In a devasting blow to Rep. Mary Peltola, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman has been in Alaska this week to share with Alaskans his frustration about Peltola’s lack of advocacy and effectiveness for responsible resource development.
Westerman hosted multiple events with congressional candidate Nick Begich and toured industrial sites where equipment was being made and shipped to the North Slope. Both Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Sen. Dan Sullivan attended events with Begich and Westerman. It was a rare move; usually a chair of a committee doesn’t support the opponent of one of his own members, but in this case, Westerman did, in a big way.
House Natural Resources Committee is arguably the most powerful committee for an Alaska congressional representative to serve on and Alaska has always had a presence on the committee.
But during a candidate forum this month, Rep. Peltola said she would gladly give up her seat on Natural Resources if she could only get a seat on the appropriations committee.
Westerman was taken aback at her statement. Alaska has a strong need for a resource-based economy and Peltola has campaigned on “fish” issues, all of which go through the House Natural Resources Committee.
But it follows the Peltola pattern. Earlier this year, Peltola refused to vote for the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act, and she snuck behind the sponsor’s back and told Democrats to vote against the bill, while she voted “present.”
It was a bill that would stop the Biden Administration from locking up Alaska’s congressionally designated oil and gas leasing areas. It’s a bill that Peltola had initially cosponsored before deciding to distance herself.
The Alaska’s Right to Produce Act would reinstate previously awarded, Biden-canceled oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
