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'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.
~ Rep. John Harris

"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.