Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics, state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has rarely been more interesting -- a full slate of federal and state elections, the influence of former Gov. Sarah Palin, the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. We encourage lively debate, but please keep it civil and stay on point. Don't use profanity, make crude comments or attack other posters. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose their ability to post comments.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

David Hulen

David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Alaska political corruption

When the FBI raided state legislature offices in Aug. 2006, it publicly launched an investigation that ultimately reached the highest levels of Alaska politics, and continues to this day.

Video: Sheffield, Sullivan on Honeman's fundraising calls - 1/11/2012 7:11 pm

Sullivan proposes killing I/M program six months early - 1/11/2012 11:44 am

Mayoral candidate accuses Sullivan of 'cronyism' over consulting contract - 1/6/2012 9:54 am

Two finalists for Anchorage school superintendent's job announced - 12/15/2011 9:38 am

Murkowski has "great concerns" about Obama consumer watchdog pick - 12/6/2011 3:36 pm

Lisa Murkowski wants investigation of why feds won't prosecute Bill Allen on sex charges - 11/28/2011 12:03 pm

Palin: I'm not running for president (Updated with video) - 10/5/2011 2:50 pm

Elections round-up: Taxes and bonds, plastic bags and politicians - 10/5/2011 10:49 am

UPDATED: Murkowski health care amendment fails

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

The Senate voted 41-59 against Sen. Lisa Murkowski's amendment, only the second to be voted on as the Senate begins consideration of its version of a health care overhaul bill.

Murkowski's amendment would have banned the government from using guidelines from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force to deny coverage. It would have applied to private insurers and government insurance plans. The Republican-backed amendment aimed at guidelines the task force released last month calling for pushing back the age and frequency at which women get screened for breast cancer.

Note that the Department of Health and Human Services funds the task force, but it makes its decisions independently from the federal agency. Also, when it was developing its recommendations, cost was not a consideration, only scientific evidence. The task force is "prohibited from considering costs when they make guidelines," the New York Times reported last month.

The Senate on Thursday did vote 61-39 to pass a competing amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. That amendment allows a woman's doctor to determine whether mammograms are medically necessary. If so, it would require insurers to cover the screenings.

Also, Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, split ways with his Republican counterpart, Murkowski. Begich voted against her amendment and for the Mikulski version.

© Copyright 2011, The Anchorage Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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