ELIOT NELSON
ALASKA IS
FLAGGING
pose, too. Acting as Begich’s sous
chef was Sen. Maria Cantwell (DWash.), who had recently been
named chairwoman of the Indian
Affairs Committee — a comparatively low-profile assignment
within the Beltway, but one of
tremendous significance to Alaska’s natives.
She was one in a long line of
senators, cabinet secretaries, FCC
commissioners and agency directors invited up to the 49th State
to witness its idiosyncrasies firsthand. Costs are higher here —
transporting goods and services
HUFFINGTON
01.26.14
Just as politicians in
the heartland are all too
eager to nosh on fried
butter at state fairs,
Alaska’s lawmakers never
miss an opportunity to
honor local customs.
to towns without road access isn’t
easy — and federal regulations can
run afoul of local customs, particularly native ones.
Committee chairs like Cantwell
have helped Begich craft some of
his biggest legislative achievements, like securing automatic
reauthorization of the Indian
Sens. Maria
Cantwell
(left) and
Begich
(center)
speak to
constituents
at a fishing
camp on the
outskirts of
Galena.