Murkowski Morning Meeting For Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Note to Readers: Many Capitol Hill hearings and events were cancelled this morning due to a weather advisory for the Washington, DC region – which has trouble with any snow or ice – so there is less to today’s Morning Meeting than usual. However, Senator Murkowski and her Alaska staff were at work on time, though, and Murkowski thought the slushy snow was “more wet than white” on her walk to the office.

(Click image to see Senator Murkowski share her opinion of the “snow.”)

What DC is Reading

• “World Leaders Mourn Mandela” – CNN
• “Congressional Deal Would Minimize Chance of Shutdown” – Reuters
• “Health Care Bill is Compliance Nightmare for Small Businesses” – Washington Post
• “Russia to Beef Up Arctic Military Presence” – Associated Press

U.S. Senate Events

Transitioning Out of Afghanistan

Alaskan Impact: Thousands of Alaska-based military men and women have bravely served in Afghanistan. This past weekend, four Alaska Air Guardsmen received the Bronze Star for their life-saving acts against Afghani insurgents. Things continue to get more complicated in that area, with the Obama administration considering keeping soldiers there through 2024 while the Afghan President Hamid Karzai refuses to sign an agreement with the U.S. How should America proceed? The Foreign Relations Committee takes up this issue later.

10:30am AKDT

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing

Topic: “The Transition in Afghanistan”

• Ambassador James Dobbins, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
• Mr. Donald L. Sampler, Jr., U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Watch the entire meeting online: foreign.senate.gov

On Capitol Hill

Murkowski Enrolls in DC Health Care Exchange

Senator Lisa Murkowski enrolled in the DC health care exchange yesterday, after days of dealing with browser glitches, its “hundreds” of problem applications and avoiding a phishing scam that fooled some applicants into submitting their financial information.

The Office of Personnel Management recommended in August that Congressional offices and staff enroll in the DC health care exchange, where at least 55 Senators have registered. Murkowski continues to watch the progress of Alaska’s online health care enrollments with concern as the deadline approaches back home.