The Alaska House Democrats wanted to have a 3-1/2 day week. They planned on being on the midday flight back to Anchorage on Thursday and the Republicans of the House were getting in their way.
Speaker Bryce Edgmon was clearly having trouble holding together the Democrat-led majority because Rep. Maxine Dibert of Fairbanks was out for an extended period as she recovered from a serious illness. She was present on Thursday, sitting in the back and on an oxygen tank.
Meanwhile, House Republicans went long in their introductions of guests, putting the plans of the Democrats to hightail it out of Juneau at risk.
That finally irritated Speaker Bryce Edgmon who got chippy with the minority, asking sarcastically at one point “how many more staff do we have to introduce?”
Rep. Will Stapp, a colorful member of the Republican minority, then waxed at length about one of his staff members, until he was cut off by the speaker, who became increasingly irritable with the minority members. Watch it here:
In the middle of of the multiple “at eases,” Edgmon could be seen raising his voice at Minority Leader Mia Costello, he ordered Rep. Dan Saddler to “stand down, Rep. Saddler.”
Saddler refused, calling a point of order.
“This is not a debatable motion. I asked you to stand down,” Edgmon said sternly. “I am not going to be the presiding officer over a chamber that plays games.”
Watch as Edgmon loses his temper at the Republicans:
The remainder of the session on Thursday ended up being extended “at eases” sprinkled with Edgmon lecturing the minority.
Then, Edgmon turned to Majority Leader Chuck Kopp and said, “in deference to order and decorum on the floor, and not be obfuscating the action that we had hoped to take today, I ask for you to make a motion.”
Kopp motioned that the body adjourn until Monday. The Democrats all made their flights back to Anchorage after having put in only a half week of work.
Why not just hold legislative sessions in Anchorage then the Dem’s wouldn’t have to have their private lives interrupted by work.
Democrats actually work in Juneau? I did not know that.
Great to see the Rs “learning from the left” and using their tactics.
Way to keep earning that $84,000/121 days of “work” in Juneau. Short workweek and not voting on bills – everyone should be so lucky. Let us not forget the daily per-diem $307/day on top of that tax-free.
“……..Short workweek and not voting on bills……..”
Not voting on bills, and actually blocking bills, is a big part of “the job”. Most bills are garbage. Most bills are the problem. All we really need for these people to do is fund state government revenue and expenditures, and with everybody in this state (and a disturbing number outside of this state) pulling and tugging on that issue alone, that’s a tough enough responsibility. Most of the rest is social engineering.
Beside forfeiting their per diem if they meet in anchorage, they are terrified because we the people can show up
Why should ANYONE vote on bills? The state supreme court has already seized the power of the purse with court-ordered funding decisions. If Dunleavy vetoes the BSA bill(s), they will simply order it restored (like they did in ACLU v. Dunleavy) and The Tall Chump will obey them. Then, why not pack ALL bills into one, like SB 189 (see the Eastman article). That would save lots and lots of time. Hey, here is one type of constitutional convention that I am sure the Soros-backed liberals would support. It would read like this: “The state of Alaska hereby awards all governmental powers to an oligarchy, chosen for life, after a statewide referendum, making sure that all votes are done by mail-in ballots, and the counting is done by voting machines.”
-Uncleaned up Alaskan voter rolls
– Republican Party, letting individuals run under the guise of being a republican unfettered is as much to blame as the above statement.
A democrat majority is an embarrassment.
The thing in Juneau is no longer governing or representing, it is moving money to the most convenient exit. These people are not working for Alaska, they are working to maintain their voting block by crippling the state financial position.
Anywhere else it’s called racketeering, money laundering, and honest services fraud.
.
Good news is these are federal raps which means the state’s corrupted grand-jury system doesn’t have to be involved, and the new sheriff in town might take a look if asked politely.
I thought that reptiles, being cold-blooded, did not get angry.
Quit. Go home. Forever.