Alaska News

Top Alaska House Democrat flies to Anchorage to meet his end-of-session newborn

JUNEAU -- As Democrats and Republicans in the Alaska House try to negotiate a final budget package in time for the Legislature's scheduled adjournment at midnight Sunday, the House Democratic leader flew to Anchorage to visit his new baby, which arrived just after 7 a.m. Sunday morning.

Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, the House minority leader, said in a phone interview that he plans to be back at the Capitol in time for confirmation votes on Gov. Bill Walker's appointees scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Tuck flew to Anchorage on Sunday morning. His trip comes as the Democratic minority tries to negotiate a final budget package with the House Republican majority caucus that can also be approved by the Republican majority in the Senate.

Tuck has been the House Democrats' negotiator.

Tuck said in a phone interview Sunday morning that he planned to continue that work and would speak to House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, by phone after a floor session that began at 9 a.m.

"I just need to see how things have transpired," Tuck said as he drove to the home of his partner, conservative talk radio host Bernadette Wilson.

The baby, he said, is a girl, but a name has not been chosen. During Sunday's House floor session, one of Tuck's caucus members, Rep. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, quipped: "We know it's a Democrat, and we know it's a girl."

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He added, referring to the budget discussions with Chenault: "It could be part of the negotiations in the end, and we'll name it Mike."

In a brief interview Sunday morning, Chenault said he'd anticipated Tuck's baby's arrival.

"They'd better get their next point person," he said.

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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