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.
