Tag: Libby Casey

Partial FAA Shutdown Will Continue Through Congressional Recess

Congress wrapped up its summer work Tuesday without passing legislation to keep the Federal Aviation Administration open. Political bickering has partially shut it down – and may continue to until after Labor Day when Congress returns from its August recess.

Alaska Delegation Will Vote in Favor of New Debt Ceiling Plan

All three members of Alaska’s Congressional delegation say they will vote for the deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending. The plan announced Sunday night by President Obama slashes spending by about a trillion dollars over the next decade and raises the debt ceiling in time for the U.S. to avoid defaulting on its bills.

Debt Ceiling Proposal Would Cut Spending by Almost $1 Trillion Over 10 Years

The votes still have to come but Sunday night President Obama announced an agreement between Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders. Just what the rank and file membership think will be revealed Monday morning.

House Delays Vote on Debt Ceiling Plan

Despite a big build-up Thursday and a late night on Capitol Hill, the U.S. House did not vote on a plan to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending. House Speaker John Boehner couldn’t muster enough votes. He has the lukewarm support and promised vote of Alaska’s Congressman Don Young, but conservative Republicans say the plan doesn’t make deep enough cuts, and Democrats are staunchly opposed.

Begich Answers Citizen Questions in Tele-Town Hall

Thursday night, as the House wrestled with its plan, Senator Mark Begich hosted a town hall by telephone.

36 Alaska Post Offices in Danger of Closing

The U.S. Postal Service is again looking at closing post offices in Alaska to save money. Tuesday, the Postmaster General announced a list of more than 3,600 offices around the country being examined for closure or relocation. Three-dozen of them are in Alaska.

Congress Goes into Final Week to Come Up with Debt Ceiling Deal

Congressional experts say there’s just one week left until politicians in Washington have to come up with a debt ceiling deal. It's actually two-and-a-half weeks when the U.S. will hit its debt limit, but the Congress needs the extra time to write up a plan and get it passed through the House and Senate.

Confirmation Hearing Held for Two Alaskan Judges

Wednesday, there was a confirmation hearing for two Alaska women who have been appointed to federal judgeships by President Obama. The hearing went well but the appointments could still get snagged on national politics.

Obama Creates Group Coordinating Alaska Oil and Gas Development

It pulls together top officials from agencies like Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency and will be led by Interior Department Deputy Secretary David Hayes.

Juneau Will Retain Mail Processing Center

The U.S. Postal Service was considering closing Juneau’s mail processing center and transferring its operations to Anchorage, but it’s nixed the idea.

U.S. House Rejects Cutting Funding to Offensive in Libya

In a surprising turn of events Friday, the U.S. House rejected a measure to cut off funding for the U.S. offensive in Libya.

Alaska News Nightly: June 24, 2011

Judge Orders Joe Miller to Pay Legal Fees from Election Challenge, U.S. House Rejects Cutting Funding to Offensive in Libya, Residents Return to Unalaska and Dutch Harbor After Tsunami Warning, Coast Guard Trains for More Arctic Traffic, and more...

Obama’s Oil Release Dismays Alaska’s Congressional Delegation

Alaska’s Congressional Delegation is unilaterally dismayed at President Obama’s decision Thursday to tap into the nation’s emergency oil reserves.

Troop Draw-Down Concerns Alaska’s Congressional Delegation

Alaska’s Congressional delegation reacted with some concern Thursday about just what the President’s planned draw down of troops in Afghanistan will mean for Alaskan soldiers.

Alaska News Nightly: June 23, 2011

Obama’s Oil Release Dismays Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, Troop Draw-Down Concerns Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, Draft Legislation Being Written to Extend Coastal Management Program, Complaint Filed Against Unalaska for Violating Clean Water Act, and more...

President Announces Planned Troop Draw-Down in Afghanistan

President Obama announced, Wednesday evening, a plan to begin drawing down troops in Afghanistan - 33,000 of them by this time next year. Alaska’s Senators both said the draw-down must be done in such a way that does not leave the remaining American forces high and dry.

House Votes to Bar FDA Approval of ‘Frankenfish’

The U.S. House has voted to bar the Food and Drug Administration from approving genetically modified salmon for human consumption. Alaska Representative Don Young sponsored the amendment, which passed by voice vote Wednesday night and is part of a farm spending bill.

Congressional Delegates Divided on Likelihood of Gas Pipeline

The dream of getting a gas pipeline to connect Alaska’s North Slope with the Lower 48 is an old one, and in recent years, it’s seemed closer than ever. But even as the company TransCanada works toward building a line, skepticism is mounting among some members of Alaska’s Congressional delegation that a project will happen any time soon, if at all.

Annual Finances Released by Congressional Delegates

Alaskans got their annual glance at the personal finances of the state’s Congressional delegation on Wednesday. And they found Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young earning extra money from a range of investments that included stocks and real estate.

Alaska News Nightly: June 16, 2011

House Votes to Bar FDA Approval of ‘Frankenfish’, Congressional Delegates Divided on Likelihood of Gas Pipeline, UAA Professor Urges Better Management of Oil Reserves, Annual Finances Released by Congressional Delegates, and more...