HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY ORGANIZATION:
Recently, the newly cobbled Democratic House Majority announced its organization and these chairmanships emerged under the speakership of Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham.
Committee Chairs:
Finance Co-Chairs – Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, Neal Foster, D-Nome
Rules – Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage
Resources Co-Chairs – Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, Rep. Andy Josephson D-Anchorage
Judiciary – Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage
Labor & Commerce – Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau
State Affairs – Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka
Community & Regional Affairs Co-Chairs – Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau
Education – Rep. Harriet Drummond, D-Anchorage
Health & Social Services – Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage
Transportation Co-Chairs– Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks
Joint Committee Chairs:
Legislative Budget & Audit Vice-Chair – Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage
Legislative Council – Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics – Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage
Armed Services – House Co-Chair, Rep. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks
Special Committee Chairs:
Energy – Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks
Fisheries – Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak
Military & Veterans Affairs – Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage
Economic Development, Tourism, and Arctic Policy – Rep. Dean Westlake D-Kotzebue
QUESTIONABLE CALL: Even though Sam Kito is said to be dating Commissioner of Labor Heidi Drygas, the Democrats put him at the helm of the Labor and Commerce Committee. See any conflict of interest? We guess that question won’t be brought before the House Ethics Committee, joint chaired by Democrat Chris Tuck.
DEPARTMENT OF HARBINGERS: Now that Democrat Reps. Andy Josephson and Geran Tarr are co-chairing the House Resources Committee, we can expect changes. Such as their stony silence after Obama’s Interior Department cancelled offshore leases in Alaska’s Arctic through 2022.
Normally, one might expect a robust defense of Alaska’s major economic engine, but under the leadership of the Democratic majority, it’s “go along and get along” with Obama.
REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY ORGANIZATION:
Finance Co-Chairs – Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Anchorage and Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel
Rules – Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage
Health and Social Services, Sen.-elect David Wilson, R-Wasilla
Judiciary, Sen. John Coghill, R-Fairbanks
Resources, Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage
State Affairs, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla
Community and Regional Affairs, Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks
Labor and Commerce, Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage
Transportation, Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka
Education, Sen.-elect Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer
Legislative Budget & Audit, Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak