Billy Long

Billy Long
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Roy Blunt
Personal details
Born	August 11, 1955 Springfield, Missouri
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Barbara Long
Residence	Springfield, Missouri
Occupation	Auctioneer, Realtor
Religion	Presbyterian
Website	Official website

William H. "Billy" Long II^[1] (born August 11, 1955)^[2] is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. In the 2010 election, he won the open U.S. House seat vacated by incumbent Roy Blunt, who decided to run for the United States Senate.

Long has been criticized for his propensity for spending large amounts of campaign funds on junkets to Las Vegas, where he participates in poker tournaments.

Early life and education

Long is a fourth-generation native of Missouri. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1955. He attended the University of Missouri and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity prior to dropping out to attend the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City. He received his Certified Auctioneer Institute designation via the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute and Trustees.^[3][4]

Professional career

Long owned Billy Long Auctions, LLC. He was also a talk radio show host on Springfield-based station KWTO. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, National Auctioneers Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.^[5]

Long also participated in the World Poker Tour participating in professional sanctioned games including the Southern Poker Championship at the Beau Rivage and the Bellagio Cup.

U.S. House of Representatives

2010 election

Long joined the race for the 7th District after incumbent Roy Blunt chose to run for the U. S. Senate. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—the real contest in the heavily Republican district—Long narrowly won with 36 percent of the vote. He defeated Democratic challenger Scott Eckersley with 63 percent of the vote.

2012 election

In the 2012 general election, Long won reelection by 63.9% of votes against Democratic challenger Jim Evans (30.9%) and Libertarian candidate Kevin Craig (5.2%).^[6]

2014 election

In the August 5th, 2014 primary race, Long defeated sole Republican challenger Marshall Works 62.4% to 37.6%.^[7] He faced Evans and Craig in the November general election, and won with over 63% of the popular vote.

Legislation

Since 2011 Rep. Long has sponsored 14 bills, one resolution and one concurrent resolution, and co-sponsored 844 other pieces of legislation.^[8]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Health

References

1. "Representative William H. Long (Billy) (R-Missouri, 7th) – Biography from". LegiStorm. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
2. John Bicknell 112th Congress: Billy Long, R-Mo. (7th District)) CQ Politics November 3, 2010
3. "Election". Congress.org. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
4. "About Billy Long". Billy Long for Congress. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
5. "About Billy Long". Billy Long for Congress. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
6. Nov 6, 2012 General Election. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
7. "2014 Missouri House Primaries Results". Politico. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
8. "Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored by Billy Long". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved April 27, 2016.

External links

• Billy Long Auctions
• Congressman Billy Long official U.S. House site
• Billy Long for Congress
• Billy Long at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress