ANCHORAGE — More than a dozen Alaska lawmakers will travel to Europe at the state’s expense this summer.
Two legislators are on their way to Greece, and 10 will visit Norway near the end of August.
Sen. Lesil McGuire and Rep. Bob Lynn are bound for Athens for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Both are Anchorage Republicans. Three Alaska athletes will compete in the games, which begin Saturday and run through July 4.
McGuire reported to the state that her round-trip plane ticket cost $1,910. She will be on the trip for about two weeks. Lynn has not reported his airfare. The legislators have two months to submit hotel and meal costs for state reimbursement.
McGuire is one of 25 members of the Special Olympics Alaska board of directors.
“(Lynn) has been the ambassador, I guess you’d call it, for Alaska Special Olympics for a number of years now and he’d asked to be able to go on it,” House Speaker Mike Chenault told the Anchorage Daily News.
Lynn also attended the Special Olympics World Summer Games four years ago in Shanghai.
“What an honor and privilege to help support our Special Olympics TeamAlaska during the 2007 World Summer Olympics in China!” he wrote on his blog.
Legislative Affairs Director Pam Varni said three state representatives and seven senators are confirmed for a state-paid trip to Norway from Aug. 27 through Sept. 4.
The airfare for each legislator ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, she said. A registration fee will cost $4,280 apiece for the policy tour and will cover some meals, airfare within Norway and most lodging on the trip.
The tour was planned by the Institute of the North, an Anchorage-based public policy group, and will include other participants. The Institute of the North has called it an opportunity to show Alaska leaders how Norway handles Arctic issues, energy and its sovereign wealth fund.
“Not only will Alaska leaders have an opportunity to learn about what Norway’s doing right, the group will be able to share its experience with others and bring back to the state the results of that conversation,” according to the institute.
The Norway trip was scheduled originally for April. However, the Legislature went from its 90-day session into a special session on the state budget and other issues, and the trip was rescheduled.
Senators who have confirmed they will attend the Norway tour include President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage; Hollis French, D-Anchorage; Joe Thomas, R-Fairbanks; Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel; Linda Menard, R-Wasilla; and Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai.
House members confirmed for the trip are Bob Herron, D-Bethel; Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham; and Paul Seaton, R-Homer.
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