Senate President Pro Tempore
Ginny Burdick
D-Portland
District 18
Biography
Ginny Burdick was first elected to the Oregon Senate in 1996, and was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Senator Burdick was elected by her peers as Senate President Pro Tempore in 2011. She currently serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, an appointment she received in 2008. In 2011, Senator Burdick was also appointed to Co-Chair the newly formed Joint Tax Credit Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Senate Committee on Business, Transportation and Economic Development. In 2005 and 2007, Senator Burdick served as Chair of the Judiciary Committee. She has also served in the past on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, and on the Environment and Commerce committees.
As Co-Chair of the Joint Tax Credit Committee, Senator Burdick is dedicated to ensuring that all state programs receiving tax credit funds are worthy of taxpayer dollars by producing jobs and other benefits for Oregonians. The 2011 Legislative Session was the first time the Committee began evaluating tax credits systematically and, with Senator Burdick’s leadership, saved Oregonians millions of dollars.
As Chair of Senate Finance and Revenue, Senator Burdick’s main goal is to make Oregon’s tax system more stable and adequate to sustain education, health care, economic health, and public safety. During the 2008 interim, she served on the Task Force for Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring where she joined multiple stakeholders in studying Oregon’s tax system and making recommendations for improvements.
She also worked to expand affordable housing credits for preserving and building housing for low-income residents.
In 2007, Senator Burdick was a Chief Sponsor of the Clean Indoor Air Act. This bill provides nearly all Oregon employees with clean air, free of secondhand smoke, in their workplaces. She was also the Senate leader in the Legislature’s successful effort to adopt anti-discrimination legislation for sexual minorities and domestic partnership legislation for same-sex couples.
In the 2005 legislative session, Senator Burdick co-authored the bi-partisan methamphetamine package that passed the Legislature overwhelmingly and has been credited with the virtual elimination of home methamphetamine labs in Oregon.
Senator Burdick has been the Legislature’s top advocate for gun safety legislation. When the Legislature failed to close the gun show loophole in 1999, she joined with two Oregon Sheriffs to sponsor Ballot Measure 5, an initiative requiring criminal background checks at gun shows. Measure 5 was passed by Oregon voters in November 2000 with 62 percent of the vote statewide and has cut down on the flow of illegal guns from gun shows.
Senator Burdick is a native of Portland. She attended Chapman and Bridlemile Schools and is a graduate of Wilson High School. She received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Puget Sound in 1969 and her Masters in Journalism from the University of Oregon in 1973.
Before being elected to the Senate, Senator Burdick served on the Land Conservation and Development Commission from 1987-1993, including four years as vice-chair. She has served on the Oregon Board of The Nature Conservancy, the Oregon Board of NARAL, Emanuel Hospital’s Council of Associates and the Program Committee of the City Club of Portland.
In her non-legislative career, Senator Burdick is a communications consultant, specializing in crisis communications. She is the proud mom of two daughters. Kate and Shannon both live in Portland. In her free time, Ginny enjoys biking, walking, working out at the gym and reading. She is owned by three cats: Guilt, Father O’Riley and Osiris. |
