Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Obama Finds Lame Duck Ally In Murkowski

One of Pres. Obama's biggest supporters in the Senate in the past week is not even a member of his own party: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Murkowski supported the president's position on the Senate's four biggest votes since last Wednesday. She and fellow Alaska Sen. Mark Begich (D) voted in favor of the tax cut compromise and to invoke cloture on New START treaty, the Dream Act and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Both senators also voted in favor of the final repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on Saturday. No Senate Republican voted for all four bills other than Murkowski. And the senior senator from Alaska, who became a national figure this year when she defeated attorney Joe Miller (R) with her write-in campaign, has actually been a more reliable vote for the president than 18 members of the Senate Democratic caucus since Dec. 15...more

As the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, she may become its Chairman during the next session of Congress. Will she be siding with Obama on wilderness, endangered species and other such issues?

UPDATE: Oops, not the next session, she will still be the Ranking Republican. My Concerns remain the same.

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