murkowski: thank you, madam president. i'd like to take a few minutes this afternoon -- the presiding officer: excuse me. request that further proceedings under the quorum call be rescinded. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. murkowski: madam president, i'd like it take a few minutes this afternoon to speak to an amendment to the agriculture bill that has been introduced, and this is amendment number 1910, and it has to do with the high energy cost grants. and this is a program within the rural utility service. and i'd like to just lay out to my colleagues a bit about this program. the high-energy cost grants are available for improving and providing energy generation, transmission, and the distribution facilities that serve communities with average home energy costs that exceed 275% of national average. so 275% of the national average. you have to see your home energy costs must exceed this level in order to -- to make yourself available to this high energy cost grant program. these grant funds can be used for

>> senator murkowski, my name is darryl.would you support a public option if it saved the overall economy in the long run? what i mean by that, $100 billion a year federal increase but it would save the economy. there is now a hidden tax on insured people, about $1,900 for each in chirred worker in alaska -- ensured -- insured worker and alaska. it rivals are in come taxes, $3,800 between the two of us. also, a 50% of bankruptcies, 62% of foreclosures -- those are costs to society and they are due to medical bills. if you took the long run and saw that the overall economy would help, which he did support a public option? -- would you i haven't asked many times -- i have been asked many times that i was just spoke -- a five would support a public option. i remind you bet it does not so much that a government-run plan is in and of itself a bad thing. we had a government run right -- government-run health care right now with medicare and medicaid and aid va system and be ihs system. we have that. i am not afraid to say that we

governor palin or senator murkowski? >> i don't think i'm going to make that decision. there are many people who have many different opinions. what i do knows is that the democrats want a government plan. where the government will take over health care. they want to cut medicare in order to pay for that plan. they want to do a number of things that, i find objectionable such as employee mandate. who hurts people on the lower spectrum. they want to move, according to a lumen group, 109 million people up into medicare. 8 out of 10 americans really want their health insurance coverage. they don't want to lose it. in fact, 64% would prefer health insurance to the 19% who say they would like a government plan, the federal government said the terms and conditions are of our health care system. having listened to arlen, i thought arlen had his town meetings ha s very well. i found people just up in arms everywhere i have gone on health care. on the other hand, i compliment arlen for the way he handled it. he showed respect for the folks who were there. look, there are people o

-- from lisa murkowski. it is from anchorage, alaska, and is about two hours. >> i thank you for doing this. i can only represent you well in washington, d.c. when i feel i know well what it is you're looking for what you are seeking. this town hall meeting tonight, as we discuss health care, health care reform, health care insurance, this is important for you to be here but much more important for me to listen to you. as much as i would love to stand here and spend the next two hours telling you about everything that is in the health community bill or not in the house bill, we can do that at another time. what i would like tonight is to hear your comments. so i am going to put a leash on myself because i have a tendency to want to tell you everything that is in it. if i am going to do that, i will not hear as much for you -- from you. dennis has given you the ground rules in terms of how much time we would like you to spend in terms of your comments and questions. i'm going to try exercise a little restrain

. >> but now senator murkowski of alaska blasts sarah palin for the death panel remarks. >> there is no reason to build up fear in the american public by saying things that are not included in the bill. >> reporter: but the conservative who was allegedly beaten at a town hall. his story is unraveling as is glenn beck's advertising support. sergeanto cheese cancels, lawyers.com, procter and gamble, geico, progressive insurance and maybe state farm. when insurance companies stop advertising your radio and tv shows in the middle of a national debate over insurance you're in deep do do. karl rove in deep do do tied to the firing of the u.s. attorneys. the harriet meyers attorney, rove described a serious problem and said he wanted something done about it. >> i was not in a position to find out whether or not they were accurate. that was up to the justice department but i had an obligation to pass those on. >> you know, just like typhoid. and irony immeasurable. michele bachman tries to portray amer corps as obama's personal, secret army. guess who just signed up for americorp? her son. a

>> well, i think senator murkowski is right, it doesn't do anybody much good going out and trying toformation, but that's part of what the white house is doing. people are scared that with obama care they're going to lose their doctor, lose their private insurance. the white house says it's not true, but if you ask experts, it is true. getting back to the earlier point about -- >> alealex, which experts are y talking about? that one group that was funded by the insurance industry that republicans like to cite? who are you talking about? >> yes, amongst others. >> so we're talking about experts funded by the insurance industry. let's be clear. >> if there's a government plan, it will be tougher for private insurance companies to compete with a government plan that has the full faith and credit of the u.s. government supporting it. i think that's common sense. but getting back to the earlier point by bipartisanship, at that same event from new hampshire yesterday that you played the clip from, the president said that he was willing to go it along without republican support. that's not

>> i would -- >> i would like to try -- >> -- have him talk to senator murkowski, who said, just in caseit wasn't on your newscast -- but it does us no good to incite fear in people by saying there are these end of life provisions, these death panels. quite honestly, i'm so offended at that terminology, because it absolutely isn't in the bill. there's no reason to gin up fear in the american public by saying things that are not included in the bill. that, i think, would be my -- i would paraphrase that response. >> -- senator grassley? >> yeah, i think that's what senator murkowski said -- >> in your mind, this doesn't jeopardize the bipartisanship right now? >> no, i think we're continuing to -- obviously, the president is continuing to talk to lawmakers and hope that this finance committee can come to some agreement. >> besides the town hall, tomorrow, what else is he doing in montana? recreationally that you can --? >> i hope we'll be enjoying big sky country, but i don't have anything to announce. >> doing what? hiking? fishing? >> i don't have any announcement on that today. >> any

sarah palin of course defeated lisa murkowski's father for governor back in 2006. that could have been as much as a little internal political strife as anything. but i tell you, the white house is very pleased to hear comments like that from somebody who will not support them eventually on this bill, dylan. >> jonathan capehart, are you there? >> right here. >> what occurs to me -- you know this better than i in terms of political aspects, but i feel there's been an implicit deal with the american people where old people in america pay for the education of young people in america, through the tax base, and young people in america pay for the health care of old people in america through the tax base. we have a government medicare obviously for senior citizens. as long as that's sort of balanced, nobody gets too worked up. but we're at a point now where the costs of providing health care is exploding, and i wonder whether we're starting to set up a real generational divide here between the demands and politics of seniors and their expectations from national health ca

please introduce yourself. >> senator murkowski, my name is darryl kiefer.lic option if it saved the overall economy in the long run? what i mean by that, the $100 billion a year of federal increase, but it would save the economy. and what i mean is there's now a hidden tax on insured people. and i believe that's about $1,900 for each insured worker in alaska. and so both my wife and i work. so we're paying an amount for the uninsured, you know, through emergency room care and things. that rivals our income tax. and about 50% of our bankruptcies and 2% of our foreclosures, those are costs to society and they're due to medical bills. so if we took the long run and look at the overall economy, would you then support a public option? [applause] >> i've been asked many times, you know? will you support a public option of a government-run plan? and what i remind people is you know, it's not so much that the government-run plan is in and of itself a bad thing. we have government-run health care right now with medicare and medicaid -- [applause] >> -- and the v.a.

>> i happened to talk to senator murkowski.does us no good to incite fear in people by saying that there are these death panels. quite honestly, i'm so offended at that terminology because it absolutely is not in the bill. there is no reason to gin up fear in the american public by saying things that are not in the bill. >> i think that is what senator murkowski said. i think we are continuing to -- obviously, the president is continuing to talk to lawmakers can hope that the finance committee can come to some deal. >> what else is he doing in montana? >> i hope that he will be enjoying the big sky country. i do not have any announcements on that today. at least i can lean on that side of it. >> i want to follow-up on what truck was asking. he is the top senator on the senate finance committee. the president wants a bipartisan bill. senator grassley said no public option. yesterday, he had a chance to clarify the death panel thing and he said that people have the right to be afraid of it. can you still count seriously chuck gra

. >> greetings, senator murkowski. i would like to make an observation rather than make a comment or ask a question. it seems that as soon as the american public becomes familiar with what the definitions of, like, healthcare, insurance reform stands for, you guys morph it and change it to a different name, such as health insurance. now, which is it? is it healthcare, or is it health insurance? or is it healthcare insurance reform? and is it public option or is it co-op? which is it? thank you. >> [applause] >> that, my friend is the process. it is difficult to follow, and we're all kind of smiling and laughing, but she's right on, but right now, i think what we you all need to understand is this is still a process, a legislative process. they describe it as sausage making, and that is probably an apt description of it. you don't want to see what goes into it but you darn well to know the outcome will be good. right now, we're still working on, you know, our definitions. is it government option? is it co-op? is it not?

lisa murkowski, who's also republican says making up things about the health care bill will not helpit does us no good to insight fear in people by saying that you know, there's -- end of life provisions, these death -- so quite honestly, i'm so offended at that terminology because it absolutely isn't. >> a lot of people argue the white house has been put on the defensive by this because they're having to explain what is not in the bill as opposed to what's in the bill. the president even addressed the so-called death panel and allegations. >> the rumor that's been circulating is this idea that somehow the house of representatives voted for death panels that will basically pull the plug on grandma. because we decided that we don't, it's too expensive to let her live anymore. i am not in favor of that. >> so what is in the bill? here's what section 1223 says about what medicare would pay for. it would pay for an explanation by the practitioner of advanced directives. it goes on to say -- it does not say the patient has to listen or follow any of it. ken vogel for politico, it would se

. >>> senator grassley may have fueled the death fear, but lisa murkowski said there's no reason for opponents to make things up. missouri democrat senator claire mccaskill has acknowledged the concerns of critics while arguing for civility. listen. >> i don't understand this rudeness. what is this? i don't get it. i honestly don't get it. do you all think that you're persuading people when you shout out like that? you don't trust me? >> no! >> you know, i don't know what else i can do. i don't know what else i can do. if you want me to go home -- >> senator mccaskill joins us now. thank you very much for being with us. i want to get your take on what senator grassley said. he essentially is supporting what former governor palin said about these death panels. >> the irony is that his colleague, republican senator isaacson from georgia, wrote the provision that went in the senate bill and it is about an end of life directive. so the patient and their family are in charge. it has nothing to do with the government. having any control. it's the opposite. it's about the government reimbur

. >> from anchorage alaska, senator murkowski and holds a town hall meeting.his is almost two hours. >> outside, we have a beautiful alaska evening and all of you have chosen to be here. i can only represent you well in washington d.c. -- in washington, d.c. when i know well what you are seeking as we discuss health care tonight, health care reform, health care issues, health care insurance, it is important for you to be here and much more for me to be here to listen to you. as much as i would love to stand here and spend the next two hours telling you about everything that is in the health committee bill and not in the house bill, we can do that at another time. what i would like, tonight, is to hear your comments. so i am going to have to put a leash on myself, because i have a tendency to want to tell you everything that is in it. if i do that, i am not to be hearing as much from you. again, these are the ground rules as to how much time we would like you to spend in terms of your comments and your questions. i am going to try to exercise a little restraint

laws donating more than is permitted to the re-election campaign of senators john mccain and lisa murkowskidisclose how some of their money was actually being spent. sarah pac treasurer says the report they filed is being corrected. >>> there's a new website, a type of facebook for republicans. it's republican bill.com and calls itself quote a social net woerk of the people, by the people, and for the people. the website includes social networking, job listings and a lot of old school conservativism and the site says it welcomes republicans, independents, and libertarians. still ahead, the horrific kidnapping story out of california. a young girl abducted, police say abused by a sex offender who fathered two children with her. now she's a grown woman and is finally free but how can she and her family possibly reclaim those years? we have an update on her condition and that of her two children. new wisdom new aches and pains, ...and new questions about which pain reliever is right for your body. tylenol 8 hour works with your body, with one layer that dissolves quickly... ...one layer that l

>> i would have him talk to senator murkowski. it was not on your newscast, but "it does us no good to say that there are these end-of-life provisions, the step panels. i am so offended by the terminology, because it absolutely is not in the bill. there is no reason to gin up here in the american public by imagining things that are not in the bill." >> would you say that to senator grassley -- >> i think that what she said -- >> does this surprise bipartisanship? >> note. obviously, the president is talking to lawmakers. >> besides the town hall, what else is he doing tomorrow in montana? >> i hope he will be enjoying big sky country. >> hiking, fishing? >> i do not have any announcements on that today. at least i could lean on that side of it. >> robert, i wonder follow up on what chuck was asking about senator grassley. he is the top senator on the senate finance committee. senator grassley came out and said no public plan option, no way, know how. yesterday, he had a chance to qualify the death panel thing, and he said that peo

and lisa murkowski, republican senator from arkansas, all of this -- rick: arriving there in belgradeian, sorry to upset you. >> quite ok. i'll take a backseat to president obama any day. when you hear even now republican senators are saying, all of the stuff that's coming from the insurance industry advocates about these death panels is just basically a lie. and a lot of people are confused about that. a lot of people are confused about the smoke machine that has been -- that has been put up by the opponents of reform. so, yes, i think that -- i think that a lot of people showing up for the health -- at the town hall meetings are sincere. i don't think that they ought to be -- at the same time there's an enormous amount of confusion about what health care reform means and what health care reform means really is making sure we have universal health care the way every other industrialized country has. it's an aspiration within their grasp. and stop the abuses and stop the waste. now, people want to call that socialized medicine are people that are basically throwing up a smokescreen be

murkowski: thank you, mr. president.ise this afternoon to congratulate my colleague from alaska, senator begich, and hi his -- recognize his maiden speech here on the senate floor. the -- the tradition and the significance of giving a maiden speech is one that perhaps in recent years that tradition has not been followed as -- as intently as it has in days gone past. but i think the significance that senator begich has -- has attributed with his remarks today, the collection of bills that he has introduced on the senate floor speaking about america's role as antarctic nation and the key that alaska holds as a leader in that responsibility. i appreciate what he is doing to shine the spotlight on these issues, whether it's how we deal with the impacts of climate change, whether it's how we deal with the health consequences, how we deal with -- with renewed and increased commerce in -- in antarctic that is potentially ice-free. i applaud him for his efforts and -- in again shining the light on an issue that it seems every da

at about 9:30 agent a town hall like alaska senator lisa murkowski to discuss proposed health care legislation. she talk to constituents at an anchorage high school. >> go inside the springboard to see the public places and those rarely seen spaces. hear directly from the justices as they provide their insigs about the court and the buildi. the supreme court, hope to america's highest court. the first sund in october on c-span. >> how is c-spanunded? >> pvate donations. >> taxpayer? >> federal grants and stuff li that. >> public television. >> donations. >> i don't know where the money comes from. >> federally. >> contributions from donors. >> how is c-span funded? america's cable companies created c-span as a public service. a private business initiative. no government mandate. no government money. >> why did president obama say he wanted to keep the fed chairman in his place? >> that's interesting. bernanke entered the fed asuch as a free marketeer. he came out more on the side of the obama administration things like recommendinganks modify mortges, even going so far as to say they should pe

cosponsor and we have had outreach to a bunch of senator including schumer, and kennedy and lisa murkowski congress will see the wisdom of this and pass it. >> alisyn: best of luck -- >> the only person -- >> alisyn: go ahead, dan. >> the only people who have seemed against the argument are bureaucrats at the irs. >> alisyn: best of luck to you, because as you have pointed out, so articulately, dr. scholl's foot pads, sunscreen and prescription glasses are all doi deductible and something your child needs to survive for the first year of her life is not and please keep us posted on what happens with the bill and best of luck. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> alisyn: coming up, we need to update you on the top story that we are following, and that is, out of the crash site, in the hudson river, of these two small aircraft yesterday. another body has just been recovered, from the river. we'll be right back after this break. welcome to the now network. right now five co-workers are working from the road using a mifi, a mobile hotspot that provides up to five shared wifi connections. two are dow

at about 9:3 a town hall by lisa murkowski to discuss. shealk the to strengths at an anchorage high school. >> as the debate over health care continues, c-span's health care hub is a key resource. go online and follow the latest twits, watch the latest events, and share where are thoughts on the issue with your own citizen vid wrote. including video from any town halls you've gone to. and there's more at c-span.org/health care. >>>> how is c-span funded? >> grants. >> i don't know where the money coming from. >> contribution from donors. >> how is c-span funded? america cable companied created it as a public service. no government mandate, no government money. >> the president's council of advisors of science and technology released a report saying the h1n1 can hospitalize 2 million people this winter. at a swine flu conference earlier this morning researchers discuss efforts to get a vaccine out. it's aut an hour and 20 minutes. >> we want to make sure you know what's happening in terms of announcementagain. i'm going to call out several