U.S. Rep. Don Young has become the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives with the resignation Tuesday of Rep. John Conyers of Michigan amid harassment claims.
Young was first elected in an Alaska special election in 1973 — the year Secretariat won horse racing's Triple Crown and the movie "The Exorcist" was released.
Young was also named Monday to the House-Senate conference committee charged with resolving the differences between the federal tax overhaul plans passed by each chamber.
Alaskans discovered a long time ago that the secret to keeping federal money flowing into the state was to keep legislators in office for decades while they gained seniority and influence.
That is why they rarely vote a sitting Senator or Congressman out of office.
Unfortunately the trade off has been that truly corrupt, and despicable, folks have long represented us in Washington, and no matter what they do they know they will always be returned to office.
The fact is that Young will likely remain our lone Congressman until his health fades, or death comes a knockin'.
And don't even consider the idea that a sex scandal will take him down.
Young represents the state with the most rapes and sexual assaults per capita.
If anything he would only seem to more closely represent his constituents.
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