ABSTRACT
David Eugene Price's experience in Senator Bartlett’s office, where the needs of Alaskans were attended to diligently, impressed on him the importance of having a competent, energetic staff and a well-managed office. Price's first extended conversation with the new Speaker of the House, Jim Wright, occurred during orientation week, one month after the 1986 election. They met to discuss committee assignments, officially the purview of the party’s 33-member Steering and Policy Committee, but in reality heavily influenced if not controlled by the Speaker—particularly a Speaker as assertive as Jim Wright. Years later, the situation changed drastically: Price not only became the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Subcommittee upon Martin Sabo’s retirement, but became chairman, as Democrats assumed House leadership. This confirmed the wisdom of having chosen the second slot on Homeland Security rather than the fourth slot on Transportation in 2003. In 2017, Price gained membership on the State Department and Foreign Operations subcommittee.
