Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
Young selected to negotiate final tax bill
Rep. Don Young was one of nine Republican House members named Monday to the tax bill conference committee. He says he'll do everything in his power to ensure the bill includes drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Listen now
With Conyers out, Young becomes ‘dean of the House’
Alaska Congressman Don Young is now the longest serving member of Congress. Or he will be shortly, since Rep. Conyers announced he'll leave office within hours. Listen now
Sullivan kills cruise tax, Murkowski adds tax help for ANCs
Alaska's two U.S. senators not only helped Republicans pass their tax cuts early Saturday, they made a pair of 11th-hour additions. Listen now
Tax bill still up for debate, but no sign of dropping ANWR drilling in sight
In Washington, U.S. senators are still debating a bill to cut taxes and repeal the mandate that everyone have health insurance. The bill would also open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Listen now
Sullivan defends tax cuts, disputes cost
Sen. Dan Sullivan ardently defended the GOP tax cuts to reporters. Citing his faith in the growth potential of the U.S. economy, Sullivan said the bill won't add as much to the national debt as analysts say. But a new congressional report puts the net cost at $1 trillion. Listen now
Senate votes to take up tax bill, bringing rigs closer to ANWR
Both Alaska senators voted to officially begin debate on a tax-cut bill that would also open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Sen. Murkowski says the tax changes will help many Alaska families. Listen now
Elephant trophies? Young says yes
President Trump is rethinking whether to allow hunters to important their elephant trophies. But Rep. Don Young wants the trophy ban overturned. Young says the only way to save the elephant is to hunt it. Listen now
House passes tax plan, the bill Young says will open ANWR
Rep. Young says the bill will lower taxes for Alaskans and, once reconciled with the Senate version, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. But don't run to the bank just yet. Listen now
Democrats fail to stop refuge drilling plan
The U.S. Senate Energy Committee voted to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We're not going to stop fighting," a dismayed Gwich'in leader said. "We can't. This is our way of life. This is everything that we know." Listen now
Alaskan officials eager to open ANWR, even if promised more
If a pending measure to open the Arctic Refuge passes, Alaska would get half the revenues. But weren't we promised 90 percent? Listen now
Northwest has new regional HUD boss
The Trump Administration has appointed a new Northwest regional director for HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listen now
With an ‘if,’ Alaska US senators join call for Roy Moore to quit race
Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan say Alabama candidate Roy Moore should step aside, if the abuse claims against him are true. Listen now
Arctic drilling foes find public passion has cooled
In the U.S. Senate, opponents of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge find the proposal isn't drawing public outrage like it did more than a decade ago. "Listen, I know it's a busy news cycle we live in. But last time this issue captured the public's attention," said Sen. Maria Cantwell. Listen now
Murkowski reveals Arctic Refuge drilling details
The ANWR measure will be the subject of debate in the Senate Energy Committee next week. It calls for a 50-50 revenue split between the state and the feds. Listen now
Looser drilling rules bill advances in US House
A deregulation bill aimed at boosting energy production on federal lands has cleared a U.S. House committee. It would remove several limits on Arctic drilling. Listen now
A plea to DC: Save the Tongass plan
Congress recently learned it has the power to overturn the amended plan for the Tongass National Forest. A Juneau business owner flew to Washington, D.C. with a message for Alaska's Congressional delegation: "Don't." Listen now
When US Senators listen to Arctic voices, only some resonate
Eleven Alaskans testified before the U.S. Senate Energy Committee Thursday, for and against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While senators said they wanted to listen to the people of the Arctic, many seemed to hear selectively. Listen now
Can Congress squeeze $1b from ANWR?
For decades, environmental groups warned Big Oil would plunder the Arctic Refuge if Congress opened the area to drilling. Now, ahead of a Senate hearing, the environmental argument has shifted. A new report claims drilling advocates are exaggerating industry's interest in the refuge. Listen now
Congress let CHIP expire; Denali KidCare OK for now
Funding for CHIP, the low-income children's health insurance program, has expired. Several states are close to running out of money. But the Alaska Division of Health Care Services says the state has enough money to continue funding its CHIP program, called Denali KidCare, until April. Listen now
ANWR drilling clears another hurdle in Congress
The U.S. House has passed the Senate's budget resolution, and with it the seeds of legislation that could open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Listen now