Alaska Politics Blog : New job for Bitney

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Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

Don Hunter

Don Hunter covers Anchorage city government and politics. He is a longtime ADN reporter and editor and wrote for the Anchorage Times. E-mail Don at dhunter@adn.com

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David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Sarah Palin

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Alaska political corruption

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New job for Bitney

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: July 12, 2007 - 12:08 pm

We've been wondering if Gov. Sarah Palin's former legislative director, John Bitney, would return to lobbying when eligible.

Today, this announcement came from House Speaker John Harris:

(PRESS RELEASE BEGINS)
House Speaker Hires John Bitney

(Anchorage) – Speaker of the House John Harris (R-Valdez) today announced that he has hired John Bitney, who until last Friday had served as Legislative Director for Governor Sarah Palin. Harris said Bitney’s duties for the House Majority caucus would initially include research on legislative and budget issues.

“John Bitney has extensive experience with the Legislature, having worked for many years for the late Rep. Ron Larson, former Rep. Terry Martin, and others,” Harris said. “John’s intimate knowledge of state budgets, as well as his recent experience advocating for the Governor’s gas pipeline bill, will be very helpful in the process going forward into the coming legislative sessions.”

Bitney worked with Larson for seven years, including four years when Larson was co-chairman of House Finance, then with Martin for one year, when Martin was chairman of Legislative Budget and Audit. Bitney then went to work as legislative liaison for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation from 1996-2002. After four years working as a lobbyist, he signed on to help Palin win election last year. Since December 2006, he has served as her Legislative Director, but separated from the administration for personal reasons.

Bitney will work out of the Speaker’s Office in the Capitol in Juneau.
(PRESS RELEASE ENDS)

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July 15, 2007 - 6:10pm | sue_wright

I happened to be married to the COS an

he had no control over who sends faxes. The ad agency said they made the error. So if you repeat a story get it right

July 16, 2007 - 8:54am | Valley_Dude

What about John Harris?

Has he ever campaigned for R's on State time?

4 July 13, 2007 - 4:43am | michael_cathy

If I remember correctly ...

Bitney was asked during the campaign about conflicts and why he was working on Gov. Palin's election. He stated it was because he had known her since grade school or something. Perhaps he just finished up his promise to an old friend, and having Bitney over in Harris' office could be very helpful towards the natural gas pipeline work. Sometimes I think newcomers to Alaska don't understand how deep some friendships go in this State if you were born and raised here.

July 13, 2007 - 9:38am | AK_Lady

You mean...

raised here.

July 15, 2007 - 1:02am | lack

Actually...

its not "raised" when talking about humans. The correct term is "reared." "Raised" refers to chickens, cows, and cabbage.

July 15, 2007 - 11:56pm | AK_Lady

Raised/reared...

but not born here.

July 19, 2009 - 2:16am | servat63

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July 15, 2007 - 8:45am | rfn

Works in The Muni

for property taxes, too.

"Raised", in that context, is one of those rare words for which exists no opposite.

July 15, 2007 - 2:37pm | michael_cathy

tt is so easy ...

to figure out who moved here, probably within the past few years, as your ignorance is apparent. Fireball XL5 unite!

July 15, 2007 - 2:39pm | rfn

Speak for yo'self.

Nearly 40 years counts as more than "a few". But I guess Anchorage property taxes ARE pretty low when compared to your old home town.

July 16, 2007 - 2:33pm | michael_cathy

LOL

rfn, now that was funny - Sand Lake wasn't even Anchorage then

July 16, 2007 - 4:19pm | rfn

Yer right.

Sand Lake was in Alaska then.

July 16, 2007 - 4:25pm | michael_cathy

and I have never once heard

of property taxes going down, have you?

July 16, 2007 - 5:37pm | rfn

As a matter of fact, yes

It was many years ago and I'm not going to name the small Alaska city where it happened. That's because, if I did, nobody elected to the legislature from there would ever be taken seriously in Juneau.

It was a means of instituting a city sales tax. Guaranteed to lower property taxes! Voters loved it.

It actually did.

Lower property taxes.

For one tax year.

In truth it was impossible to fault the city council for having lied. They actually DID lower property taxes. They never did say how long they'd stay lowered so they definitely were not lying.

Think some folks in Fairbanks might have moved there from that other city and have long memories?

3 July 12, 2007 - 11:53pm | truthseeker

A huge loss for sarah...............

He was one of the most competent people on the third floor. And now going to work for harris on gasline and other issues, she is going to have to deal with him anyway. What was she thinking?

And so much also for the people who automatically assumed he was doing this for some dirty reason to get out of the ethics law.

Yes, we have to be diligant, but assuming that everyone in government has some horrible motive is in the end destructive to our democracy.

Yet, some are willing to try to manufacture something even if it isn't there for some perceived petty political advantage.

Democracy is a fragile thing. It cannot stand abuse by special interests, an overtly cynical outlook that everyone is on the take or naked political ambition that just looks for the spin and advantage in every situation.

Looks like bitney will do just fine.

July 13, 2007 - 4:49am | nooneknows

HUGE loss for the governor.

She is getting rid of people like Bitney but still keep Old Murkowski and Knowles people. Not much has changed in the rank and file or should I say top management.

Most exempt employees kept their jobs and in the end it will be the same as Murkowski. This is just a honeymoon phase thats lasting longer than most.

2 July 12, 2007 - 4:32pm | Stumpy1

Apologies?

Some of the familiar blogers that are vitriolic and misogynistic in their denouncements of Sarah were sure quick to suggest some evil motives on John's part when he left the Palin Administration.

They do not seem to be very quick at offering their mea culpas'...

You know who you are, fellow bloggers.

Congrats on your new job, John. Continue to do good work.

July 13, 2007 - 5:52am | Black3

I'm not offering either a mea culpa or

an apology for speculating that he wanted out so he could go back to lobbying. I thought it would have been a smart move to have hung through the first session with the Administration and then move on.

July 12, 2007 - 4:54pm | AK_Logic

Stumpy1 you crack me up!

Look Stumpy1 or whoever you are:

How long are you going to play this game of name dropping? Because I am sure it's very common for all of the people in this State to know the Governor's Leg. Director on a first name basis, right? Why hide your association? It's not clever to be anonymous when everyone knows you are some how connected to the Governor.

I for one think John Bitney was one of the only/most qualified people on the Governor's staff. I have learned a lot about him in the last 3 days and I think he sounds like a great Alaskan and I too wish Mr. Bitney well. I too thought the speculation was uncalled for and he deserved more respect.

However, I personally think Sarah got rid of him for some weird reason that has nothing to do with his performance and I think she should come clean. Why would she let a guy like Mr. Bitney go, especially when he is not leaving the State and he is taking a very similar job? Was he too smart for her or something? It doesn't make any sense.

Palin is clueless. I can't wait to see what severely unqualified friend she hires to handle legislation.

Also: What "familiar blogers" bashed John Bitney?

July 14, 2007 - 8:40pm | nooneknows

Stumpy doesn't have a clue....

or does she???

July 12, 2007 - 10:15pm | turk_burlington

July 12, 2007 - 6:00pm | BravoSierra

Now he's established his

Now he's established his connections to this administration and can get out and back to lobbying.

Tibbles counted chits for the Senate President and for FM for a while. All the Leg Director is is an intermediary to the COS and Gov, the COS can do both; it just eliminates the "I'll see if I can get you an appointment" game that most Leg Directors play so well.

Black3 | July 10, 2007 - 1:55pm

July 12, 2007 - 8:34pm | edgefinder

"I'll see if I can get you an appointment" game that most Leg Di

"I'll see if I can get you an appointment" game that most Leg Directors play so well. Bravo Sierra!

Hey BS are you in Black3's lOCAL PUT DUMB POLITICAL FRIENDS TO WORK FOUNDATION?

Good Morning, it's Friday the 13th.

Got indictments?

July 13, 2007 - 4:55pm | tomtom

edge

You heve been predicting, strongly I might add, that Friday the 13th was "indictment day" for all the bad little boys and girls.

Its now almost Saturday the 14th adn I hear of no new indictments.

July 14, 2007 - 6:49am | twentythreeskidoo

Yep...

Pass the popcorn will ya ?

Quarter of a million dollars in three months......

That's a decent amount of money, even in the DC defense counsel world.

July 14, 2007 - 3:14am | edgefinder

Well I missed.

Well I missed. Sorry. Fri April 13th my prediction for Weyrauch, Kott and Kohring.I missed then, too. I figure within the month we'll know more.

They said be patient, investigations take time.

And look at blackis's prediction there- "no one will be convicted."

Did he mean to say "No one Acquitted?"

There's lots more grand jury left to go, so,
I can't help but to push the paranoia on to some who have reason to be concerned because of their associations with witnesses, ot workplace history.

That nagging shadow of doubt wondering if you will be caught for knowingly doing the wrong thing. It's probably quite nauseating, I bet, with all FBI and stuff.

There's going to be more indictments, and the ones that doubt it are naieve.

People know whether they worked with people that were on the level or not. Most I met that were at DOA were more than a half bubble off of level.

Since 'Ol Blackie decided anyone who is going to want their contractual rights is arbitrarily an enemy, well great, rattle him, and make him go get a huge bar tab.

That's more what the 13th is about.

July 13, 2007 - 5:53am | Black3

Off your meds again I see!

(n/t)

July 13, 2007 - 8:28am | nooneknows

Mind your manners boys.

ADN may cut us off.

July 12, 2007 - 5:48pm | TheSdog

I'd like an answer to that as well

I certainly did not say anything and lets face it AKL we are like Kryptonite to stumpyman.

1 July 12, 2007 - 3:59pm | Barbies_R_US

Does that mean

that Liesel and Tom finally have gotten a couple of veteran staffers fired? Like a they used the cameras to try to get one senior staff member of Harris' fired. Maybe they were successful this time.

Wonder how the governor feels about this one.

And someone made a joke about my dress! Queen Bee YOU GO JOHN!