The day after Big Lake Republican Rep. Kevin McCabe told a freshman legislator that she didn’t understand how the legislative process works because she is new, Soldotna Republican Rep. Justin Ruffridge announced the formation of the bipartisan freshman caucus, an informal organization open to the 17 legislators with no prior experience as a state legislator.
The idea of a freshman-focused organization has been rumored since December after the largest freshman class since 2003 was elected, so the timing of the announcement is likely coincidental but it still sends a clear message that this class is interested in shaking up the status quo in Juneau.
“These 17 individuals have different backgrounds and experiences, work history and represent diverse communities across the state. When many of us first met this last December during our first multi-day training, we came together as individuals looking to learn and understand not only the ins and outs of state government, but the departments and staff that make this place run,” Ruffridge said during Friday’s floor session. “We also were able to learn and understand more about one another. We began to learn what was important to each other, we talked about the number of issues that were important to the constituents in our respective districts. In many cases we were surprised about the similarities of the issues important to constituents around Alaska.”
Without highlighting specific legislative priorities, Ruffridge said while the group obviously won’t always see eye to eye on every issue he hopes it can result to better communication and understanding of differing viewpoints.
“There may be times we vote together, times that we vote apart,” he said. “Regardless of if we agree or disagree, I know we will maintain the highest level of respect for one another.”
A distinct example of legislators not having the highest level of respect for one another could be seen in Thursday’s meeting of the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on House Bill 22, legislation to set up a limited pension plan for firefighters and other peace officers. The legislation has faced bitter opposition from hardliner Republican sophomore legislators Reps. McCabe and Tom McKay, who resorted to claims that the public safety agencies were offering fake numbers to support the change and complained about a process they felt was going too fast.
Freshman Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, noted the legislation shouldn’t come as a complete surprise to anyone.
“I was just going to on this amendment point out I think this bill was pre-filed, so we’ve had quite a bit of time to get our ducks lined up, but I’m new to this,” she said. “It just seems like we’ve been here for a while.”
McCabe responded by arguing that pre-filing legislation doesn’t mean it gets heard and continued his complaints that the legislation was being rushed.
“I get that you’re new,” he said, on a committee where four of the seven members are new.
Watch: The full exchange here
The exchange and others led to committee Chair Rep. CJ McCormick, a Bethel Democrat who is also a freshman, cutting it off, saying he wouldn’t stand for personal attacks in the committee. Rep. Ruffridge also sparred with McCabe over an accusation that police officers were endangering the public in order to boost their overtime numbers.
The measure ultimately advanced from the committee on a 4-2 vote with freshmen Reps. Ruffridge, Himschoot, Donna Mears and McCormick voting in favor of it.
Tensions
The formation of an informal caucus like this—especially ones that cross formal caucus boundaries—is a statement, signaling they are a force to be taken seriously. And in a chamber where hardliner Republicans have long groused about bipartisan control and Republican impurity, that could cause some tensions.
On that front, it doesn’t sound like all 17 members are raring to join an organization, as informal as it may be, that is not only bipartisan but could get crosswise with the Republican-led House Majority, a group that has largely organized around being Republicans after years of bipartisan control of the chamber.
“I still think it’s going to cause some tension,” East Anchorage Republican Rep. Stanley Wright told the Anchorage Daily News, adding that he wasn’t sure he’d join.
Judging by the response to Ruffridge’s floor speech—desk-pounding applause from many members of the former bipartisan organizations with stony silence from hard-line Republicans—there’s certainly a mixed reaction to the idea of opening the door to bipartisan collaboration, especially when it has already undercut some of the chamber’s most conservative members.
Matt Acuña Buxton is a long-time political reporter who has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and The Midnight Sun political blog. He also authors the daily politics newsletter, The Alaska Memo, and can frequently be found live-tweeting public meetings on Twitter.
