A newly formed Republican-led House majority finalized its membership Thursday, signaling a rightward shift in the chamber after six years of left-leaning bipartisan coalitions composed mostly of Democrats.
Rep. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, leaves the State House chambers after she was elected Speaker of the House on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023 at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau.
House Speaker Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican, said Thursday that the majority’s priorities would involve addressing Alaska’s fiscal situation, including through a possible cap on state spending. But leaders of the caucus balked at articulating any specifics — including on the size of the Permanent Fund dividend.
“Folks in rural Alaska are always fine with us reaching across the aisle to work on their behalf,” said Rep. Neal Foster, a Nome Democrat who joined the majority caucus. “There’s a long history of that.” Foster’s father, Richard Foster, also served as a Democrat in the Alaska House and often caucused with Republicans.
“They highlighted their diversity as a strength. I think that is a strength for them but it’s also an opportunity for us to figure out — where can we find coalitions of individuals that are aligned on an issue?” Schrage said. With 21 Republicans in the 40-member chamber, disagreements between some GOP members had prevented them from forming a majority without bringing along some members of the opposing party.
“Most everybody would like to sit on the finance committee or be a co-chair because you can help steer the ship,” said Foster. “But I do want to emphasize that that’s what we’re doing — we’re helping steer.” The 23-member majority caucus comes with few legislators who have served in a majority before. Edgmon, Foster and Utqiagvik independent Josiah Patkotak recently served in the bipartisan House majority, but only Tilton, Rep. Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River, and Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, had served in a majority caucus before Wednesday. Saddler will serve as House majority leader and Johnson as Rules Committee chair.
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