Murkowski to Lose Senate Committee Spot

Murkowski to Lose Senate Committee Spot: The New York Times

Senate Republicans are not happy with their colleague, Senator Lisa Murkowski, for running as a write-in candidate in Alaska’s Senate race, and they intend to show it.


Not content with Ms. Murkowski’s resignation from her position as vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference, Republicans intend to meet on Wednesday and vote to strip her of her position as the senior Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.



Some Republicans were worried that Ms. Murkowski would emphasize her influence on the committee with control over issues important to Alaska as an issue in her campaign against Joe Miller, the Tea Party-backed candidate who beat her in the primary and is now the party’s official choice.


Ms. Murkowski is not expected to be in Washington for the party meeting on her fate because she is campaigning in Alaska. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming is running to replace her as vice chair of the Republican Conference, which would give the leadership an all-male lineup.