Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is campaigning for reelection to the U.S. Senate. She spent the last couple days visiting villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and Thursday she stopped in Bethel to meet with veterans. After two hours at the VFW, she drove back to the airport. KYUK's Anna Rose MacArthur hopped in the truck with her.
Transcript:
KYUK: You’ve said before that you’ll support the Republican presidential nominee. Are you supporting Donald Trump for President?
Murkowski: What I have said, and I’ve tried to be very clear with my statement, is that historically in every presidential race since I first voted, when I cast my vote for Ronald Reagan, I’ve always been able to support the Republican nominee. I have also stated that I am not a fan of Donald Trump, but I also know that Hillary Clinton is not good for the state of Alaska with the views that she has clearly articulated as they relate to our energy opportunities. There are several more months remaining before this presidential election in November, and I’m going to continue to listen to the views and opinions that will be expressed and outlined. I have not endorsed Donald Trump, and I think I’ve made relatively clear the concerns that I have there.
KYUK: Do you support developing the proposed Donlin Gold mine?
Murkowski: I have had many conversations over the years with folks about the Donlin project. I understand that that is a prospect that not only has a considerable resource, but there’s a great deal of interest in the jobs and the economic opportunity that it can bring. We also recognize that mineral prices are not exactly what those that are seeking these prospects would like to have. What I’m trying to do at the federal level is make sure that when we are able to access these resources that are in good abundance in Alaska, particularly, and across the country, that we have a clear permitting process that makes sense and has a level of efficiency to it.
KYUK: In bush Alaska there’s a different relationship with guns than in the lower 48 where a lot of the debate over gun control is happening. Do you think that in any way Americans' access to guns should be modified?
Murkowski: I have always been a very strong proponent for the second amendment and an individual’s right to possess firearms for their own protection and that of their family, as well as to provide for their families as we do here in Alaska. I think you have a considerable disconnect between urban centers around the country, and those who live in more rural communities as we do here in Alaska. Understanding firearms and firearm safety is, I think, something that comes with growing up in a place like Alaska. And you have some, again, who have such a high level of discomfort around firearms of any kind at all, they cannot even understand how a family would have a gun in their home. It’s just so foreign to them. And I’m reminded of that as I speak with colleagues that represent primarily urban centers, that there is often times a very real disconnect in understanding the significance and the importance of a strong Second Amendment.
KYUK: The U.S. Senate has come under heat for having damaging partisanship, but you’re advocating that some great bipartisan efforts have happened. What are those efforts?
Murkowski: Well, I have been proud to lead a very strong bipartisan effort as we have worked to bring about changes in our energy policies, something that hasn’t been done in 10 years. We’re continuing to work that. We’re in conference with the House, and I’m hopeful that before the year end we’ll have an update to our energy policies that I have lead with my colleague on the other side of the aisle, the senator from Washington state. We’ve also passed major education reform; first time in 10 years. That was a strong bipartisan bill. We’ve advanced a highway transportation bill, a six-year funding bill that was very bipartisan. We just passed a FAA reauthorization, very important here in this state of Alaska. That is quite significant. We have advanced on a very strong bipartisan basis a chemical safety reform bill. That also was significant and very important to Alaska and really the country as a whole. Strong legislation that will help us deal with substance abuse, particularly opioids and prescription drugs, the CARA bill. We’ve been working hard to bring about legislative accomplishments. Unfortunately, they don’t get a lot of advertisement because they’re good news.
KYUK: Thank you, Senator.
Murkowski: Thank you.
