I am eager to serve our community in the State Legislature.  My commitment to progressive values like equality, justice and prosperity, combined with my business experience and leadership skills, make me uniquely qualified to deliver results for the 3rd District. 
 
The following are a few highlights of the issues and solutions that I will be discussing on the campaign trail and address in the Legislature as the 3rd District’s next State Representative.
 
- Education –

As the parent of a fifth grader in the Spokane Public Schools, this issue is personal to me.  I see education from the perspective of an employer, community leader and parent. The schools in our community are good, but they can and should be better. 

One area that requires particular focus is finding solutions for Spokane’s high drop-out rate, which is both morally and economically unacceptable.  Solutions include maintaining and restoring funding for small class size in the primary grades, creating vocational high schools and procuring more funding for mentoring and other programs that are proven to be effective.  The Children’s Investment Fund, a city-wide initiative, would be an excellent funding source for some of these programs.
 
- Job Creation –

Creating good quality job opportunities is the single best thing we can do to help families that are struggling. The 3rd District ranks last in household income of all 49 legislative districts in the state.  We need good, living-wage jobs that allow people to work with dignity and support their families.
 
I’ve spent my career creating jobs. I know from that first-hand experience that there is no magic formula. Creating good jobs with staying power is a slow process and the direct result of growth of existing companies and start-up of new ones.  

So, specifically, how do we do it?  There are some good programs in place, like micro-financing programs and SIRTI, which help incubate new companies. We should continue to support these types of programs. We also need to leverage the industries that are already strong in Spokane, like health care. We have a budding aerospace industry and promising green businesses that should be nurtured and supported.  The U-District has great potential for economic development, both from the expansion of its existing programs and the creation of a four-year medical school, which could have an economic impact of over a billion dollars once it is fully operational. I was part of a Spokane community delegation to Olympia in January that advocated for the medical school and I will continue to support this project as a candidate and legislator.

One of our greatest economic development tools is Spokane’s quality of life. This is a great place to live and, if we keep it that way and continue to make it better, we will retain and attract smart, young people who give us the best chance at those home-grown business success stories.  
 
- Protection of our natural resources –

The Spokane River and the aquifer beneath it are the lifeblood of our community.  The river is at the heart of our city economically, aesthetically and ecologically.  And, the aquifer is the single source of drinking water for 500,000 people including everyone in the 3rd District. We need to focus on preserving this incredible resource so it is safe and plentiful for future generations.
 
- Transportation –

Spokane is a transportation hub and we need to continue to focus on improving the quality and efficiency of our local and regional transportation system.  In addition, we need to ensure that our transportation system is sustainable for the future, which means focusing on complete streets that allow for safe and efficient use by motor vehicles, mass transit, bikes and pedestrians.
  
- Health Care –

We need a health care system that is effective, affordable and accessible. Now that Federal health care reform has passed, our state needs to be prepared with a well-trained health care workforce and a proactive approach to health care delivery.  The creation of a four-year medical school in Spokane will help significantly in this area.
 
A focus on wellness has to be at the center of any successful health care system.  Our country's obesity epidemic is a direct result of inactivity and poor nutrition. Improved school nutrition and a transportation system that accommodates walking and biking are two key elements to making our community healthier and, as a result, lowering health care costs for all of us.
 
- Seniors –

We should promote policies and programs that help seniors “Age in Place."   By keeping seniors living safely and comfortably in their current houses, we increase their quality of life and save money for the seniors and for the state.
 
- Budget –

The budget crisis will continue to be one of the most pressing issues for the next Legislative session. This crisis should be addressed in a variety of ways.  We need to improve efficiency in state government, especially in areas where there is overlap between departments like with information technology.  We also should close tax loopholes and eliminate specific tax exemptions if they have not proven effective in producing jobs. While new revenue sources will almost certainly be necessary, we need to take care to insure that any new revenues do not hurt the economic vitality of our state or make our already regressive tax system more unfair.
 
Thank you for reviewing these issue highlights. I would like to hear your feedback on these and other issues.  I look forward to talking with you on the campaign trail, and feel free to contact me directly at vote@andybillig.com

To view Andy's remarks from his Campaign Kick-Off Event on November 12, 2009, please click on this link.