The ties between Hawaii and Alaska in the U.S. Senate run deep. The late Sen. Dan Inouye often called former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens “his brother.”

Now that Alaska has two senators on the Appropriations Committee, could it be a boon from Hawaii? U.S. Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska was appointed to the Appropriations seat left vacant by Inouye.

The Associated Press reports: 

That would put both of Alaska’s senators – Begich and Sen. Lisa Murkowski – on the committee, which Begich said will be an “incredibly powerful opportunity” for the state. But he said in an interview Friday that he also expects to carry on the spirit of cooperation between Alaska and Hawaii, forged over decades by Inouye, of Hawaii, and then-U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, of Alaska.

Hawaii has one of the most junior delegations in Congress following Inouye’s death last month that ended his 50 years in the Senate, and Sen. Daniel Akaka’s retirement after 22 years.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/01/04/2742431/alaska-looking-at-2-senators-on.html#storylink=cpy