Murkowski Morning Meeting For Tuesday, April 1, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Associated Press: HealthCare.Gov Breaks Down on Deadline Day
• Washington Post: VA Cuts Claims Backlog by 44 Percent Since Last Year’s High
• New York Times: Concerns Rising Over “Imperial Presidency”

U.S. Senate Events

Repairing America’s Economy

Alaskan Impact: While Alaska is fortunate to not feel as much of the recession from the economic issues plaguing the rest of the country, over a million Americans are still looking for work. Although the President’s policies were intended to help those seeking employment – and claimed America would be at under 6% unemployment by now – the policies just aren’t working. Today, the Senate Budget Committee looked at policy alternatives for economic growth.

6:00 am AKDT

Senate Budget Committee Hearing

Topic: “Opportunity and Mobility in Today’s Economy.”

Witnesses:

• Joseph Stiglitz, professor of economics at Columbia University
• Raj Chetty, professor of economics at Harvard University
• Keith Hall, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center

(click to view)
Senator Jeff Sessions: The current economic situation in America is unacceptable.

Watch the hearing here: budget.senate.gov

Keeping Alaskans Tuned In

Alaskan Impact: TV broadcasters in Alaska and nationally enter into negotiations with cable and satellite operators to carry their signal because of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) – critical for a state covering vast expanses like Alaska. STELA is set to expire at the end of the year and today the Senate Commerce Committee examined the current state of the television/satellite marketplace, and whether STELA should be changed before it is reauthorized.

10:30 am AKDT

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing

Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee

Topic: “Reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act.”

Witnesses:

• Mr. William T. Lake, Chief, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission
• The Honorable Gordon Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Broadcasters
• Mr. Michael W. Palkovic, Executive Vice President, Operations, DirecTV
• The Honorable Michael K. Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Cable & Telecommunications Association,
• Mr. Thomas S. Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer, TiVo, Inc.

Watch the hearing here: commerce.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

Health Care Reform Cutting Weekly Hours?

Alaskan Impact: For many Alaska small businesses employees – and possibly 2 million Americans nationwide – the “30 hours is full time” provision in the Affordable Care Act could mean a dramatic cut in hours. Trying to ensure there is enough take home pay becomes a challenge when the law changes the definition of a full time employee. Senator Murkowski is working to change this provision in the law, and the House of Representatives discussed this issue earlier.

1:00 pm AKDT

House Rules Committee Meeting

Topic: “Formulate a rule on H.R.2575, the ‘Save American Workers Act of 2014,’ to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 30-hour threshold for classification as a full-time employee for purposes of the employer mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and replace it with 40 hours.”

Watch the meeting here: rules.house.gov