Young And The Restless

Unsuccessful 2010 Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller (R) may have his eye on a another statewide race.

A month after conceding defeat to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R), Miller targeted Rep. Don Young (R) in a release Sunday, potentially signaling a 2012 bid for Alaska's lone seat in the House of Representatives.

The release hit Young for his plans to re-introduce the Sealaska Lands Bill in the 112th Congress. And in a surprising move, Miller frames the debate in praise for Murkowski.

"It is encouraging that Sen. Murkowski has agreed take another look at those portions of the bill that have stirred up so much controversy," said Miller in the statement. "Certainly everyone will not be happy with the final product, but hopefully most of the issues can be addressed."

"However," Miller goes on, "I am very concerned with the fact that Rep. Young apparently hasn't been listening. I hope he will follow Sen. Murkowski's lead and take all of the interests of the region under advisement before putting his bill forward."

The release notes that Miller had called for withdrawal of the bill during the 2010 Senate primary. It characterizes the bill as "widely criticized as being a special interest boondoggle." The Sealaska bill would give the Alaska Native Corporation the option to select different land from the federal government, though not any additional land beyond what it is due.

When asked about the possibility of a Miller challenge earlier this year, Young dismissed the idea. "I think Joe's a little old for the job," said Young. "The only thing a House member has is seniority."

In November, Young was elected to his 20th term in Congress. He's now serving as chairman for the Natural Resources Committee's subcommittee on Alaska Native and Indian Affairs.

Young has faced a tough primary challenge just once before: in 2008, when another Sarah Palin-endorsed candidate, then-Lt. Gov. (now Gov.) Sean Parnell (R) launched a bid against him. Young bested Parnell by just 304 votes. Much like Murkowski, Young has also come under fire recently from conservatives for his heavy use of earmarks, a popular rallying cry among the Tea Party right. 

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