Things got real loose in the House Finance Committee this morning during a presentation on crime. The presentation was titled “Community Perspectives on Crime”, and included invited testimony from several public safety officials.

Department of Public Safety Deputy Commissioner Michael Duxbury was presenting when Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard (R – Wasilla) made a statement about Governor Michael J. Dunleavy’s (R – Alaska) crime bills. She said she felt it was disingenuous to have a discussion on crime and not address Governor Dunleavy’s crime bills. When she said, “We have how many crime bills that are sitting out there. They haven’t been heard in Judiciary. They haven’t been heard at this table…” At which point she was interrupted by Representative Tammie Wilson (R – North Pole) who said, “Ok, we’re not gonna, um, at ease! You can see the whole interaction here.

It was what happened during the at ease that really kicked things off. You can see Wilson talking to Sullivan-Leonard and pointing to the hallway, and then standing up. Several people that were in the room said Wilson told Sullivan-Leonard she wanted to speak to her in the hallway, to which Sullivan-Leonard said no. Wilson then told her something to the effect of this is not a hearing on a crime bill, but a general presentation on crime, and if Sullivan-Leonard continued to talk about crime legislation, Wilson would gavel out the meeting. Sullivan-Leonard said she was going to make her statement and basically told Wilson, “Do what you need to do.” Which is exactly what Wilson did.

Wilson called the meeting back to order and said, “Back on the record. Right now we are going to recess the meeting to the call of the chair.” And boom, the meeting was over.

Wilson was likely frustrated that Sullivan-Leonard was trying to talk about Dunleavy’s proposed crime legislation during a presentation that was not about any specific crime bill. And Sullivan-Leonard was likely frustrated that she’s in the Minority and they don’t have any control about when and what bills are heard. The Landmine take on this is – overall very LOOSE! Just think what kind of material will be coming out of Juneau in the coming weeks.