In The News

Last spring, a pandemic the likes of which the world hadn't seen in a century forced leaders to shutter their economies in ways few people living today had ever experienced. The impacts were swift. Soon after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered people to stay home and restricted in-person services of nearly all kinds in March, the state saw a sudden, unprecedented ...

Washington’s once-in-a-decade process of redrawing congressional and legislative district boundaries gets underway Wednesday, with the first official meeting of the state Redistricting Commission. The four appointed commissioners – one each named by the leader of a legislative caucus – will have about 10 months to rearrange the state’s 10 congressional districts and 49 legislative districts to reflect changes in population that ...

State legislators have released their first plans for COVID-19 relief, an early action effort they hope will bring assistance to businesses and families within the next few weeks. House and Senate Democrats released a $2.2 billion proposal that would provide business assistance grants, school assistance and rental assistance, as well as fund vaccine administration, COVID-19 testing, and business and operation tax ...

Washington state lawmakers plan to swiftly pass a $2.2 billion COVID-19 relief package that focuses on getting people vaccinated, reopening K-12 schools and helping renters, homeowners and small businesses pay their bills. The spending plan would mostly distribute money that the federal government has already sent the state for pandemic relief. But by approving the measure now, as opposed to waiting for ...

Democrats in the Washington State Legislature released a $2.2 billion COVID-19 relief package today that would expand testing and vaccine availability, extend support to schools, provide grants for small business plus housing and food assistance for individuals. The proposals are scheduled to receive hearings in the House and Senate next week. The overall relief package includes separate legislation that provides unemployment ...

Leaders from the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses — Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, House Majority Floor Leader Monica Stonier, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra — gathered Wednesday for a virtual press conference to discuss the 2021 legislative session. The leaders addressed a variety of topics, including what bills will take precedence this session, when significant ...

At least we’re not New Jersey. That was one of the few bright spots to be found in a new report from the libertarian Reason Foundation ranking state highway systems for “overall cost-effectiveness and condition.” North Dakota came in first, New Jersey came in last and Washington finished 45th. While Mike Gribner, administrator of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Eastern Region, said ...

Democrats in the state Senate have reelected state Sen. Andy Billig of Spokane as majority leader, and named Sen. Bob Hasegawa of Seattle majority caucus chair. The moves were made as lawmakers prepare for the 2021 legislative session, which will convene in January with Democrats in control of the state Senate and House and Gov. Jay Inslee elected to a third ...

Sen. Andy Billig [D-Spokane] is running for a third term. The Senate Majority Leader faces a challenge from Republican Dave Lucas in the November general election. In this interview, Billig talks with Doug Nadvornick about the past legislative session and the issues he considers most important for the 2021 legislature. Doug also asks his positions on a variety of issues, from ...

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Senator Andy Billig since he was first elected to the Washington State House in 2010. What I like about Senator Billig is that he isn’t focused on his own agenda – he listens to the needs of Spokane’s residents and businesses and truly delivers on the community’s vision and requests. Our agenda is his ...