Murkowski's gay marriage views 'evolving' 
 
 By BY MATT TUNSETH/Chugiak-Eagle River Star 
 
 U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowsk (R-Alaska) talks to a constituent before entering the Bear Mountain Grill in Eagle River on Wednesday, March 27 in Eagle River, where she addressed the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce. Star photo by Matt Tunseth 
 
 U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said Wednesday that her views on gay marriage are "evolving" and that she's reviewing her stance on the issue "very closely." 
 
 "I think it's important to acknowledge that there is a change afoot in this country in terms of how marriage is viewed," said Alaska's senior senator, who has in the past voted to support proposed constitutional amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman. 
 
 Murkowski's comments came following an address to the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce in which she touched on a variety of topics, including sequestration, the Senate's recently-passed budget and her efforts to end partisan gridlock in Congress. 
 
 When asked about same sex marriage — which is currently being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court in two separate cases — Murkowski seemed to indicate a softening on her previous stance. 
 
 "I've got two young sons who, when I ask them and their friends how they feel about gay marriage, kinda give me one of those looks like, 'Gosh mom, why are you even asking that question?'" 
 
 When pressed to come out either for or against gay marriage, Murkwoski said her view is "evolving." 
 
 "The term 'evolving view' has been perhaps overused, but I think it is an appropriate term for me to use," she said. 
 
 Murkowski said her position may depend on what she hears from her consitutents in Alaska, who in 1998 passed an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. 
 
 "It may be that Alaska will come to revisit its position on gay marriage, and as a policy maker I am certainly revieiwing that very closely," she said. 
 
 U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) has come out in favor of gay marriage, while Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has said he's against it. 
 
 Murkowski said the the nation faces far bigger issues than who should be allowed to get married. 
 
 "We have so many issues in this country to focus on that worry us, that I question why there is such focus on the simple right of people to love whom they will," she said. 
 
 For a complete report on Murkowski's address to the chamber, see the April 4 edition of the Star. ||||| Murkowski said that with gay marriage, 'there is a change afoot in this country.' Murkowski 'evolving' on gay marriage 
 
 Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she’s joined the ranks of those whose views are “evolving” on the issue of same-sex marriage. 
 
 “I think it’s important to acknowledge that there is a change afoot in this country in terms of how marriage is viewed,” the Alaska Republican told the Chugiak-Eagle River Star on Wednesday. “The term ‘evolving view’ has been perhaps overused, but I think it is an appropriate term for me to use.” 
 
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 She told the newspaper that she is reconsidering her views on gay marriage “very closely.” 
 
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 Another Republican senator, Rob Portman of Ohio, last week said he was reversing course and announced his support for gay marriage after finding out that his college-age son is gay. 
 
 Murkowski has voted for constitutional amendments that define marriage as between one man and one woman. In October of 2010, she told a newspaper from the Anchorage Archdiocese, The Catholic Anchor: “I believe marriages should be legally defined as between one man and one woman. I have voted in support of efforts in the Senate to enact a Constitutional amendment that would have limited marriage to one man and one woman only.” 
 
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 Months later, however, she voiced her support for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” 
 
 Murkowski suggested children played a part in her evolution on gay marriage. 
 
 “I’ve got two young sons who, when I ask them and their friends how they feel about gay marriage, kinda give me one of those looks like, ‘Gosh mom, why are you even asking that question?’” Murkowski told the River Star. 
 
 “We have so many issues in this country to focus on that worry us, that I question why there is such focus on the simple right of people to love whom they will,” she added, voicing her concern for bigger issues, like the sequestration, as opposed to being hung up on marriages. 
 
 However, the lawmaker also told the paper that her actions on the issue will remain in sync with that of her constituents in Alaska, who voted to ban same-sex marriages in 1998. “It may be that Alaska will come to revisit its position on gay marriage, and as a policymaker I am certainly reviewing that very closely,” she said.
– Plenty of Senate Democrats have announced their support of gay marriage in recent weeks, but so far only Rob Portman has done so on the Republican side. That might soon change: Alaska's Lisa Murkowski tells the Chugiak-Eagle River Star that her view is "evolving." Murkowski has voted in the past to define marriage as a union of man and woman, notes Politico, but like many of the other politicians having second thoughts, she cites the influence of her kids: "I've got two young sons who, when I ask them and their friends how they feel about gay marriage, kinda give me one of those looks like, 'Gosh mom, why are you even asking that question?'" She says she's still not ready to declare a flip in position, however. "It may be that Alaska will come to revisit its position on gay marriage, and as a policy maker I am certainly revieiwing that very closely."