State Sen. Andy Hill has been named chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, making him the Senate’s leader on budgetary matters for the next two years.

“Last year the Legislature put a down payment on a responsible future for Washington by adopting a bipartisan operating budget that was balanced and forward-looking,” said Hill. “We’re now at the point where lawmakers must take the next step.

He said he is ready to work with all legislators so that statewide priorities are reflected in the new budget that will take effect in July.

“I believe a majority of the Senate is committed to taking the necessary steps to make sure we’re creating plans that align the unique needs and desires of our residents with the means provided by the taxpayers, in a way that makes our state a leader in results, not rancor.”

Hill is a long-time Redmond resident from the 45th Legislative District, which includes Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, Duvall, Woodinville and portions of unincorporated King County. He was elected to the Senate in 2010 and is midway through his first term.

“Next year’s budget needs to cover most of the operations of state government for another two years. Crafting it is going to require broad consensus, not just on balancing revenues with spending, but on ensuring that the spending is done in a manner that is appropriate for the needs of today and the unknowns of the future,” continued Hill.

Hill will no longer serve as the ranking minority member on the Senate Higher Education Committee; however, he will continue as a member of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. He is also the co-chair of the Quality Education Council and serves on the Joint Select Committee on Education Accountability.

Hill, a former Microsoft manager, was a local PTA president and spent countless hours in the classroom tutoring and mentoring students in math and science. He graduated cum laude with high honors from Colgate University where he studied physics, math and computer science and later earned a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University.

 

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