Murkowski Morning Meeting for Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Supreme Court Decides that Defense of Marriage Act is Unconstitutional

One week after Senator Murkowski announced her belief that marriage equality represents the pursuit of happiness without government interference, the Supreme Court agreed with her stance and declared the Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional. Upon hearing of the court’s decision, Murkowski told Alaskans:

“I welcome today’s Supreme Court decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act because the federal government should empower households, respect the decisions of states and otherwise get out of the way. This ruling represents victories for states’ rights and equal treatment under the law.”

U.S. Senate Events

21^st Century Crimefighting

Alaskan Impact: Alaska may be hundreds of miles from the Lower 48, but the forensic partnerships that bridge the divide are vital to closing criminal cases. Alaska’s new Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory is a state of the art facility that many say will play a continuing role in solving crimes in our state. But the question remains for many in the scientific community – what will tomorrow’s technology hold? Today, the Senate assembled a panel of experts to try to answer that question.

10:30am AKDT

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing

Topic: Full committee hearing on “From the Lab Bench to the Courtroom: Advancing the Science and Standards of Forensics.”

Testimony from:

• Dr. Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, Chief Executive Officer, Netherlands Forensic Institute
• Mr. Michael Bromwich, Managing Principal, The Bromwich Group LLC; Partner, Goodwin Procter LLP, Former Inspector General, Department of Justice
• Ms. Jill Spriggs, Secretary, Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, Laboratory Director, Office of the District Attorney, Sacramento County, CA, Laboratory of Forensic Science

Watch the hearing LIVE: commerce.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

The Health Care Reform Tax and Other Hidden Costs

Alaskan Impact: Friday marks the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being ruled a tax by the Supreme Court. A recent Gallup Poll shows that 41% of businesses surveyed had frozen hiring, while another 19% had cut their workforce to prepare for the health care tax hike. Last August, Senator Murkowski held a “Alaska Bottom Line of Health Care” round table discussion about the local impacts of health care reform and heard the Alaskan reality of this federal overreach. Today, the House of Representatives took a closer look at the sticker shock facing the rest of the nation.

6:15am AKDT

House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing

Topic: “Challenges Facing America’s Businesses Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

Testimony from:

• Hugh Morrow, President of Ruby Falls, LLC
• Jeffrey Kelly, CEO of Hamill Manufacturing Company
• Steve Lozinsky, Vice President of Sparkle and Shine Cleaning Services, Inc.
• Michael Brey, Owner of Hobby Works
• Neil Trautwein, Vice President and Employee Benefits Policy Counsel for the National Retail Federation
• Randel Johnson, Senior Vice President of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Michelle Neblett, Director of Labor and Workforce Policy at the National Restaurant Association
• Bill Daley, Legislative and Policy Director at the Main Street Alliance

Watch the recorded hearing online: energycommerce.house.gov