AG Sullivan begins confirmation hearings

February 25, 2010

Attorney General Dan Sullivan went before the House Judiciary Committee Thursday to begin the confirmation process. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-DT)

by Ted Land
Thursday, February 25, 2010

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Attorney General Dan Sullivan has been on the job for months, but he is just now going through confirmation hearings.

Sullivan needs the legislature's approval to continue as the state's top legal advisor. Thursday the House Judiciary Committee started the process.

The committee had good things to say about Sullivan and nothing is expected to stand in the way of his full confirmation.

Sullivan took the stand and faced mostly praise from lawmakers.

But they did have a few questions. Among them, legislators want to know how Sullivan plans to fight the federal government when it encroaches on the state's rights.

Sullivan says that is something Alaska needs help with and he's asking for other states to join in resistance.

"What would it take for us to take an offensive posture rather than to be proactive in defending ourselves?" Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, asked Sullivan.

"You might think that this is an Alaska problem but trust me, this is coming to a theater near you in a very short time and you're going to need to react, so we need to react together and I don't think this is a Democrat or Republican issue, I just think it's an issue that a lot of the states are feeling," Sullivan said.

Sullivan will join other states' attorneys general for a conference in Washington DC next week. He says he will ask for their support in fighting endangered species listings.

He's already sent a letter to his colleagues spelling out the terms.

The committee approved Sullivan and now he'll go before the full House of Representatives for a confirmation vote that's expected sometime in April.

Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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