin Award for Service to Baseball and the Community in 2007.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130123014617/http://www.sdc.wa.gov/senators/Billig/default.asp Senate homepage]
- [http://www.andybillig.com/ Campaign website]
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{{s-par|us-wa-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=Sharon Nelson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Washington Senate|years=2019–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Jamie Pedersen}}
{{s-end}}
{{Washington State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billig, Andy}}
Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature
Category:Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives