Randi Becker

Randi Becker
Member of the Washington Senate from the 2nd legislative district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2009 (2009-01-11)
Preceded by	Marilyn Rasmussen
Personal details
Born	(1948-07-12) July 12, 1948 Enumclaw, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Robert L. "Bob" Becker
Children	Reena Becker, Rhyan Becker
Residence	Eatonville, Washington
Alma mater	Green River Community College, Highline Community College
Occupation	Medical administrator (retired), Flight attendant
Committees	Health Care (Chair), Higher Education, Ways & Means
Website	Official

Randi L. Becker (born July 12, 1948) is an American politician of the Republican Party. She serves as a member of the Washington Senate, representing the 2nd Legislative District. She was first elected to the State Senate in 2008.^[1]

Early life and career

Senator Randi Becker is a third-generation Washingtonian who has lived in the area her whole life. She grew up in Enumclaw on a dairy farm and was heavily involved in 4-H. After high school, she attended both Green River Community College and Highline Community College.

Senator Becker worked as a flight attendant first in Washington, D.C., then Seattle, flying all over the United States.

Upon her return, she became a realtor in Pierce County.

Several years later, Sen. Becker started working in the medical field as a receptionist, working her way up to become the administrator of a multimillion-dollar surgical center and offices in Puyallup. Along the way, she helped develop an Obesity Surgical Practice in Auburn, Washington and worked for Good Samaritan Hospital, where she started several hospital-owned clinics, including the Urgent Care center.

Senator Becker lives on a farm in Eatonville with her husband Bob, an Air Force Veteran. They have lived in Pierce County for 40 years. They have two grown daughters, Reena and Rhyan, and three grandchildren.^[2]

Washington State Senate

Randi Becker, 2011

Becker was first elected in 2008 with 51.6%. She was re-elected in 2012 with 56.8%.

Committee Assignments

Senator Becker is Chair of the Health Care Committee. She also serves as a member of Higher Education and Ways & Means Committees.^[3]

Priority Legislation

In her first term, Becker worked to improve the oversight and coordination between colleges. She also worked to standardize the length of yellow lights to ensure motorists don't get trapped and ticketed by short lights.^[4] During her 2012 campaign she highlighted the need to remove burdens on small businesses to allow them to hire again. She also promoted her work on making higher education more affordable and accessible and addressing the infrastructure and transportation issues facing Washington State.

Controversy Regarding Health Care Transparency Legislation

In March 2014, Becker came under fire for removing a provision of House Bill 2572 that would create an “all payer claims database,” a transparency tool that would allow people to compare what health care actually costs and how well it turns out.^[5] An all payer claims database already exists or is being implemented in 16 other states^[6] and is supported in Washington by a broad coalition representing most health insurance purchasers, users, providers and health care policymakers, including small and large businesses, consumer advocates, tribes, hospitals, doctors, nurses, the governor, the insurance commissioner,^[7] the agency that governs insurance for state employees and the poor, and even most other health insurance companies.^[8] After the provision was removed, a Premera Blue Cross lobbyist publicly thanked Becker. Premera has been a vocal opponent of the all payer claims database in Washington.^[9]

Awards

• Washington Association of Business "Cornerstone Award" (2012)
• National Federation of Independent Business "Guardian of Small Business" award (2011-2012)
• Washington State Medical Association "Legislator of the Year" (2011)
• American Association of Clinical Urologists "Distinguished Leadership Award" (2011)

References