newsminer.com

The Alaska Legislature refused to confirm Wayne Anthony Ross, Gov. Sarah Palin's pick for attorney general, on Thursday.

He needed a majority of both bodies, and failed to garner that support. Lawmakers from districts with large Native populations turned Ross down, while most Republicans from urban areas stuck to the party line and supported Palin's pick.

There was some celebrating down the hall from the press room near Sen. Albert Kookesh's office. The Angoon Democrat spoke passionately against Ross's confirmation.

Here's the breakdown. A note about party affiliation: Four senators - Therriault, Wagoner, Bunde and Dyson - caucus as a bloc of Republicans. The bipartisan majority working group contains 9 Democrats and six Republicans.

SENATE Yea - 7 Con Bunde, R-Anchorage Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage Linda Menard, R-Wasilla Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage Gene Therriault, R-North Pole

Nay - 12 Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage Hollis French, D-Anchorage Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon Donald Olson, D-Nome Joe Paskvan, D-Fairbanks Bert Stedman, R-Sitka Joe Thomas, D-Fairbanks Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak

HOUSE (Richard Foster, D-Nome, who caucuses with the largely Republican majority, was excused)

Yeas - 16 John Cohill, R-North Pole Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Anchorage Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River Carl Gatto, R-Palmer John Harris, R-Valdez Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage Carl Johnson, R-Anchorage Wes Keller, R-Wasilla Mike Kelly, R-Fairbanks Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau Mark Neuman, R-Wasilla Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks Bill Stoltze, R-Eagle River

Nays - 23: Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak Bob Buch, D-Anchorage Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage Harry Crawford, D-Anchorage Mike Doogan, D-Anchorage Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham Les Gara, D-Anchorage Berta Gardener, D-Anchorage Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks Bob Herron, D-Bethel, but member of Majority Lindsey Holmes, D-Anchorage Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue, but member of Majority Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau Pete Petersen, D-Anchorage Woodie Salmon, D-Chalkytsik Paul Seaton, R-Homer Bill Thomas, R-Haines Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell