JUDY WOODRUFF: Few Republicans
publicly disagree with President
Trump on issues critical to

his agenda.

One of that very small group
is Senator Lisa Murkowski of
Alaska, who has stood apart on

health care, one Supreme
Court appointment,
and the environment.

Last week, she announced
that she would not
support the president's
emergency declaration

to fund a southern border wall.

I sat down with Senator
Murkowski earlier today, and
began by asking her, why not?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI (R), Alaska: So,
the president has gone above
and beyond what Congress has

clearly indicated that
they are willing to do.

I have not supported
the designation of a
national emergency that
would allow the president

to basically go around the will
and the intent of the Congress
just laid out a matter of

weeks ago.

I do think that there are
sources that he can turn to
that do not require emergency

declaration, such as the
Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund.

There is some ability
within the counterdrug
fund he can tap into.

But when you use the National
Emergencies Act to effectively
expand executive powers

by legislative acquiescence,
I think that sets a dangerous
precedent, and I don't think

that it's a path
that we should take.

JUDY WOODRUFF: But the president
is saying it's entirely
within his right as president

of the United States to do this.

In addition to that, he points
to the fact that the number
of people crossing that border

has more than doubled just
in the month of February
from what it was a year ago.

It is something that's
literally out of control.

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: My concern
is that, because the National
Emergencies Act doesn't clearly

define the criteria,
there is a gray area.

So we know that this is going
to be contested in the courts.

And so the question is
probably not, can he do
it, but should he do it?

Again, is this an expansion
of that executive authority
by way of encroachment
on the legislative

branch, which has those
appropriating powers
specifically designated to them?

So, I think we can address
fairly and honestly the
issue, the crisis, as
the president describes

it, at the border using
available funding opportunities
without overstepping
the constitutional

lanes that have been
very clearly defined.

JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to
broaden this out for a moment,
because you -- not supporting

the president on this.

You have supported him this
term, I guess, two-thirds
of the votes that came up.

Overall, I read it was
80 percent of the time
you voted with President
Trump, but you have

also opposed him on significant
moves, the nomination of
Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme

Court, the attempt to repeal
the Affordable Care Act.

There have been other
important votes.

You have carved out a
place for yourself as
a moderate Republican.

How hard is it to be a
moderate Republican right now?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: I come from
a pretty independent state.

Alaskans are pretty
opinionated, and we're not
afraid to share our opinions.

But we are a state that is very
conservative, but also very,
I think, broad and expansive

in our way of thinking,
a very diverse, eclectic,
independent people.

JUDY WOODRUFF: What do you think
when you hear the criticism of
many, if not most Republicans

that they just don't have
the backbone to stand
up to this president?

Do you think there's
something to that?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: I can't put
myself in the shoes of others.

I do know that it is hard to
go against your party, because
you have folks that say, you

are a Republican, you should
always act as a Republican.

My rejoinder to that is,
I represent all Alaskans.

It's a challenging thing to
do, to try to represent that
eclectic and very independent

constituency, but I try to do
what I believe is best, and
to have that backbone to stand

up to whomever or whatever.

JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to ask
you about something that is in
the news right now, and that is

this rapidly expanding
congressional investigation
into President Trump,
his potential Russian

ties, his businesses, potential
obstruction of justice.

The House Democrats have issued
requests, summons for documents
from scores the president's

associates, even family members.

Is it within their
purview to be doing this?

Is this something that
you think is appropriate?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: I understand
full well that, when
you have one body that
is consumed, occupied,

to the exclusion of all else,
on an effort to bring down a
president, we don't get any

business done.

And, in the meantime,
the country suffers.

So we have got a job to do here.

Part of our job -- and I
clearly respect the role of the
oversight, but I also don't want

us to lose sight of
our obligations and
our responsibilities as
lawmakers to be ensuring

that the business of the
country is conducted.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Should the
White House be cooperating,
or should they be, as
they are, calling this

a big fishing expedition?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: Well, I think if
you have efforts by committees
that are chasing things

down a rabbit trail just
to be obstreperous, just
to frustrate and delay,
that's not productive.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, they
argue it's legitimate.

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: Keep
in mind the authorities
within certain committees.

Does every committee need
to be involved in this?

JUDY WOODRUFF: The last thing
I want to ask you about is this
-- your legislation dealing

with public lands in this
country, designating wilderness,
addressing water conservation,

promoting purchasing of public
lands, access to open spaces.

It passed overwhelmingly
just a few weeks ago.

What difference is it going
to make with regard to
public lands in this country?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: On the policy
side of it, I think it's
important to recognize that,

from the perspective of
a conservation piece,
permanent authorization
of the Land and Water

Conservation Fund is
significant, not only
in how it will help to
facilitate our federal

lands, but also with the support
that goes to the stateside
programs, very significant

for a place like Alaska,
where we already have our
share of federal lands.

But that support for
stateside funding is
very, very significant.

So many parochial, small matters
that would be considered so
minor to us here in Washington,

D.C., and yet for a small -- a
small community in South Dakota,
you're able to convey certain

land, so an airport can
have a small expansion.

These allow for economies
to thrive, for opportunities
in places where
opportunities are perhaps

limited.

It helps with our
parks and access.

It helps with
sportsmen's issues.

It helps with water
management issues.

It's pretty significant.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And how big a
shift is it, in the sense that
Republicans, who traditionally

vote against expansion of
public lands, voted for this?

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI: Fair enough.

But, again, this is the beauty
of something that is constructed
in such a highly cooperative

manner.

You have what is called
compromise, the good
old-fashioned legislative
term of compromise.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Senator Lisa
Murkowski, thank you very much.

SEN.

LISA MURKOWSKI:
Good to be with you.