Don Young

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For other people of the same name, see Donald Young (disambiguation).
Don Young
Don Young, official photo portrait, color, 2006.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alaska's At-large district
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 6, 1973
Preceded by Nick Begich
Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by Bud Shuster
Succeeded by Jim Oberstar
Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by George Miller
Succeeded by James V. Hansen
Member of the Alaska Senate from the 1st district
In office
January 11, 1971 – March 6, 1973
Preceded by Paul B. Haggland
Succeeded by George C. Silides
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 16th district
In office
January 23, 1967 – January 10, 1971
Member of the Fort Yukon City Council
In office
1960–1968
Personal details
Born Donald Edwin Young
(1933-06-09) June 9, 1933 (age 79)
Meridian, California
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lula (Fredson) Young (m. 1963-2009, deceased)
Residence Fort Yukon, Alaska
Alma mater California State University, Chico
Occupation mariner, construction worker, miner, elementary school teacher
Religion Episcopalian
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1955-1957

Donald Edwin "Don" Young (born June 9, 1933) is the U.S. Representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district, serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Young is the dean of the Alaskan congressional delegation, the fifth most senior U.S. Representative and the second most senior Republican Representative, behind Bill Young of Florida.

Contents

Early life, education, and pre-political career [edit]

Young was born in Meridian, Sutter County, California. He earned an associate's degree in education from Yuba College in 1952 and a bachelor's degree from Chico State College in 1958. He served in the Army from 1955 to 1957.[1]

Young moved to Alaska in 1959, not long after it became a state. He eventually settled in Fort Yukon, a 700-person city on the Yukon River, seven miles (11 km) above the Arctic Circle in Alaska’s central interior region. He made a living in construction, fishing, trapping and gold mining. He captained a tugboat and ran a barge operation to deliver products and supplies to villages along the Yukon River. He still holds his mariner's license. During the winter, he taught fifth grade at the local Bureau of Indian Affairs elementary school.

Early political career [edit]

Young began his political career in 1964 when he was elected mayor of Fort Yukon. After only one term, he was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives and served two terms before being elected to the Alaska Senate in 1970.

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Oil on canvas, Charlen J. Satrom, 1996 Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Elections [edit]

1973-1974 [edit]

Alaska's at-large congressman, Democrat Nick Begich, disappeared in a plane crash on October 16, 1972. He was re-elected to the House that November, but was declared dead on December 29. Young, who had been the Republican candidate against Begich in November, ran in the special election in March 1973 and won with just 51% of the vote against Democrat Emil Notti. He won a full term in 1974 with just 54% of the vote. He credits his victory to his leadership of the fight for the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System.[2]

1976-2006 [edit]

He won re-election with at least 55% of vote all but three other times in his career (1990, 1992, and 2008). In 1982 and 1984, he defeated Nick Begich's wife, Pegge Begich, with 55% and 57% respectively. In 1990 he won re-election with just 52% against John Devens, the Mayor of Valdez. In 1992, he defeated Devens again, this time with just 47%: the lowest winning percentage of his career and the only time he won without a majority vote. Young's largest winning percentage was in 2002 (75%), and the most votes he got was in 2004 (213,216).

2008 [edit]

See also: United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2008
Republican primary

In light of many of the controversies, incumbent Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell announced he would run against Young in the August 26, 2008 Republican primary. Parnell was strongly supported by Gov. Sarah Palin, the Club for Growth, and many other organizations that opposed what they viewed to be corrupt behavior by Young. This was the first primary since he was first elected in which Young faced a strong challenge.

Young received the endorsement of Mike Huckabee's political action committee, Huck PAC, in June 2008.[3] After a storm of negative reaction, Huckabee explained on the Huck PAC blog that the endorsement was due in part to Young's endorsement and steadfast support of Huckabee during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries.[4]

Final results on September 18 showed Young winning by 304 votes (0.28%), and Parnell announced that he would not seek a recount.[5] Prior to the announcement of the unofficial results, both candidates had said that they would request a recount if they lost.[6] The state of Alaska pays the costs of recounts when the difference is within a half percent, as it was in this primary election.[7]

General election

Young, plagued by questions about his ethics, faced a strong challenge from Democrat Ethan Berkowitz, the 46-year-old former minority leader in the Alaska House of Representatives. Don Wright, the Alaskan Independence Party nominee, also challenged Young.

The initial results from the general election showed Young leading the race by a slim margin. He won re-election with just 50% of the vote, compared to Berkowitz's 45% and Wright's 5%.[8][9] Berkowitz himself conceded defeat on November 18, 2008, after counting of absentee and provisional ballots had mostly been completed and Young had a clearly insurmountable lead. Berkowitz received more votes in 2008 than any Democrat who had ever run against Young for Congress, and the 2008 race was the closest any Democrat had come to unseating Young since 1990, when John Devens of Valdez received 48% of the vote.[10]

2010 [edit]

See also: United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2010

Young announced in 2009 that he will be seeking his 20th term.[11] Young won the Republican primary with 70% of the vote against Sheldon Fisher and John R. Cox.[12] He was challenged by Democratic nominee State Representative Harry Crawford.[13] Young defeated him with 69% of the vote.[14]

2012 [edit]

See also: United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2012

Young drew two challengers in the Republican party, but easily defeated them. He won the primary with 79% of the vote.[15][16] In November, he won re-election to his 21st term, defeating State Representative Sharon Cissna, the Democratic nominee, 64%-29%.[17]

Tenure [edit]

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Earlier photo of Don Young

Young is the fifth longest-serving House member, and the second most-senior Republican (behind Rep. Bill Young of Florida). Due to his long tenure in the House and that of former Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska is considered to have clout in national politics far beyond its small population (it has long been one of the smallest states in population and is currently 47th, ahead of only North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming). He is often called "Alaska's third senator."[18] Young chaired the Committee on Natural Resources from the 1995 Republican takeover of the House until 2001. He then chaired the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2001 to 2007. He is currently the second-highest ranking Republican on both committees.

Young's voting record is relatively moderate by Republican standards. He has a lifetime rating of 77 from the American Conservative Union.[19] He most often crosses lines on issues affecting labor. He was one of a small number of Republicans to vote against the Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995, some free trade agreements, and was one of only 13 Republican congressmen to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act in 2007. His voting record is anti-abortion and anti-gun control, but he was also among the Republicans to vote in favor of more federal funds for stem cell research and voted against the re-authorization of the Patriot Act. However, he is best known for his vigorous opposition to federal control of Alaska's land and resources.[2] He is also a strong proponent of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.[20]

On November 4, 1999, Young voted in favor of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act,[21] which some economists, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, believe helped create the 2007 financial crisis.[22][23]

In 2000, when evidence surfaced that the Pittman-Robertson Act sportsman`s conservation trust funds were being mismanaged, Young introduced the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act. The bill passed the House 423-2 and became law on Nov. 1, 2000 and defines in what manner the monies can be spent.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Young sponsored the Airport Security Federalization Act of 2001, which created the Transportation Security Administration.[24]

Although Congressman Young is considered to be Pro-Life and was quoted saying, "… I have always voted for pro-life legislation as I believe an unborn child is a human being and should be protected through all stages of life," (1997) [25] his official positions on the subject do not make abortion illegal in every scenario. Young believes that abortion should be legal only when the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape, or in the case that a woman’s life is endangered by her pregnancy. He has addressed the issue of the time-period in which abortions should be legal, saying he does not think abortions should be limited to the first trimester of a pregnancy, and also disagrees with the idea of federal subsidies prohibiting abortions.[26]

Young is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[27]

According to The New Republic, Young is "well-known for his sharp elbows and generous appetite for legislative pork."[28] His reputation for steering federal dollars to Alaska is almost as legendary as that of Ted Stevens. For example, in the 2005 Highway Bill, Young helped secure $941 million for 119 "special projects," including a $231 million bridge in Anchorage that a rider in the bill named for Young himself.[29]

Corruption accusations [edit]

Congressman Young has been included in the annual listing of the most corrupt members of Congress compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 reports on Congressional corruption for abusing his position to benefit family and friends, and for steering millions of dollars in earmarks to corporations in exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee.[30]

2007 Federal Investigation [edit]

On July 24, 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported that Young was under federal investigation for possibly taking bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corporation, an Anchorage-based company. The top two executives of that company had already pleaded guilty to bribing members of the Alaska legislature.[31] The Journal said a VECO executive held fundraisers called "the Pig Roast" for Young every August for ten years. Between 1996 and 2006, Young received $157,000 from VECO employees and its political action committee. In the first half of 2007, Young spent more than $250,000 of his campaign contributions for legal fees.[32]

A confession signed by Bill Allen, the former chief of VECO, was released in October 2009. Allen agreed that from 1993 to August 2006, both he and his deputy at VECO, Rick Smith, "provided things of value to United States Representative A," a reference to Young. For example, in June 2006, Smith obtained a set of golf clubs, costing approximately $1,000, that Smith gave to Young. Although Young was obligated in 2006 to report gifts with a value of more than $335, he didn't report receiving any gifts on the personal financial disclosure form he filed with the House of Representatives for that year.[33]'

In August of 2010, the investigation launched by the FBI was closed. The recommendation made by the investigating office of the FBI was to close the case. This recommendation was made based on the determination by the Chief of the Public Integrity Section, Department of Justice, that the evidence supporting the corruption allegations did not rise to the level of “beyond reasonable doubt.” Given that this was the standard of evidence required for a conviction, the investigating office chose to close the case. However, the office did note that the evidentiary findings of their investigation were being forwarded to the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Committee assigned to review the findings of the FBI investigation have made no official determination to date, but have acknowledged reviewing the documents for the merit of the allegations.

2013 Federal Investigation [edit]

In March 2013, the House Ethics Committee created another special committee to investigate more allegations that Young improperly accepted gifts, used campaign funds for personal expenses, failed to report gifts in financial disclosure documents, and made false statements to federal officials.[34] On future predictions, Young stated "it will go forever. I've been under a cloud all my life. I'm sort of like living in Juneau. It rains on you all the time. You don't even notice it."[35]

Currently, the House of Representatives Ethics Committee continues to investigate Young. The Ethics Committee is now forming a sub-committee charged with the duty of determining whether or not Young broke the law. There is no timeline for either the sub-committee, or the Ethics Committee, to release its findings.

Oosik controversy [edit]

During a 1994 house debate on native Alaskans right to sell sex organs of endangered animals for the purpose of aphrodisiacs, he pulled out an eighteen-inch penis bone of a walrus, better known as an Oosik. He brandished it like a sword on the House floor at the face of the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[18][36][37]

Photography controversy [edit]

During a high school assembly in 1994, Young was answering questions about cutting federal funding for the arts. He said that such funding had "photographs of people doing offensive things," and "things that are absolutely ridiculous." When asked for an example, Young quickly replied "buttfucking", in reference to Robert Mapplethorpe's photographic exhibition The Perfect Moment.[38][39]

"Bridge to Nowhere" controversy [edit]

In 2005, Young and Stevens earmarked $223 million for building the enormous Gravina Island Bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, which also contains Ketchikan's airport. The bridge would be used for access by emergency vehicles, as well as passengers. Currently there is a small car and passenger ferry that travels the 1/4 mile (400 m) crossing in 3 to 7 minutes and runs every half hour. Critics assailed this as pork barrel spending at taxpayers' expense and dubbed it the "Bridge to Nowhere." After criticism from citizens and others in Congress, lawmakers de-funded the bridge and instead funneled the money to Alaska's Department of Transportation, allowing the Governor of Alaska to start road construction after the Alaska Legislature funded the project with the directed monies.[40]

Another bridge earmarked in the bill connects Anchorage to Pt. Mackenzie, a lightly populated area in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough that is situated less than four miles (6 km) across Cook Inlet from downtown Anchorage. Currently, Anchorage is accessible from Point Mackenzie only by an 80-mile (130 km) route around Knik Arm, much of which is an unimproved road. It is currently unlikely that the bridge will be built[citation needed]; if it were, it would enhance the value of property in which Mr. Young's son-in-law owns an interest.[18][41][42]

He was listed as the third-worst congressman by the popular magazine Rolling Stone, and dubbed "Mr. Pork" due to his involvement in the Gravina Island "Bridge to Nowhere" incident.[18] In the article, Young is quoted as saying that "Environmentalists are a self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots" who "are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans."[18]

Abramoff scandal controversy [edit]

Published reports have linked Young to the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal, although no wrongdoing has been alleged.[43] In September 2002 Young and fellow Republican Steve LaTourette of Ohio wrote to the General Services Administration urging the agency to give preferential treatment to groups such as Indian tribes when evaluating development proposals. In particular, the letter referred to a historic building, the Old Post Office Pavilion in downtown Washington, D.C.[44]

Coconut Road controversy [edit]

In 2006, Young added a $10 million earmark to a transportation bill for the construction of an interstate interchange for a short stretch of road (known as "Coconut Road") near Fort Myers, Florida. Some puzzled why a congressman from Alaska would earmark for a little road in Florida that the local community opposed. A June 2007 article in the New York Times reported that a local real estate developer, Daniel J. Aronoff, who owns 4,000 acres (16 km²) along the road helped raise $40,000 for Young shortly before the earmark was inserted. Young's spokeswoman Meredith Kenny initially said that the local Republican congressman, Connie Mack, had requested the funding. In fact, both Mack and local Republican politicians opposed the funding.[45][46][47]

In August 2007, the Naples Daily News reported that the words "Coconut Road interchange" were not in the federal transportation bill as it was approved by Congress. Instead, the words were added after the votes in the House and Senate, but before President Bush signed the bill. The original language for the $10 million earmark specified it was for widening of and improvements to Interstate 75. The language within the earmark was changed during a process called "bill enrollment", when technical corrections such as changes in punctuation are made to legislation before it is sent to the President.[48]

In April 2008, top Senate Democrats and Republicans supported asking the Justice Department for a criminal investigation of the $10 million earmark. Young's staff acknowledged that aides "corrected" the earmark just before it went to the White House for President Bush's signature, specifying that the money would go to the proposed highway interchange project. Young said that the project was entirely worthy of an earmark and that he welcomed any inquiry, a spokeswoman said. Young's office said that presentations made by Florida Gulf Coast University officials and the developers proved the case for the project.[49]

Feud with John McCain [edit]

When John McCain asked Young to give up money earmarked for Alaska to help the rebuilding effort from Hurricane Katrina, Young replied that Katrina victims "can kiss my ear!"[18]

Feud with Scott Garrett [edit]

In July 2007, fellow Republican Congressman Scott Garrett of New Jersey proposed an amendment to strike money in a spending bill for native Alaskan and Hawaiian educational programs.[32] Young defended the funds on the floor of the House, stating that "You want my money, my money."[32] Young also stated that "Those who bite me will be bitten back."[32] Young went on to suggest that conservative Republicans such as Garrett lost the Republicans their majority in the 2006 election by challenging spending earmarks, and made several critical remarks about the state of New Jersey.[32] While Garrett did not ask for an official reprimand, other conservative Republicans took exception to Young's remarks that the funds in question represented his money. Members of the conservative Republican Study Committee gave Garrett a standing ovation later in the day during the group's weekly meeting and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina compared Young's earmarks to "legal theft."[32]

BP Environment controversy [edit]

In late 2010, Obama administration officials stated that the Deepwater Horizon blowout exceeded the Exxon Valdez spill, as they estimated that the gusher had spewed between 15 million US gallons (57,000 m3) and 40 million US gallons (150,000 m3) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Around the same time, however, Young declared that the oil pumping into the Gulf was not an "environmental disaster", stating instead that it was a "natural phenomena" as "oil has seeped into this ocean for centuries, will continue to do it. During World War II there was over 10,000,000 barrels (1,600,000 m3) of oil spilt from ships, and no natural catastrophe. We will lose some birds, we will lose some fixed sealife, but overall it will recover."[50]

ANWR controversy [edit]

On November 18, 2011, Young got into an argument during a Congressional hearing with Douglas Brinkley, a historian who teaches at Rice University in Texas, over the idea of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Reports say that during Brinkley’s testimony Young was not present in the room,[51] yet still continued to respond to the speech Brinkley had made. Young himself commented that his absence during Brinkley's testimony was attributable to a pre-scheduled vote on the House floor. Young not only referred to Brinkley’s argument as “garbage”, but also mistakenly addressed Brinkley as “Dr. Rice.” [52] In return, Brinkley made disparaging remarks about Young's education, stating, "I know you went to Yuba College and couldn't graduate." For continually interrupting Young and the committee chairman, Brinkley was threatened with removal from the hearing. Young responded to the Rice University history professor to demand “I’ll say anything I want to say! You just be quiet!”.[53][54]

Latino slur controversy [edit]

On March 28, 2013, Young caused some controversy when he used the ethnic slur "wetbacks" during a radio interview to describe Latino migrant farm workers who worked at his father's ranch when he was growing up.[55] Young issued a statement later that day saying that he "meant no disrespect" and that he "used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in central California".[56] However, the Associated Press noted that while Rep. Young explained his statement, he "did not apologize" for his use of the slur.[56] Prominent figures in the Republican Party, including House Speaker John Boehner and Senator John Cornyn, have condemned Young's remarks as "offensive" and "derogatory".[57] On March 29, 2013, Latino advocacy group Presente.org called for Rep. Young's resignation in reaction to his use of the slur.[58]

Late in the afternoon of March 29, 2013, Young issued a formal apology for his remarks, stating, "I apologize for the insensitive term," and that "it was a poor choice of words."[59]

Committee assignments [edit]

Caucus memberships [edit]

Personal life [edit]

Young was married to the former Lula Fredson, an indigenous Gwich'in. She volunteered her time serving as the manager of her husband's Washington, D.C. Congressional office. They had two daughters and were members of the Episcopal Church. Lula died on August 1, 2009 at the age of 67.[60]

Electoral history [edit]

Alaska's At-large congressional district: Results 1972–2010[61]
Year Republican Votes Pct Democratic Votes Pct Third Party Votes Pct Third Party Votes Pct Third Party Votes Pct Write-in votes Write-in %
1972 Don Young 41,750 43.76% Nick J. Begich* 53,651 56.24%
1973 Don Young 35,044 51.41% Emil Notti 33,123 48.39%
1974 Don Young* 51,641 53.84% William L. Hensley 44,280 46.16%
1976 Don Young* 83,722 71.00% Eben Hopson 34,194 29.00%
1978 Don Young* 68,811 55.41% Patrick Rodey 55,176 44.43% 200 0.16%
1980 Don Young* 114,089 73.79% Kevin Parnell 39,922 25.82% 607 0.39%
1982 Don Young* 128,274 70.84% Dave Carlson 52,011 28.72% 799 0.44%
1984 Don Young* 113,582 55.02% Pegge Begich 86,052 41.68% Betty Breck (I) 6,508 3.15% 295 0.14%
1986 Don Young* 101,799 56.47% Pegge Begich 74,053 41.08% Betty Breck (L) 4,182 2.32% 243 0.14%
1988 Don Young* 120,595 62.50% Peter Gruenstein 71,881 37.25% 479 0.25%
1990 Don Young* 99,003 51.66% John S. Devens 91,677 47.84% 967 0.51%
1992 Don Young* 111,849 46.78% John S. Devens 102,378 42.82% Michael States (AKI) 15,049 6.29% Mike Milligan (G) 9,529 3.99% 311 0.13%
1994 Don Young* 118,537 56.92% Tony Smith 68,172 32.74% Joni Whitmore (G) 21,277 10.22% 254 0.12%
1996 Don Young* 138,834 59.41% Georgianna Lincoln 85,114 36.42% William J. Nemec II (AKI) 5,017 2.15% John J. G. Grames (G) 4,513 1.93% 222 0.10%
1998 Don Young* 139,676 62.55% Jim Duncan 77,232 34.59% John J. G. Grames (G) 5,923 2.65% 469 0.21%
2000 Don Young* 190,862 69.56% Clifford Mark Greene 45,372 16.54% Anna C. Young (G) 22,440 8.18% Jim Dore (AKI) 10,085 3.68% Leonard J. Karpinski (L) 4,802 1.75% 832 0.30%
2002 Don Young* 169,685 74.66% Clifford Mark Greene 39,357 17.32% Russell deForest (G) 14,435 6.35% Rob Clift (L) 3,797 1.67% 291 0.00%
2004 Don Young* 213,216 71.34% Thomas M. Higgins 67,074 22.44% Timothy A. Feller (G) 11,434 3.83% Alvin A. Anders (L) 7,157 2.40% 1,115 0.4%
2006 Don Young* 132,743 56.57% Diane E. Benson 93,879 40.01% Alexander Crawford (L) 4,029 1.72% Eva L. Ince (G) 1,819 0.78% William W. Ratigan (I) 1,615 0.69% 560 0.24%
2008 Don Young* 158,939 50.14% Ethan Berkowitz 142,560 44.98% Don Wright (AKI) 14,274 4.50% 1,205 0.38%
2010 Don Young* 175,384 68.87% Harry Crawford 77,606 30.64% 1,345 0.49%

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Veterans in the US House of Representatives 109th Congress" (PDF). Navy League. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2006-12-09. 
  2. ^ a b Congressman Don Young, Congressman For All Alaska: Biography
  3. ^ Ben Pershing (2008-07-01). Don Young Brings Out the Big Guns The Washington Post, retrieved on 2008-07-15.
  4. ^ Mike Huckabee. Rep. Young (Updated) Huck PAC Blog, Retrieved on 2008-07-15.
  5. ^ Anne Sutton, "No recount in GOP race for Alaska's House seat", Associated Press, September 18, 2008.[dead link]
  6. ^ Haplin, James. "GOP primary comes down to overseas ballots, likely recount". Anchorage Daily News. September 9, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  7. ^ Sutton, Anne. "Young wins Alaska House primary by 304 votes". Anchorage Daily News. September 18, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  8. ^ ap.google.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska[dead link]
  9. ^ kfor.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska
  10. ^ Anchorage Daily News, The other congressional race - Berkowitz concedes to Young
  11. ^ By SEAN COCKERHAM scockerham@adn.com. "Young announces he'll seek 20th term in Congress: Politics". adn.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  12. ^ By MARY PEMBERTON The Associated Press (2010-01-22). "Former ACS exec to try for Young's job: Rep. Don Young". adn.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  13. ^ By SEAN COCKERHAM scockerham@adn.com. "Halcro says he'll challenge Young in GOP House primary: Politics". adn.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  14. ^ Election Night 2010: Incumbents Parnell and Young Re-Elected, Possibly Murkowski APRN 3-10-2010
  15. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=726823
  16. ^ Thiessen, Mark. "The Associated Press - Rep. Don Young wins GOP primary for US House seat". The Associated Press. The Associated Press. Retrieved September 2, 2012. 
  17. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=702119
  18. ^ a b c d e f Dickinson, Tim (2006-10-17). "The 10 Worst Congressmen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
  19. ^ 2006 U. S. Congress Ratings
  20. ^ Hon. Don Young (Alaska - at large) Legislation Release
  21. ^ "GovTrack: House Vote on Conference Report: S. 900 [106th]: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act". Govtrack.us. 1999-11-04. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  22. ^ "Who's Whining Now? Economists Hit Gramm". Abcnews.go.com. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  23. ^ Paletta, Damian; Scannell, Kara (2009-03-10). "Ten Questions for Those Fixing the Financial Mess". The Wall Street Journal. 
  24. ^ Bill Summary & Status - 107th Congress (2001 - 2002) - H.R.3150 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
  25. ^ http://donyoung.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=128288
  26. ^ http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/26717/don-young/
  27. ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List". Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved November 30, 2011. 
  28. ^ Risen, Clay (2005-08-03). "Driven to Distraction". The New Republic. Retrieved 2007-06-07. [dead link]
  29. ^ Murray, Shailagh (2005-07-30). "After 2-Year Wait, Passage Comes Easily". The Washington Post. p. A09. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
  30. ^ Rep. Don Young (R-AK) | CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress
  31. ^ "Paper reports Young's Veco ties investigated", Associated Press, July 25, 2007
  32. ^ a b c d e f North to Alaska, The Politico dated July 17, 2007.
  33. ^ Bribery, "Bribery allegations surface against Alaska Rep. Young", McClatchy Newspapers, October 22, 2009
  34. ^ Bresnahan, John (March 19, 2013). "House Ethics Committee opens probes into Don Young, Rob Andrews". Politico. 
  35. ^ Bohrer, Becky (March 28, 2013). "Young Responds to New Ethics Investigation". Anchorage Daily News. 
  36. ^ Homans, Charles (August 30, 2008). "Waiving an "Oosik" to Make a Point". New Republic (Tampa Bay Times). 
  37. ^ "Ex-aide to GOP's Don Young Goes to Work for Dems". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. August 31, 2011. 
  38. ^ http://gawker.com/5992859/republican-congressman-don-young-to-local-radio-station-we-used-to-have-50+60-wetbacks-to-pick-tomatoes
  39. ^ Medred, Craig (29 March 2013). "A look back at Don Young's illustrious history of pissing off Americans". Alsaka Dispatch. Retrieved 31 March 2013. 
  40. ^ Clarren, Rebecca (2005-08-09). "A bridge to nowhere". Salon. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
  41. ^ Christiansen, Scott (2008-10-15). "Much ado about Nowhere". Anchorage Press. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 
  42. ^ Mauer, Richard (2005-12-19). "Bridge would help Young's son-in-law". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-10-31. "To state Board of Fisheries chairman Art Nelson, Don Young's Way, the proposed Knik Arm crossing named after his father-in-law, is hardly a bridge to nowhere.
    For Nelson and his well-connected partners in Point Bluff LLC, Rep. Don Young's span is in fact a bridge to somewhere: their 60 acres of unobstructed view property on the Point MacKenzie side of Cook Inlet."     
  43. ^ Sherman, Mark (2006-02-10). "3 more representatives tied to lobbyist Abramoff". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
  44. ^ Ruskin, Liz (2006-01-26). "Young linked to Abramoff's tribal clients". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
  45. ^ Kirkpatrick, David (2007-06-07). "Alaskan Gets Campaign Cash; Florida Road Gets U.S. Funds". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-15. 
  46. ^ "Don Young involved in shady land deal, Alaska Congressman helps Florida developer after fund raiser". Alaska Report (Palmer, Alaska). 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 
  47. ^ "Florida officials reject Young's road earmark. $10 MILLION ROAD: Don Young says people asked for the project.". Anchorage Daily News (McClatchy Company). 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 
  48. ^ Julio Ochoa, "Report shows someone edited federal transportation bill", Naples Daily News, August 8, 2007
  49. ^ Paul Kane, "Congress May Seek Criminal Probe of Altered Earmark", Washington Post, April 17, 2008
  50. ^ "Rep. Don Young (R-AK) says BP oil gusher is 'not an environmental Disaster'". 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  51. ^ Otto, Shawn Lawrence (November 19, 2011). "When Despots and Bullies Run The Government". Huffington Post. 
  52. ^ Cole, Dermot (November 19, 2011). "Historian gets into it with Don Young during Congressional hearing". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 
  53. ^ "Douglas Brinkley and Rep. Don Young in committee hearing smackdown". The Washington Post. November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011. 
  54. ^ "Jobs and Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" video transcript, C-Span Video Library, congressional hearing, November 18, 2011, 1 hour 9 minutes.
  55. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/don-young-wetbacks_n_2976351.html?ref=topbar
  56. ^ a b Jim Abrams (March 29, 2013). "Alaska Rep. Don Young 'meant no disrespect' by ethnic slur, but doesn't apologize". The Associated Press. 
  57. ^ "John Boehner On Don Young Racial Slur: 'There's No Excuse'". huffingtonpost.com. March 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013. 
  58. ^ "Latino group calls for Young's resignation". March 29, 2013. 
  59. ^ "GOP's Don Young apologizes for racial slur". USA Today. March 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013. 
  60. ^ "Dyeing for a better Kenai salmon count: Alaska Newsreader". adn.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
  61. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-08-08. 

Further reading [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Don Young
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Nick Begich		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alaska
1973–		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
George Miller
D-California		 Chairman of House Resources Committee
1995–2001		 Succeeded by
James V. Hansen
R-Utah
Preceded by
Bud Shuster
R-Pennsylvania		 Chairman of House Transportation Committee
2001–2007		 Succeeded by
Jim Oberstar
D-Minnesota
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Bill Young
R-Florida		 United States Representatives by seniority
5th		 Succeeded by
George Miller
D-California
Senators
Representative
  • Don Young (R)
Other states'
delegations
Non-voting Delegates,
elected at-large (1905–1959)
United States House of Representatives Seal
Members of the House of Representatives,
elected at-large (1959–present)
Authority control
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