Articles & Op-eds
Politico: Energy watchers eye Murkowski
by By: Darren Goode. Originally published on February 11, 2011
Losing her primary, alienating party leaders and giving up a prominent post in the GOP caucus have worked out well for Lisa Murkowski. Now the plums keep piling up for the Alaska senator: Last week she became the top Republican on the appropriations subcommittee overseeing Interior and EPA, in addition to the lead GOP spot she already holds on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. That means she'll be a crucial player in decisions on climate rules, offshore oil and gas drilling,… Continue Reading
02.07.11
Congressional Quarterly: Murkowski Named Top Republican on Interior-Environment Panel
by By Geof Koss. Originally Published on February 4, 2011
Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski will serve as the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee, a promotion that will extend her influence over environmental and energy policy. The slot will give Murkowski major sway in writing the budgets for EPA and the Interior Department - two agencies she has harshly criticized as the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In the last Congress, Murkowski led an unsuccessful effort to overtu… Continue Reading
02.02.11
Anchorage Daily News: Both Begich and Murkowski decry earmark ban
by By Erika Bolstad. Originally published on February 1, 2011
Both of Alaska's senators said Tuesday they were disappointed the top Senate appropriator was calling for a moratorium on earmarking, the practice that has directed billions of dollars in federal spending to Alaska. Democratic Sen. Mark Begich and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski both said they agree there's a need to cut federal spending, but neither thinks an end to earmarks is the way to do it. "I have said many times before, Alaska is a young state with many needs, and we deserve our fair … Continue Reading
01.26.11
Anchorage Daily News: Murkowski: "Why not start with a symbolic gesture?"
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who was among the first senators to call for bipartisan seating at tonight's State of the Union address, acknowledged that the move might be little more than a nod to civility at a time of rancorous political discourse. But even if it's mere symbolism, she said, "why not start with a symbolic gesture?" "Maybe we do need to get out of our conventional skins every now and again, and come out and do something that indicates to the rest of the country that we're no… Continue Reading
01.17.11
Anchorage Daily News: Murkowski and Begich urge lawmakers to mix during address
by Originally published on January 15, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Alaska's two U.S. senators have joined the call for members of both houses of Congress to mingle during the president's Jan. 25 State of the Union speech. The Hill reports that the idea came from Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who proposed that the House Speaker as well as the majority and minority leaders of both the House and Senate sit together during the speech. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined Udall's appeal, as did Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. "Congressional reacti… Continue Reading
01.06.11
Anchorage Daily News: Murkowski welcomed back to US Senate
WASHINGTON -- After losing her Republican primary, winning an unprecedented write-in campaign and then surviving weeks of legal challenges, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was sworn in Wednesday to her second full term in the U.S. Senate. Murkowski, who was certified by the state of Alaska only last week when opponent Joe Miller's drawn-out legal challenges lost steam, was escorted Wednesday to her swearing-in ceremony by her father, Frank Murkowski. The elder Murkowski, a former U.S. senator from Alas… Continue Reading
12.15.10
Anchorage Daily News: Murkowski renews query into sex charges against Allen
by By Richard Mauer. Originally published December 12, 2010
Now that she's apparently no lame duck, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she plans to continue her effort to hold top Justice Department officials accountable for dropping the teen sexual exploitation prosecution of former Veco Corp. chairman Bill Allen. Murkowski described as "wimpy" and "unsatisfactory" a written response by the Justice Department to a critical letter she sent last summer demanding an answer about why the Justice Department shut down its case. Her letter was written the day the Dail… Continue Reading
11.03.10
Op-Ed: More tribal support one answer to suicide epidemic
Last month I convened a roundtable discussion in Bethel on an issue of grave importance to Southwestern Alaska -- youth suicide. Joined by the Association of Village Council Presidents and the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, we held a learning session to figure out where we are going wrong and how to change the desperate condition we find ourselves in regarding the Native youth suicide rate. Alaska has known for more than a decade that the rate of suicide among Native youth is the highest… Continue Reading
08.19.10
Associated Press: Dozens of dignitaries attend Stevens' funeral
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ When former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens made a commitment, people could bet their lives that he would follow through, Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday at the funeral of the Senate's longest serving Republican. Stevens, who died along with four others last week in a plane crash in southwest Alaska, was remembered by Biden and other speakers as a fierce defender of Alaska and its way of life. The funeral Wednesday marked the end of three days of remembrances that began … Continue Reading
08.19.10
KTUU: 'Ted Stevens was Alaska'
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Thousands of mourners paid their last respects to Sen. Ted Stevens Wednesday afternoon. Stevens' funeral service was held at Anchorage Baptist Temple, and drew crowds of military service members, former staffers, U.S. dignitaries and Alaskans. His casket was escorted in by military pallbearers and a large number of honorary pallbearers to "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes. On stage were displayed Stevens' set of giant green fists, representing the Incredible Hulk, to who… Continue Reading
08.19.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Dignitaries remember Ted Stevens’ achievements, goals at former senator's funeral
ANCHORAGE - Ted Stevens was Alaska. That was Vice President Joe Biden's assessment of the long-time senator Wednesday as he eulogized his friend and colleague. "I have no doubt Alaska is written in Ted's heart," Biden told a crowd of several thousand mourners and dignitaries who gathered at a memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple. Biden recounted how, as a freshman senator, Stevens made a point of introducing himself shortly after Biden's first wife and young daughter were killed i… Continue Reading
08.18.10
Alaska Public Radio Network: Murkowski: “Ted Was Alaska”
Listen to APRN's story here. Thousands of mourners and a long list of dignitaries gathered at Anchorage Baptist Temple this afternoon to say goodbye to Senator Ted Stevens. It was a somber occasion, but there were also plenty of laughs as those who knew the Senator shared their favorite stories. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski quickly set the theme for the ceremony. Murkowski talked about the number of young Alaskans Stevens helped raise. She said he would recognize their talent and help encour… Continue Reading
08.11.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Fellow politicians remember Ted Stevens
FAIRBANKS - For more than 40 years, Ted Stevens towered over Alaskan politics, an icon who inspired generations of Republicans and yet still garnered the respect of Democrats. The 86-year-old's sudden death in a plane crash Monday near Dillingham shocked those who were closest to him. Rep. Don Young, who served in the House for almost the entirety of Stevens' Senate career from 1968-2009, issued a statement Tuesday extending his condolences to the family of the man whom he called a "close pers… Continue Reading
08.11.10
Anchorage Daily News: Lisa and Frank Murkowski mourn Ted Stevens
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was emotional as she spoke about Ted Stevens today to reporters at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. "He was the most remarkable mentor… He was pretty legendary for his gruff demeanor. (But) he was the softest touch. He was as gentle as any man, he was so loving towards his family," she said. A reporter asked Murkowski whether Stevens had been happy in recent years, given his legal problems and his defeat in the 2008 election. "I think he had lost faith i… Continue Reading
08.08.10
Ketchikan Daily News: Murkowski Talking Timber
The current federal administration is proving difficult to work with on issues involving timber harvest and supply in the Tongass National Forest, according to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "We're dealing with an administration that I don't think fully understands and appreciates the Tongass," Murkowski said Friday in Ketchikan. "I think they view this as something that should not be touched. I don't think that they understand how management has worked or how it can work." While the adminis… Continue Reading
08.07.10
KTUU: Begich, Murkowski agree on need for oil spill legislation
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- As the U.S. Senate kicks off its August break, Sen. Mark Begich says oil spill legislation is at the top of its to-do list once the recess is over. At a press conference Friday, Begich said lawmakers have been working together to form legislation that would hold the oil industry responsible in the event of an oil spill like the one in the Gulf of Mexico. The Senate spent last week working on a draft of a bill, and it was completed Friday. Begich says the bill addresses abo… Continue Reading
08.05.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Alaska Sens. Murkowski, Begich split on support for Kagan
FAIRBANKS - With Elena Kagan's place on Supreme Court all but assured following a Senate vote likely to take place today, Alaska's two senator's have different views of President Obama's second nominee for the high court. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski took to the senate floor Wednesday to oppose Kagan's nomination. The senator said that she was particularly disturbed by Kagan's views on the Second Amendment. In confirmation hearings, Kagan noted the precedent set when the Supreme Court struck… Continue Reading
08.05.10
The Hill: Alaska's Sen. Lisa Murkowski emerges from her father’s shadow . . .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski has long been considered the quiet GOP politician from Alaska, especially when compared to former Sen. Ted Stevens, Rep. Don Young and her father. But Murkowski's voice is being heard now more than ever, and she has emerged from the shadow of former governor and Sen. Frank Murkowski, who appointed her to the upper chamber in 2002. Murkowski agrees she has a different style than some of her male counterparts from the Last Frontier. "I think it's fair to say that women have … Continue Reading
08.05.10
The Hill: . . . insisting there is no ‘blood war’ between her and former Gov. Palin
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement of her more conservative GOP primary challenger caught her by surprise but strongly disputes the notion that there is a "blood war" between two of the most powerful families in Alaska. "It was a bit of a surprise, and only because she has been supportive of my work on behalf of the state of Alaska and has publicly said so," Murkowski said in an interview. Palin joined the Tea Party movement in endorsing little-known atto… Continue Reading
08.05.10
Op-Ed: The Demise of the Spill Bill
The decision this week by the Majority Leader to table oil spill legislation was deeply disappointing to everyone who wanted to see constructive policy come out of the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. More than 100 days have passed since the Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank to the ocean floor. What we've learned in that time has made clear that our offshore energy regulations need reforming. Even though this has been a difficult year for the Senate, I had faith this disaster would bring us to… Continue Reading
