Anchorage Daily News – August 9, 2000 
YOUNG: EVENTS MAY BOOST LURE OF CABINET JOB 
The Associated Press

Fairbanks -- U.S. Rep. Don Young says his chief political priority this year is to retain a major committee chairmanship if he is re-elected in November. But he isn't ruling out accepting a Cabinet post if fellow Republican George W. Bush becomes president.

"I would have interest if I was not chairman, I make no bones about that," Young said at a news conference Monday while touring the state with six other congressmen.

Young was considered for secretary of the Interior after the 1988 election.

"I made the short list under the first Bush administration," he said. "I still want to be chairman, that's my big goal. Nothing says that's guaranteed. But if not, then I'd be interested."

Young, who has served 27 years as Alaska's sole U.S. representative, has been the subject of a great deal of publicity this term because of his Conservation and Reinvestment Act, a $3 billion annual enterprise criticized by Republicans and praised by some environmental groups. There's a similar bill in the Senate, championed by Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska.

The bill, if it becomes law, would bring roughly $164 million to Alaska to buy lands for conservation, fund projects to deal with the effects of oil development and to pay for fish and wildlife research. The money would come from federal offshore oil lease revenues for 15 years, with about a third of it going mostly to coastal states near the leases.

In many ways, the measure could help green up a rather brown Republican record, combating Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore's environmental record and taking advantage of a growing public call for a cleaner planet.

"I've always been a conservationist, not a preservationist," Young said.

Young has no Republican opponent in the Aug. 22 primary election and will face a group of little-known challengers from several other parties in November.

Young is chairman of the House Resources Committee. If he is re-elected, his seniority would allow him just about any committee chairmanship he wishes. House rules limit to six the number of years a member can hold a particular chairmanship, and Young is expected to take over the Transportation Committee next year if Republicans retain control of the House.

"I can do more for the state as chairman," he said.

If the Democrats regain control of the House -- and some see that as possible given the GOP's slim majority -- Young wouldn't chair any committee. His political aspirations then could widen to the executive branch.

Young is in Alaska this week on a familiarization trip for Reps. Mike Bilirakis, R-Florida, John Duncan, R-Tenn., Collin Peterson, D-Minn., John Mica, R-Florida, Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif.

Young said he will use the trip to educate his colleagues about issues that impact not only Alaska but also the rest of the nation.

"Don is one of the most effective members of Congress we have," Bilirakis said.

Be informed! Don't allow yourself to be snowed by CARA.