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The 25th Alaska State Legislature served for a term lasting from January 16, 2007 to January 19, 2009. All forty representatives and one-half of the senate (ten members) were elected to their terms on November 7, 2006. The remaining ten senators were elected to their terms on November 2, 2004.
Contents
Sessions
In the 2006 elections, a voter initiative championed by freshman Fairbanks representative Jay Ramras was passed by voters, which reduced the statutory length of the session from the existing length of 120 days to 90 days. The changes to the law made by the initiative took effect with the second session of this legislature. Current legislation would make changes to accommodate a 90 session.
Although the second session adjourned on time, some members of the legislature claimed that legislation was rushed and public input was jeopardized.
Bipartisan coalition
Shortly after the 2006 November election, a bipartisan coalition was announced between all nine Democratic senators and six of the eleven Republican senators. Democrats will chair the Judiciary, Health, Education, & Social Services, Labor and Commerce, Community and Regional Affairs, and Transportation Committees, as well as co-chair the powerful Finance Committee. The Senate Republicans in the coalition will also have a co-chair for the Finance Committee (the minority Republicans will only be given one seat on the committee), and chair the State Affairs, Resources, and Rules Committees.
Because of the Republican split, the Democrats control a majority of committee chairmanships while Republicans in the governing coalition chair the others. The majority leader is the same legislator as it was in the last session, a Republican, who has joined the bi-partisan coalition. Because of this, the minority leader is head of the five-member Republican organization. Hence, all three listed officers of the body are Republicans, as different aspects are in the majority (with the chamber-wide minority Democrats) while others are in the official minority.
The split is largely viewed as over the Senate presidency. The minority leader was the Republicans' suspected, initial choice for Senate President. The coalition commands three-quarters of the body.
A similar move was made in the 24th Legislature, on the House side. It, however, was torn apart.
Leadership
The President of the Senate is Republican Lyda Green of District G (Matanuska-Susitna Valley). The Majority Leader is Republican Gary Stevens of District R (Kodiak). The Minority Leader is Republican Gene Therriault of District F (North Pole).