Murkowski Keeps Energy Panel Top Spot
The Hill reports:
Senate Republicans defied expectations Wednesday and did not remove Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) as the senior Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. ??
After debating her future during a closed-door meeting, the GOP conference voted to let Murkowski keep her committee position despite the write-in challenge she has mounted against Joe Miller, the winner of her state’s Republican primary.
Republicans worry Murkowski’s candidacy could cost their party a safe seat by splitting the GOP vote with Miller, who upset Murkowski after receiving support from the Tea Party movement and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R).
But several of her colleagues argued Wednesday that Murkowski should get to keep her committee position as she fights to retain her seat in the Senate.
Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and George Voinovich (Ohio) were among several senators who spoke in her favor, according to Republican aides. They said the conference should not do anything to harm her following Murkowski’s resignation as vice chairwoman of the Senate GOP conference
“Most felt that she had stepped down from her leadership post and that [Sen. Richard] Burr [R-N.C.] would be ranking member on Energy next Congress if he wanted it,” one senior Senate GOP aide said.
Up until the meeting, Republicans had been expected to name Burr, who is also up for reelection this year, as the Energy panel’s senior Republican, at least in an acting capacity, for the remainder of the year. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) had spoken to Republicans on the panel on Tuesday about removing Murkowski.
Click here to read more.
