Alaska House and Senate leaders name committee chairs and discuss priorities

The bipartisan caucuses that control the Alaska House and Senate have announced committee chairmen. The biggest changes will occur in the House of Representatives, which is transitioning from a Republican-led coalition to one comprised mainly of Democrats and independents.

In its announcement, the multiparty House coalition of two Republicans, five independents and 14 Democrats highlights several committees that are particularly critical to its agenda.

The House Education Committee will be co-chaired by two Southeast Alaskans with experience in the field, including retired teacher Rebecca Himschoot and I-Sitka.

“The meeting priority is also our priority in terms of ensuring a more stable flow of funding to our schools,” Himschoot said. “The sooner we do this, the better.”

Passing a long-term education funding increase early in the session would allow school districts to avoid last-minute budget maneuvers, Himschoot said. temporarily lay off teachers and staff, some of whom do not return.

That was the idea of ​​the last session. The House and Senate early passed a bill that calls for a nearly $700 increase in per-student funding; but Governor Mike Dunleavy refused to sign it and lawmakers He fell one vote short of overriding his veto.. Lawmakers eventually agreed to an equivalent annual increase in the state operating budget, but it wasn’t approved until the last day of the session in mid-May.

Lawmakers would need to increase the so-called base student allocation by at least $680 to match the current funding level. Himschoot said that it is not yet clear exactly which figure they will target.

“We also have to be aware that oil prices are not helpful at the moment, so there will need to be a lot of negotiation to get to a figure, but I think the focus should be on getting to that figure quickly,” he said.

Another focus of helping the state’s struggling schools is improving the retirement system for public employees, Himschoot said. Many members of the majority have campaigned to return to the retirement system from the current defined contribution system, which is similar to a 401(k) account.

Himschoot will share the House Education Committee gavel with former school board member Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau. Story said he shares Himschoot’s urgency to pass the education funding increase early.

“I know for a fact that this is a priority for the House and the Senate, so I think everyone wants to start working on this as soon as possible, get a bill out there so that our partners, our parents, people can comment on this and continue to move forward. Throughout the process, ” said Story.

Leaders say the majority is also focused on reducing energy costs. Key to this effort will be the co-chairs of the House Resources Committee; For the first time in at least 30 years — perhaps in the future — that committee will have two Alaska Native women, including House-elect Robyn Niayuq Burke, D-Utqiagvik.

“I predict oil and gas in Cook Inlet will still be a big topic next session,” Burke said. “It’s not typical for Democrats to be pro-resource development, but I don’t think you can be a Democrat on the North Slope without being pro-resource development.”

Concerns about the Biden administration’s restrictions on oil and gas drilling on federal lands are a big part of why villages in the area are turning markedly toward Trump, Burke said.

Burke said he opposes importing liquefied natural gas to supplement the dwindling supply in Cook Inlet and would prefer lawmakers take a closer look at what they can do to support construction of a long-dreamed-of natural gas pipeline from the North Slope. He said he would prioritize consultation with tribal leaders on resource projects.

Burke will share the Resources chair with Rep. Maxine Dibert of Fairbanks, a pro-development Democrat.

“We are a resource state, and Alaskans have those resources,” Dibert said. “They want them to be developed, albeit in a responsible way.”

Two Anchorage members — Democrat Donna Mears and independent Ky Holland — will chair the House Special Committee on Energy.

And the all-important House Finance Committee will have three co-chairs: Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, who will handle the state’s ongoing spending in the operating budget; Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, will handle infrastructure projects in the capital budget, and Neal Foster, D-Nome, will handle off-budget bills.

Other House committee chairs include:

• Government Affairs: Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks
• Health and Social Services: Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage
• Labor and Business: Zack Fields and Carolyn Hall, both D-Anchorage.
• Committee and Regional Affairs: Donna Mears, D-Anchorage, and Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka.
• Justice: Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage
• Transportation: Ted Eischeid, D-Anchorage, and Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks.
• Military and Veterans Affairs: Ted Eischeid, D-Anchorage
• Joint Armed Services Committee: Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage
• Fishing: Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak
• Tribal Affairs: Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham and Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks.

According to the press release announcing the chairmen of more than a dozen committees, the House majority stands at a fragile 21 percent; That’s exactly the amount they need to control the 40-member parliament.

Leaders say they want a little more support from across the aisle, and the failure of ranked-choice/open primary blunts the threat of crossover Republicans being prioritized from the right. But so far this has not happened.

In the Senate, where the current bipartisan majority will remain in control, leaders say many committee chairs will not change. But the minority may be a little larger this time; The Senate’s announcement lists 14 members, notably without previous coalition member Anchorage Republican Sen. James Kaufman. Sens.-elect Mike Cronk, R-Tok, and Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, are also not on the list.

There are other notable changes, including the revival of the Senate Special Arctic Affairs Committee, co-chaired by Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage.

Other committee chairmen will consist of the following names:

• Finance: Lyman Hoffman (operating budget), D-Bethel, Bert Stedman (capital budget), R-Sitka and Donny Olson (other bills), D-Golovin
• Legislative Budget and Oversight: Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage
• Community and Regional Affairs: Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River
• Education: Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage
• Health and Social Services: Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage
• Judge: Matt Claman, D-Anchorage
• Labor and Business: Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski
• Sources: Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage
• Government Affairs: Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks
• Transportation: Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski
• Legislative Council vice chairman: Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak
• Joint Armed Services co-chairman: Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks
• Special Committee on World Trade: Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage