Articles & Op-eds
Talk Radio News Service: Oil Spill Victims May Get Help From Alaskan Senator
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) announced at a press conference Tuesday that she will be introducing new legislation in an effort to reform the compensation process for oil spill victims. Murkowski said that this new legislation was sparked after she revisited the site of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Cordova, Alaska, where, after 20 years, the effects of the spill are still evident. "The Oil Spill Compensation Act deals with so many areas with what we are seeing with the situation in the… Continue Reading
06.15.10
Alaska Public Radio Network: Senators Unveil Plans to Help Spill Victims
As President Obama lays out the ongoing federal response to the B-P oil spill blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska's senators are unveiling their own plans to help victims. Senator Lisa Murkowski wants to see an office established to deal with claims quickly and says attorneys should be capped at 5 percent of what victims are paid. Senator Mark Begich supports the President's push to see an escrow account set-up. Begich says he wants to make sure it's not just voluntary, but has some teeth. … Continue Reading
06.15.10
KTUU (NBC): Murkowski proposes bill targeting offshore drilling
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Congress was flooded with bills Tuesday in response to the Gulf disaster. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has proposed a bill that covers a lot of territory. Mukowski's bill is called "The Oil Spill Compensation Act of 2010." The bill aims to give the president, congress and the coast guard more authority and more tools to compensate victims. The proposed legislation would allow the president to set liability when a lease is awarded. A company's rate would depend on its safety recor… Continue Reading
06.15.10
Anchorage Daily News: Murkowski, Begich on oil spill compensation funds
Alaska's two senators might be on the same page when it comes to promoting offshore drilling in Alaska, but the two offered up different plans on Tuesday for how BP should pay claims in the wake of the April 20 explosion that killed 11 and continues to foul the Gulf of Mexico. Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, came out in support Tuesday of the proposal being endorsed by President Barack Obama: forcing BP to establish an escrow fund totaling billions to pay businesses and individuals for their loss… Continue Reading
06.15.10
National Journal - Energy and Environment Blog: Murkowski Would Plump Trust Fund, Let President Raise Liability Cap
Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Lisa Murkowski on Tuesday will outline her recommendations for addressing the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and future spills, including more than doubling a tax on oil companies for spill liability relief, expediting claims and guaranteeing a revenue share for coastal oil-producing states. The Alaska Republican's plan would raise the tax on oil and gas companies going into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund from 8 cents per barrel to 21 cents, abou… Continue Reading
06.12.10
Ketchikan Daily News: Shipyard christens MV Susitna
More than 500 people gathered on the Ketchikan Shipyard's Drydock No. 1 on Friday morning for a dual ceremony to christen the M/V Susitna and commemorate the keel-laying for the MV Ken Eichner II. Both projects involve Alaska Ship and Drydock, the Ketchikan-based company that operates the Ketchikan Shipyard. Friday morning's chill winds and cloudy skies couldn't cool the enthusiasm displayed by the speakers who delivered their remarks from a platform dwarfed by the twin-hulled, 195-foot Susitn… Continue Reading
06.11.10
Alaska Journal of Commerce: Murkowski, Cantwell see hike in oil taxes, inspections
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell said they expect swift Congressional action resulting from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Cantwell, a Democrat of Washington, said June 5 she is working on a plan to require third-party technical verification for approvals on offshore rig and well engineering modifications. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said she expects to see a higher federal tax on oil production to allow the U.S. spill liability fund to be increased to $10 billion. "The… Continue Reading
06.11.10
Anchorage Daily News: Sen. Murkowski christens new Mat-Su ferry
The ferry M/V Susitna was christened Friday morning in Ketchikan before a crowd of dignitaries, Navy officials, state legislators and people who worked on the vessel. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski broke a bottle of champagne over the bow. She told the audience, which included her father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, that the ship brought good attention to her hometown of Ketchikan and to the state. The ferry is a nearly 1,000-ton catamaran-style vessel, 198 feet long and 55 feet tall. Its twin hulls… Continue Reading
06.11.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: EDITORIAL: Valiant effort: Murkowski’s resolution drew support across the spectrum
Sen. Lisa Murkowski lost the vote Thursday, but her resolution to disapprove the Environmental Protection Agency's approach to greenhouse gases drew even stronger support in the Senate than expected. While the support didn't provide a victory, the 47-53 vote at least provided some vindication. During the past year, Murkowski, R-Alaska, was skewered for daring to question the EPA's approach. The mocking criticism often highlighted her campaign contributors, as if they were the guiding hands behi… Continue Reading
06.08.10
Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN): Murkowski Introduces “Disapproval Resolution”
Senator Lisa Murkowski and a dozen other Republican lawmakers in Washington gathered Tuesday before reporters to preview her plan to block the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation of greenhouse gasses. Murkowski is introducing a "disapproval resolution" that would strip the EPA of its power to regulate carbon dioxide. It will be debated and voted on Thursday on the Senate floor. Even if Murkowski's plan gains traction in Congress, the Obama Administration said Tuesday that the Presiden… Continue Reading
06.07.10
Alaska Dispatch: Murkowski, Cantwell set aside politics to talk energy
Depending on where you're coming from, the words "women's conference" might conjure for you an image of church ladies sitting around discussing next year's social schedule, or hairy-legged militants burning their bras, or maybe a bunch of public health professionals talking about how to promote prenatal vitamins and annual mammograms. You probably don't think of energy policy. But that's what was on the table Saturday morning when Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to… Continue Reading
06.07.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Sen. Murkowski invokes rarely used law in attempt to rein in EPA regulation
FAIRBANKS - The U.S. Senate will vote this week on a resolution that would stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Alaska's senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, is the leading sponsor of the resolution, called a disapproval resolution, which is scheduled for 10 hours of debate Thursday on the Senate floor. Murkowski, a Republican, said she is chiefly concerned with the negative economic impact EPA regulation of carbon dioxide could have on Alaska, a position that has … Continue Reading
06.05.10
KTUU (NBC): Anchorage women's summit closes with U.S. senators' speeches
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of two U.S. senators who spoke about energy challenges facing Alaska and the nation in Anchorage Saturday morning. Her speech was part of the closing ceremony for the three-day National Women's Leadership Summit. Dozens of women attended Murkowski's speech at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott, and several had a chance to ask questions on issues that are on the minds of many across the nation. Murkowski and Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell addressed c… Continue Reading
06.04.10
KTNA Radio (Talkeetna): Senator Murkowski visits Talkeetna
LISTENING SESSION- Sen. Lisa Murkowski listens to a Talkeetna resident during Thursday's town hall meeting at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. Photo by Diana Haecker U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski paid a rare visit to Talkeetna to hold a townhall meeting. While Murkowski's seat in the Senate is up for election this fall, she said that this visit was not about the elections, but rather part of a listening session tour across the state. Listen to KTNA's story here.… Continue Reading
06.03.10
Peninsula Clarion: Senator rips White House
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski vented her frustrations with the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership while speaking in Kenai on Wednesday. Murkowski was addressing a crowd gathered at the Kenai Christian Church for a joint, Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce luncheon. Murkowski didn't dance around how she felt about the political climate in the nation's capital. "It's a very difficult time in Washington right now for many, many reasons," she said, critical of the way Pres… Continue Reading
06.02.10
Op-Ed: Resolution of Disapproval on EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gasses
Transitioning to a cleaner energy future is one of the greatest challenges we face. Many of us in Congress are working on common-sense solutions that both protect the environment and strengthen the economy. We understand that losing sight of that delicate balance would have devastating consequences. Even as the Senate works to advance a number of bipartisan efforts, however, some in Washington are pushing for hasty action over sound policy. Most aggressive has been the Environmental Protection … Continue Reading
06.01.10
KTNA Radio: Senator Lisa Murkowski to visit Talkeetna
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is coming to Talkeetna on Thursday for a community meeting. In a phone interview with KTNA, she said that her visit to Talkeetna is part of a community outreach tour that includes Big Lake, Willow and the Upper Susitna Senior Center. She is scheduled to visit the senior center at 4 p.m. Senator Murkowski said that the Talkeetna community meeting is planned to be informal in nature. She plans to report briefly on what is happening in Washington D.C. and then open the … Continue Reading
06.01.10
Anchorage Daily News: Women's Leadership Summit brings 'best and brightest'
The National Women's Leadership Summit is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday in downtown Anchorage. The honorary co-chairwomen are U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Speakers will include a Coast Guard admiral involved with the Gulf oil spill, oil industry officials, conservationists and national business leaders, organizers said. The keynote luncheon speaker on Friday is Lisa Ling, a broadcast journalist who has co-authored a book with her sister, Laura, ab… Continue Reading
05.31.10
Alaska Public Radio Network: AK Senators Say Federal Permits Should Not be Required for Subsistence Bird Hunters
Alaska's Senators say rural Alaskans hunting birds for subsistence should not have to get a federal permit. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is requiring the "duck stamps" for hunting or gathering birds' eggs. The $15- permits are used throughout the country, but Alaskan subsistence hunters have long gotten an exemption. That is now ending. Fish and Wildlife is starting enforcement and ticketing this spring. Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced legislation in Washington t… Continue Reading
05.25.10
Alaska Public Radio Network: Washington Looking to Hold BP Accountable
As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to flow and soil Louisiana's coastline, Washington is asking how oil company BP should be held accountable - and what should be done in future accidents. You can listen to the aiudio here.… Continue Reading