Hughes to replace caucus-bucking Dunleavy on Senate finance committee

JUNEAU — Having left the Alaska State Senate’s Majority Caucus in protest of its stance on the state budget, Wasilla Senator Mike Dunleavy, has been stripped of a number of his key leadership roles. Among those is his seat on the influential Finance Committee where he’s been replaced by fellow Mat-Su member Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer).

““Sen. Dunleavy elected to leave the majority caucus, and key committee positions are to be held by caucus members. I appreciate our members who are stepping up to fill these roles. Sen. Dunleavy’s role as chairman and finance member has changed, but his role as friend and colleague remains the same,” said Senate President Pete Kelly (R-Fairbanks) on Tuesday before announcing the following changes to committee leadership:

· Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) will serve on the Senate Finance Committee and remain a member of the Senate Education Committee.

· Sen. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) will take on chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee.

· Sen. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage) will take on chairmanship of the Senate State Affairs Committee.

· Sen. Dunleavy will replace Sen. Meyer on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Dunleavy said his decision was based in opposition to the Majority Caucus’ budget, which he said threatened the PFD dividend too much while not cutting government spending nearly enough. He wrote on his Facebook page:

“I want to thank my caucus colleagues for their support over the past several years. Together we have fought to reduce the budget, worked to maintain the rights of individual Alaskans, and move good public policy forward to help all Alaskans. However, being part of a caucus has always been a struggle for me (as it is for others) as the very constituents that sent me to Juneau expect me to represent them and their values first before that of a caucus.

I could not support the budget in its current form as it contained a formula for a reduced PFD going forward and was lighter on reductions than I had hoped. My constituents want government reduced further before being taxed or reducing the dividend and this is what I will continue to work toward. This was obviously not an easy decision, but I believe it was in the best interests of the people I represent back in my home district.”