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Lisa Murkowski on Civil Rights

Independent Sr Senator (AK)

 


Improve conditions in Alaska Native villages

Much progress has been made in improving conditions in the traditional Alaska Native villages of rural Alaska. Yet too many Native people still live in "third world" conditions. Some have migrated to urban Alaska in order to provide a better life for their children, causing some to refer to Anchorage as "the largest Native village in Alaska."

In the U.S. Senate, I am regarded as a champion for the advancement of Alaska's Native people, as well as all of America's first peoples. I presently serve as the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). A top priority of this committee is ensuring that Alaska's Native people get all of the land promised to them by the federal government. In 2004, Congress took the first step toward that end by passing the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act.

Source: Vote-USA.org on 2011 Alaska Senate incumbents , Jan 1, 2011

Protect the flag with a Constitutional Amendment

Murkowski has cosponsored the pending Constitutional Amendment to prohibit flag burning. The flag is a symbol of our nation and the efforts of millions of men and women to defend that flag and thus we should protect it and respect it.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, LisaMurkowski.com , Jun 30, 2004

Succeeded in getting Veterans Wheelchair Games

Murkowski succeeded in getting Anchorage picked as the site for the 2006 national Veterans Wheelchair Games.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, LisaMurkowski.com , Jun 30, 2004

Support Alaska/native hire on government projects

Source: Congressional AK 2002 National Political Awareness Test , Jul 2, 2002

Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Congressional Summary:
    Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in such Act, including :
  1. "culturally specific services" to mean community-based services that offer culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities;
  2. "personally identifying information" with respect to a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
  3. "underserved populations" as populations that face barriers in accessing and using victim services because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity; and
  4. "youth" to mean a person who is 11 to 24 years old.

Opponent's Argument for voting No (The Week; Huffington Post, and The Atlantic): House Republicans had objected to provisions in the Senate bill that extended VAWA's protections to lesbians, gays, immigrants, and Native Americans. For example, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) voted against the VAWA bill because it was a "politically–motivated, constitutionally-dubious Senate version bent on dividing women into categories by race, transgender politics and sexual preference." The objections can be grouped in two broadly ideological areas--that the law is an unnecessary overreach by the federal government, and that it represents a "feminist" attack on family values. The act's grants have encouraged states to implement "mandatory-arrest" policies, under which police responding to domestic-violence calls are required to make an arrest. These policies were intended to combat the too-common situation in which a victim is intimidated into recanting an abuse accusation. Critics also say VAWA has been subject to waste, fraud, and abuse because of insufficient oversight.

Reference: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act; Bill S. 47 ; vote number 13-SV019 on Feb 12, 2013

Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration.

The Senate voted on a resolution which would recommend a Constitutional Amendment banning flag desecration (not a vote on the Amendment itself). The resolution states:
  1. the flag of the US is a unique symbol of national unity...
  2. the Bill of Rights should not be amended in a manner that could be interpreted to restrict freedom...
  3. abuse of the flag causes more than pain and distress... and may amount to fighting words...
  4. destruction of the flag of the US can be intended to incite a violent response rather than make a political statement and such conduct is outside the protections afforded by the first amendment to the Constitution.
Reference: Flag Desecration Amendment; Bill S.J.Res.12 ; vote number 2006-189 on Jun 27, 2006

Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.

Voting YES implies support for amending the constitution to ban same-sex marriage. This cloture motion to end debate requires a 3/5th majority. A constitutional amendment requires a 2/3rd majority. The proposed amendment is:
Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.
Reference: Marriage Protection Amendment; Bill S. J. Res. 1 ; vote number 2006-163 on Jun 7, 2006

Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance.

Murkowski scores 0% by the HRC on gay rights

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 HRC scores as follows:

About the HRC (from their website, www.hrc.org):

The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of more than 700,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Ever since its founding in 1980, HRC has led the way in promoting fairness for GLBT Americans. HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity.

Source: HRC website 06n-HRC on Dec 31, 2006

Rated 14% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance.

Murkowski scores 14% by the NAACP on affirmative action

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 NAACP scores as follows:

About the NAACP (from their website, www.naacp.org):

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has worked over the years to support and promote our country's civil rights agenda. Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has worked tirelessly to end racial discrimination while also ensuring the political, social, and economic equality of all people. The Association will continue this mission through its policy initiatives and advocacy programs at the local, state, and national levels. From the ballot box to the classroom, the dedicated workers, organizers, and leaders who forged this great organization and maintain its status as a champion of social justice, fought long and hard to ensure that the voices of African Americans would be heard. For nearly one hundred years, it has been the talent and tenacity of NAACP members that has saved lives and changed many negative aspects of American society.

Source: NAACP website 06n-NAACP on Dec 31, 2006

Investigate deportation of Japanese during WWII.

Murkowski signed Relocation of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act

    Based on a preliminary study published in December 1982 by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, Congress finds the following:
  1. During World War II, the United States expanded its internment program and national security investigations to conduct the program and investigations in Latin America
  2. Approximately 2,300 men, women, and children of Japanese descent from 13 Latin American countries were held in the custody of the Department of State in internment camps operated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1941 through 1948.
  3. Those men, women, and children either were arrested without a warrant, hearing, or indictment by local police, and sent to the United States for internment; or in some cases involving women and children, voluntarily entered internment camps to remain with their arrested husbands, fathers, and other male relatives.
  4. Passports held by individuals who were Latin Americans of Japanese descent were routinely confiscated before the individuals arrived in the United States.
  5. Despite their involuntary arrival, Latin American internees of Japanese descent were considered to be and treated as illegal entrants by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Source: S.69 & HR.42 2009-S69 on Jan 6, 2009

Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration.

Murkowski signed Constitutional Amendment on the flag

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission by the Congress:

Article--'The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.'

Source: SJR.15&HJR.47 2009-SJR15 on May 6, 2009

Other candidates on Civil Rights: Lisa Murkowski on other issues:
AK Gubernatorial:
Bill Walker
Billy Toien
Charlie Huggins
Les Gara
Mark Begich
Mead Treadwell
Mike Chenault
Mike Dunleavy
Sean Randall Parnell
AK Senatorial:
Al Gross
Cean Stevens
Dan Sullivan
Edgar Blatchford
Joe Miller
Ray Metcalfe
Thomas Lamb

AK politicians
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AK: Incumbent Lisa Murkowski(R)
vs.Challenger Kelly Tshibaka(R)
vs.2020 candidate Al Gross(D)
AL: Incumbent Richard Shelby(R) vs.U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks(R) vs.Ambassador Lynda Blanchard(R) vs.Katie Britt(R) vs.Judge Jessica Taylor(R) vs.Brandaun Dean(D) vs.State Rep. John Merrill(R)
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Contact info:
Fax Number:
202-224-5301
Mailing Address:
Senate Office SH-709, Washington, DC 20510
Phone number:
(202) 224-6665





Page last updated: Dec 27, 2021