Murkowski Morning Meeting For Thursday, February 6, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post – Farm Bill Represents Everything Wrong With Congress
• New York Times – CVS, National Drug Chain, to Stop Selling Tobacco Products
• Wall Street Journal – White House Defends Millions in Job Losses from Health Care Law (Paywall)

U.S. Senate Events

The Damage of Distracted Driving

Alaskan Impact: In Alaska, distracted driving is not only illegal, but highly dangerous. Distracted driving can affect anyone, and it is important to find ways to ensure a driver’s attention stays on the road. The future of driving safety laws – and potentially dangerous technologies being made available by automobile manufacturers – is the focus of a Commerce, Science and Transportation roundtable being held today.

(click to watch excerpt)
Christian Fjeld, Commerce Committee: Why do drivers need to be given the opportunity to update Facebook?

6:00 am AKDT

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Roundtable

Topic: “Over-Connected and Behind the Wheel”

Watch the ongoing hearing LIVE at: commerce.senate.gov

Keeping a Promise to Veterans

Alaskan Impact: With 77,000 retired military in Alaska, many early retirees were concerned over the provision in the budget agreement that cut the yearly cost of living adjustment for early military retirees by 1%, beginning in January of next year. Senator Murkowski attempted to strip this provision from the budget deal before it passed and has been working on solutions to restore full benefits before it takes effect in a year. Today, the Armed Service Committee examined options to pursue this goal for America’s veterans.

5:00 am AKDT

Senate Armed Services Committee Markup

Topic: “S.1856, to repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, relating to an annual adjustment of retired pay for members of the Armed Forces under the age of 62.”

U.S. House Events

Making the IRS a “Politics Free” Agency

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans were very concerned that ‘political profiling’ was becoming standard policy when the IRS was linked to targeting conservative groups for extensive audits when they applied for non-profit status. Though President Obama said there wasn’t even a “smidgen” of corruption involved with these decisions during his Super Bowl interview, there are questions about what’s being done to make sure it never happens again.

5:30 am AKDT

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Hearing

Topic: “The IRS Targeting Investigation: What is the Administration Doing?”

Watch the hearing here: oversight.house.gov