Alaska: Gop

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave the Republican response today to President Barack Obama's speech
to a UN climate change panel.

But she spent most of the time elaborating on her efforts to force the Environmental Protection Agency to hold off for a year on regulating so-called "stationary" emitters of greenhouse gases, such as power plants.

In her remarks to reporters (over a conference call) Murkowski warned that in the absence of comprehensive legislation from Congress addressing greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA would fill the void. "Just the idea of this amendment has caused some consternation, and there are some who would really rather avoid taking this vote.

From David Hulen in Anchorage --

A new national poll shows Gov. Palin remains a polarizing figure nationally. While Republicans continue to view her favorably, her popularity has dipped within her party, and she's viewed negatively among Democrats and independents. The poll was among 1,001 adults nationwide on July 15-18.

The top of the Post's story:

As Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin prepares for the next stage of her political career, a majority of Americans hold an unfavorable view of her, and there is broad public doubt about her leadership skills and understanding of complex issues, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

From the Associated Press in Anchorage --

Another ethics complaint has been filed against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, less than a week before her resignation.

The complaint filed Monday alleges Palin violated ethics law by failing to submit complete gift disclosure forms in a timely manner.

The complaint is the 19th ethics grievance against Palin, most filed after she was named the GOP vice presidential candidate last year. Most of the complaints have been dismissed.

The latest is the sixth filed by fellow Republican Andree McLeod, an outspoken critic of the governor. Three of the cases have been dismissed and two others, including one filed last week, remain active.

Palin steps down as Alaska governor on Sunday, with 17 months left to her first term.

Read the complaint here.

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From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was one of several Republican senators who on Wednesday was invited to the White House to talk about health care.

"It was a good opportunity for the four of us to express our concerns with the direction that health care reform has taken in the Senate, and the President listened," Murkowski said in a statement after the meeting. "We raised a number of issues, including how quickly the Senate is moving on a health bill that would raise taxes on small businesses, and modeling a new federal health plan on our broken Medicare system."

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