ANCHORAGE:  Dan Sullivan’s committee assignments, announced today, confirm that Alaska has lost a seat on the Appropriations Committee.  Prior to Sullivan’s election, Alaska was one of only three states with both senators on Appropriations.  Likely impacts of the lost Appropriations seat will be less federal investment in Alaska, which would compound economic problems created by budget deficits left behind by the Parnell Administration.

“With Sullivan’s election, Alaska is losing clout even before the new Congress gavels in,” said Mike Wenstrup, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.

The loss of power on Appropriations isn’t the only Alaska priority at risk with Sullivan’s election.  Senator Mark Begich forced the Obama Administration to open the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and more of the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) to oil development over the objection of environmentalists.  Without Senator Begich’s clout, national environmentalists may succeed in rolling back some of these resource development projects.

Senator Begich played a key role persuading the Pentagon to keep F-16s stationed at Eielson and to make Fairbanks the preferred location for F-35s.  Without a seasoned bipartisan delegation, Alaska is at risk of the Pentagon reneging on these important commitments to our military installations.  Moreover, Tea Party demands for draconian budget cuts raise the specter of BRAC type cuts that would reduce the military presence and harm our economy.

Senator Begich played a lead role blocking cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  In contrast, Dan Sullivan marched in lockstep with his Outside campaign donors, promising to make Social Security or Medicare cuts a “priority.”  The incoming Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who works closely with the Koch Brothers and other proponents of Social Security and Medicare privatization, will attempt to cut these programs under the guise of deficit reduction.

  appropriations committee, begich, senate, sullivan