Articles & Op-eds
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
05.25.10
KTUU (NBC): Senate Energy Committee meets on BP spill
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Each day that oil pours in the Gulf of Mexico, Congress gets more anxious about the costs not only for the cleanup, but also for the future. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, debated legislation that would raise the liability limit for oil spills Tuesday, and there is considerable debate about how best to proceed. "Today is Day 36. Oil continues gushing into the Gulf. No one is really sure how much oil is leaking," said Sen. … Continue Reading
05.24.10
The Times-Picayune (Louisiana): Calling Gulf of Mexico oil spill 'America's problem,' federal officials say disaster response is largest in nation's history
As oil from the gushing Gulf of Mexico well continued washing onto Louisiana's shores Monday, federal officials addressed growing fears of an economic and environmental catastrophe, saying they have mobilized the largest disaster response in the nation's history and "will keep our boot on (BP's) neck until the job gets done.'' Also, four U.S. senators from other states took a helicopter tour of Louisiana's 70 miles of oil-marred coastline and pledged their support, calling the spill "America's … Continue Reading
05.24.10
Tundra Drums: Senators propose duck-stamp exemption for subsistence hunters
Alaska's senators sent this written statement to reporters today, May 24: WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today introduced legislation that would eliminate the law requiring Alaskans to purchase duck stamps for subsistence purposes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced that beginning this spring, it will enforce a regulation requiring subsistence hunters to purchase and carry duck stamps when hunting or when gathering the eggs of birds. This requi… Continue Reading
05.24.10
KTUU (NBC): Alaska senators sponsor duck stamp bill to benefit Alaskans
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich introduced legislation Monday that would eliminate the law requiring Alaskans to purchase duck stamps for subsistence purposes. In the spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will enforce a regulation requiring subsistence hunters to purchase and carry duck stamps when hunting or when gathering the eggs of birds. However, many Alaskans living a subsistence lifestyle don't have access to the stamps. The bill introdu… Continue Reading
05.24.10
KTUU (NBC): Murkowski tours Gulf spill area, promises commitment to cleanup
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski toured portions of the Gulf of Mexico affected by the oil disaster Monday. Murkowski was with a group of congressional delegates in Galliano, La. The secretaries of the Interior and Homeland Security were joined by other senators and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal led the tour of the region. Murkowski promised the cleanup in the Gulf will not take the same toll on Louisiana that the Exxon Valdez spill took on Valdez. "It's going to take a commitment to m… Continue Reading
05.23.10
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Sen. Lisa Murkowski wants to raise liability limit for oil spills
FAIRBANKS - Sen. Lisa Murkowski wants to raise the liability limit for oil spills but has objected to retroactively raising that limit to $10 billion in light of the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Murkowski, a Republican, has requested a meeting of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee, scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Capitol. Alaska's senior senator is the ranking member of the committee. "I support raising the liability limits on oil companies drilling offshore abov… Continue Reading
