[libbylu]

Are you related to Lisa? I am not from Alaska. My guess is the republican who ends up heading the chair will do just fine. They will have two years to practice up anyway, Bambi will veto anything meaningful. That is a pretty lame excuse to me.

[tongass kid]

Not related to Lisa. The chair of the committee is very important to Alaska. The majority of State revenue comes from oil. The present oil fields are in decline and we need to open up new wells. Only an Alaskan sitting in that chair will not trade Alaska's oil interest away to support other legislation. With out the opening of new wells, Alaska will soon suffer declining State revenue, decline in PFD, and a new State income tax. This is reality for Alaskans and Alaskans need to protect that chair. What indication do you have that the non Alaskan R that ends up sitting in the chair will do just fine? How do you know that person will not use the position to promote his/her state to the detriment of Alaskans?