The Jeff Miller Chronicle

Farewell

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:04:00 +0000

This blog is being closed and further updates will be featured on Florida Congress Watch. Check us out over there.

Jeff Miller Discusses Prayer in America

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:48:00 +0000

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From the Blogs

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:03:00 +0000

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The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Why Now?: Miller Flops On Oil

Why Now?: Miller Endorsement

Pensacola Beach Blog: Jeff Miller: 'Time for Your Business to Go Away'

Capitol Offense: Where Is Congress on the Public Option

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Today, I'm joining with Democracy for America, Health Care for America Now and Open Left in supporting the Stand With Dr. Dean Campaign. The idea is to put pressure on our members of Congress to find out where they stand on health care reform and whether or not they support Dr. Howard Dean's call for a reform that includes a public option. See Dean's statement here:Chris Bowers has suggested that we use crowdsourcing techniques to find out where everyone in Congress stands, which also helps pressure them to take the right stand. So here's the plan:1. Contact your member of Congress via e-mail and ask them the following questions:1--Do you support a public healthcare option as part of healthcare reform?2--If so, do you support a public healthcare option that is available on day one?3--Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to Congress?4--Do you support a public healthcare option that can bargain for rates from providers and big drug companies?Don't call, do this via e-mail because we want a written response. If they are vague in answering these questions, contact them again and ask for clarification. If they don't answer you, keep contacting them (and have your friends and family contact them) until they do give you the answers.2. Forward the responses to me at quinnelk@hotmail.com. We're going to publish an official response from as many of our members as possible so we know where everyone is. And we'll keep a track of who isn't responding so we know who to put pressure on. Similarly, once we find out who is on board and who isn't, we know who to put further pressure on down the road.3. If you have your own blog, post the responses there, too. The more public pressure we can put on Congress, the easier we make it for them to do the right thing.Here is the public contact info for each of our Florida members of Congress:Rep Gus Bilirakis R FL-9 http://bilirakis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=44Rep Allen Boyd D FL-2 http://www.house.gov/boyd/zip_authen.htmlRep Corrine Brown D FL-3 http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/IMA/issue.shtmlRep Virginia Brown-Waite R FL-5 https://forms.house.gov/brown-waite/IMA/issue_subscribe.htmRep Vern Buchanan R FL-13 http://buchanan.house.gov/contact.shtml Rep Kathy Castor D FL-11 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtmlRep Ander Crenshaw R FL-4 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtmlRep Lincoln Diaz-Balart R FL-21 http://diaz-balart.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.ContactRep Mario Diaz-Balart R FL-25 http://www.house.gov/formmariodiaz-balart/ic_zip_auth.htmRep Alan Grayson D FL-8 https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtmlRep Alcee Hastings D FL-23 http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=Rep Ron Klein D FL-22 klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov Rep Suzanne Kosmas D FL-24 https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/contact-form.shtmlRep Connie Mack R FL-14 http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactConnie.ContactFormSen Melquiades Martinez R FL http://martinez.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorMartinezRep Kendrick Meek D FL-17 http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/contact1.shtmlRep John Mica R FL-7 http://www.house.gov/mica/messageform.shtmlRep Jeff Miller R FL-1 http://jeffmiller.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.HomeSen Bill Nelson D FL http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfmRep Bill Posey R FL-15 http://posey.house.gov/Contact/ Rep Adam Putnam R FL-12 http://adamputnam.house.gov/contact.shtmlRep Tom Rooney R FL-16 https://forms.house.gov/rooney/contact-form.shtmlRep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R FL-18 http://www.house.gov/writerep Rep Clifford Stearns R FL-6 http://www.house.gov/writerep Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz D FL-20 schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov Rep Robert Wexler D FL-19 http://wexler.house.gov/email.shtml Rep C. W. Bill Young R FL-10 bill.young@mail.house.gov We'll also post the results of these at the WatchBlogs dedicated to each Republican member and at the Fl[...]

Tell the Party of No - "Yes We Can"

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:23:00 +0000

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From the Blogs

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:57:00 +0000

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Saving Jeff Miller's Career

Miller Earmarks Money for Morris

From the Blogs

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:14:00 +0000

Pensacola Beach Blog: Jeff Miller: Weightless in Washington

Thank You from DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:57:00 +0000

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Fla. Dems Good on Environment, Reps Not So Much

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:49:00 +0000

The League of Conservation Voters released their scorecards for Congress. Can you guess what the pattern is? Of Florida Republicans, only Ileana Ros-Lehtinen does as good as any Democrat and that's only one person. Beyond that, all Democrats do way better than all Republicans. No shocker there.

Alcee Hastings (D), 92%
Ron Klein (D), 92%
Timothy Mahoney (D), 92%
Kendrick Meek (D), 92%
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), 92%
Bill Nelson (D), 91%
F. Allen Boyd (D), 85%
Corrine Brown (D), 85%
Kathy Castor (D), 85%
Robert Wexler (D), 69%
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), 69%
Vern Buchanan (R), 62%
Gus Bilirakis (R), 38%
Ginny Brown-Waite (R), 38%
Mario Diaz-Balart (R), 38%
C.W. Bill Young (R), 38%
Mel Martinez (R), 36%
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), 31%
Ander Crenshaw (R), 15%
Ric Keller (R), 15%
Connie Mack (R), 8%
John Mica (R), 8%
Adam Putnam (R), 8%
Dave Weldon (R), 8%
Tom Feeney (R), 0%
Jeff Miller (R), 0%
Cliff Stearns (R), 0%

Wait... One More Thing I Expect

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:45:00 +0000

In addition to Congressmen having ethics and morals, I expect that all 171 of those members who voted against the largest corporate welfare program in history (H.R. 1424) will be standing up and speaking out, constantly, to ensure that the bill's oversight provisions are fully implemented, managed, and, well, overseen by Congress.


I am not satisifed that two committees, the "Financial Stability Oversight Board" and a congressional oversight panel, are enough! I want weekly updates read to the entire Congress from the floor of the House and Senate. Wilma Pelosi and Barney Rubble weren't overseeing things well enough before we needed the bailout-- I certainly don't trust a select group of their appointees to do any better.

Congressman Miller, your constituents will expect you to be a leading voice in this oversight excercise.

Maybe 16th Cong District Needs a Lawyer to Clean Up the Mess!

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Seems, the beleagured FL 16th US Congressional District needs some help!! Between Mark Foley and Tim Mahoney, that seat is more of a burlesque show than a good representative of the folks in the district. And, I am disappointed. I had hopes for Mahoney.

The 16th District covers most of Charlotte County, Glades County, Highlands County, most of Martin County, Okeechobee County, and most of St Lucie County. In Charlotte County, Punta Gorda is in it; in Hendry County, La Belle; Martin County, part of Indiantown and Port Salerno Hobe Sound; Palm Beach County, most of Royal Palm Beach West Jupiter; St Lucie County, Port St Lucie and part of West St Lucie; and in Palm Beach County, most of Wellington Village. Surely all those citizens are fed up with the sexual trysts of their representatives.

It is alleged that Representative Tim Mahoney, moderate Democrat, who has missed 41% of the votes in Congress, married, with one child, paid a former campaign staffer/mistress $121,000 to keep her quiet about their illicit affair and then called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into his own conduct. (I knew that committee would be useful!) According to ABC News' website, Mahoney agreed to pay Patricia Allen to resign amicably from her position with his staff and tried to get her a job at an advertising firm. ABC got all the scoop through recorded telephone calls between Mahoney and Allen.

All that, after Mahoney ran his 2006 campaign on a promise to return morals to Washington! Mahoney won the 16th Distict seat after Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Foley resigned when it was revealed he sent lurid Internet messages to male teenage pages who had worked on Capitol Hill. BTW-Foley was recently cleared of criminal wrongdoing by state and federal authorities because the authorities said they couldn't prove it was Foley. Makes me wonder if they asked the teens!

Mahoney, the "Man in the Middle," may just be unseated this go around though. The new challenger, Tom Rooney, moderate Republican, former Army officer and attorney, whose family owns the Pittsburgh Steelers, has a well funded campaign and friends at least at the Florida Governor's mansion. He is disliked by some Republicans because he is a "liberal" and equally disliked by Democrats for being of the upper financial echelon. To me, so long as he promises to and then actually goes to Washington to vote and do his job, and knows better than to do the dirty deeds over recorded telephone line or in emails, he is better than the past two choices.

Politics are bad enough as it is, the last thing the American public needs is more congressmen hanging their personals in the wind to airdry. John Edwards was the worse disappointment of my political awareness. Guys, keep the rascals wrapped and do your job. That's all I expect.

From the Blogs

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:12:00 +0000

Pensacola Beach Blog: Jeff Miller Smack-Down

Republicans Don't Support Troops As Well As Dems

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Check out the latest scorecards from Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America...

DAV:

Bill Nelson, 100
Allen Boyd, 100
Corrine Brown, 100
Kendrick Meek, 100
Robert Wexler, 100
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, 100
Alcee Hastings, 100

Mel Martinez, 60
Jeff Miller, 66
Ander Crenshaw, 66
Ginny Brown-Waite, 66
Cliff Stearns, 66
John Mica, 66
Ric Keller, 50
C.W. Bill Young, 66
Adam Putnam, 66
Connie Mack, 66
David Weldon, 66
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 66
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 66
Tom Feeney, 66
Mario Diaz-Balart, 66

Notice a pattern here? All of the Dems have 100%, while none of the Republicans has anything better than a mid-range "D." So much for supporting disabled troops.

IAVA:

Bill Nelson, A+
Allen Boyd, A
Corrine Brown, A
Kathy Castor, A
Timothy Mahoney, A
Kendrick Meek, B
Robert Wexler, A
D. Wasserman Schultz, A+
Ron Klein, A+
Alcee Hastings, A

Mel Martinez, B
Jeff Miller, B
Ander Crenshaw, B
G. Brown-Waite, B
Cliff Stearns, B
John Mica, B
Ric Keller, A
Gus Bilirakis, A
C.W. Bill Young, B
Adam Putnam, C
Vern Buchanan, B
Connie Mack, B
Dave Weldon, C
I. Ros-Lehtinen, A
L. Diaz-Balart, B
Tom Feeney, B
M. Diaz-Balart, B

Republicans do a little better on this one, with Keller, Bilirakis and Ros-Lehtinen all getting an "A." Dems still do better, Meek has the lowest grade on our side of the aisle, and he still has a "B." The only "A+" grades amongst Florida's delegation are Dems and the only grades below "B" are all Republicans. Again, which party actually supports the troops?

From the Blogs

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:18:00 +0000

over the cliff, onto the rocks: Because anybody who is NOT Jeff Miller needs to be heard

Pensacola Beach Blog: Jeff Miller: "Drill, Baby, Drill" on Pensacola Beach

Miller Broke?

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:38:00 +0000

Open Secrets. com reports that Congressman Miller is WAY behind in fundraising this election cycle! Seems that, as of June 30, he has only raised $245,030 in contributions. The average Republican congress-type has raised over $1 million. Seems also that Mr. Miller has spent $286,790-- a bit of a deficit perhaps? No, no, wait, there's some change in the bank: Cash on Hand: $64,122, with no debts.

Odd expenditure:
Okaloosa County Republican Exec Committee: $1200 (isn't the committee supposed to be contributing to him?)

Any news lately from Miller?
No stories found for Jeff Miller.

Let's see what he reported about that boondoggle to Okie-Dokie County with V-P Cheney back a few months..... h-m-m-m-m.... nothing there for the rental of the FWB Fairgrounds, the use of sheriff's deputies and police officers, travel to the area......

From the Blogs

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:28:00 +0000

Pensacola Beach Blog: Drilling for Opinions

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:07:00 +0000

16 July 2008

Congressman Jeff Miller, Fax: (202) 225-3414
Congressman Robert Wexler, Fax: (202) 225-5974

RE: Bi-Partisan Congressional Activity, Investment in Energy Alternatives

Dear Messrs. Miller & Wexler:

Can it be? Two very diverse members of the US Congress—one of the most conservative and one of the most liberal—agree that it is time to quit the bi-partisan bickering and get to work on helping the struggling middle class of America? I almost fainted, but, there it was, in print from each of your July 15 email newsletters!

You each agree, as I am sure many other members of Congress do, that we need to invest in long-term energy alternatives including but not limited to bio-fuels, solar, wind, hydrogen, geothermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric. The question is how will each of you lay aside the partisan swords and help bring about the true changes that America needs?

The Pickens Plan may be a start. See www.pickensplan.com. Mr. Pickens touts the Plan as a “bridge to the future—a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives” that will “buy us time to develop even greater new technologies.” He says that “building new wind generation facilities and better utilizing our natural gas resources can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports in 10 years.” Can you two leaders join his “call for change” and help to “set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency [by] breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability”?

Jeff Hates America and Its Values

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:51:00 +0000

It's clear that Americans generally favor more progressive values most of the time. Not Jeff. With a lifetime Progressive Punch voting score of 2.79%, it's clear he hates Americans and their values.

Jeff is Wasting Your Time in Washington

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:34:00 +0000

According to Congress.org, Jeff is the 412th most powerful member of the House and as part of the hugely ineffectual Florida Republican delegation in Washington, helps make Florida one of the least powerful states in Congress. Thanks for the great work!

Red Herring Miller?

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:47:00 +0000

Relying on argumentum ad misericordiam and a red herring, Rep. Jeff Miller’s arguments about drilling and exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) posited in his last weekly newsletter fell flat and, like much other debate about high gas prices, is disingenuous. He states that while he was on vacation last week his constituents’ number one concern was high gas prices. He then implies that by opening ANWR and the OCS for oil and gas exploration and building new refineries that Americans would save an estimated .70 cents to $2.50 per gallon. That’s bunk.

Gas prices have not just now begun to rise. Gas prices have been on the rise for many years, years in which a Republican House and Senate had the reigns. When Clinton took office on January 20, 1993, the national average gas price was $1.06 per gallon. Six and a half years later, the national average gas price had jumped to $1.22, roughly 15% higher. Compounded annually, this represents about a 2% jump each year. When President Bush took office on January 20, 2001, the national average gas price was $1.46 per gallon. Six and a half years later, on August 27, 2007, the national average gas price had jumped to $2.76, roughly 89% higher. Compounded annually, this represents about a 10% jump each year Bush has been in office. Republicans were in control of both houses of Congress from 1994 until 2006. Past and present Republican leadership is just as much to blame for our current situation as any seated Democrat today.

While high gas prices have many of us rethinking our budgets and daily travel, to argue that the cause of today’s gas prices is a failure of Democrats to “pass common-sense energy legislation” is just wrong. Energy policy was a central theme of the 2004 debates between Bush and John Kerry and will certainly be a highlight for Obama and McCain this election season. However, the true argument should be short-term versus short-term and long-term versus long-term. Short-term fixes will require diplomacy, controlling current supply-and-demand, and retrofit of current refineries. Long-term solutions include exploration, construction of better production infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and improved alternative fuels.

The Senate is now considering one climate change bill and, basically, we may end up back at square one with no relief in sight from rising gas prices on the short or long term. Voters should be diligent and informed during this upcoming election. We all are better served by elected officials who compromise and work across the aisle rather than those who mock their opponents and obfuscate the issues.

Taxpayers for Common Sense: A Different Take on HR 5658, As Lauded by Miller

Sat, 24 May 2008 17:46:00 +0000

PENTAGON PORK LARDS SPENDING BILL
Weekly Wastebasket: Volume XIII No. 21 - May 23, 2008
http://www.taxpayer.net/about/

"As they considered the massive emergency Iraq supplemental spending bill this week, Senators cut some of the worst earmarks and bloated spending. But they ignored billions of weapons pork lining the coffers of big defense companies.

Some of their cuts were responsible. The budget scalpel excised an earmark by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Kit Bond (R-MO) that reversed the administration’s efforts to kill the $1.8 billion extension for the FutureGen clean-coal power project in Illinois. The earmark would have continued a cooperative agreement between the Energy Department and a consortium of private investors to build the plant, even though the consortium includes a Chinese company that would “ultimately be able to use the technology developed with taxpayer dollars to build plants in China,” according to Roll Call.

However, billions of dollars for new weapons were approved by the Senate, despite these programs being controversial, unwanted by the Pentagon, or having little or no relation to the Iraq war. Last year, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee basically admitted that they were going to use the emergency spending bill to stuff in additional items that didn’t fit in the defense spending bill. And they did. Here are the top three we found in the current supplemental:

C-17 – The legislation appropriates $3.6 billion for 15 new C-17’s that the Pentagon really doesn’t want and which have little to do with military operations in Iraq. This funding has more to do with keeping Boeing’s Long Beach production line open into the summer of 2010, than Iraq. It is also a gift to Boeing and gives them time to find more international buyers for the aircraft.

C-130J – The emergency spending bill provides $1.8 billion for 18 new C-130J transport planes that, until recently, the Pentagon wanted to eliminate. While we are aware that one C-130J has been lost in Iraq, the Air Force argues they need many more because increased stress on the aircraft’s airframes has caused them to age faster than expected. Sounds like they are just shopping to fill their weapons wish list.

CV-22 – The bill provides more than $500 million for the CV-22 Osprey. The money has been added despite limited use of the aircraft in Iraq. In reality, the money will help fund the recent DoD plan to purchase 141 CV-22 aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps, and 26 for U.S. Air Force units operating with Special Operations Command. The plan involves buying up to 33 CV-22s per year from 2008 to 2013.

For several years, the Pentagon has used the emergency spending bills as a slush fund to pad the overall Defense budget for weapons programs that don’t need to be replaced or are unrelated to the war. The Senate bill continues that trend.

Cutting funding for weapons not necessary to fight the war in Iraq seems like a great place to start in an effort to get us closer to the President's initial request. And the $6 billion for the three new weapons programs mentioned should be the first to go."

As I mentioned... there is definitely more to this story!!

Miller Split with Bush?

Fri, 23 May 2008 15:14:00 +0000

If you see Congressman Miller during this upcoming vacation week, pat him on the back and reassure him, “it’ll be okay.” Last week in Congress had to be exciting!On Wednesday, his votes were consistent with his usual Way-Too-Red political stances. He voted against HR 6049 that provides incentives for investment in renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration demonstration projects, energy efficiency and conservation. The PAY GO for the bill required closing tax loopholes for certain employees of offshore corporations, like hedge-fund managers, and delaying the effective date of a tax benefit for multinational corporations operating overseas. Granted, the votes for and against were along party lines, with Miller voting “no” with the Republicans.He voted against environmental protection and the Whooping Crane by voting “no” on HR 1771. Although the North American Whooping Crane is one of the most rare and endangered birds in the world, Miller voted against funding that would encourage crane conservation efforts by supporting initiatives and organizations dedicated to the protection of the birds and their ecosystems. That bill passed by a 2/3 vote of the House without Mr. Miller.Then, he got to vote “no” on the Farm Bill. As some may know and others think, farm subsidy programs may need better governmental oversight, or an overhaul. However, this is the same funding mechanism for food stamps and other rural programs that provide greatly needed basic assistance to many low-income families. The Farm Bill had been vetoed by the President, but on its second run, it passed the House by a 2/3 veto-proof vote, without Mr. Miller.Next up were the bi-partisan votes. Republicans generally have tried to paint the Democrats as anti-defense, anti-troop, peace loving, tree-huggers [or should that be crane huggers?]. With three votes this week, it is certain that while most of us Democrats may take claim to the last two monikers, we are not the first two. Three separate bills directly related to the care and conditions for our veterans passed by unanimous votes of the House with Miller included! The House approved the Veteran’s Emergency Care Fairness Act, the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act. Hooray! The two parties agree on something. Finally, though, on Thursday, came the fun battle that had whooping bi-partisan support of our troops and the defense of this nation. On May 19, Miller put out a newsletter lauding that the House Armed Services Committee, on which he serves, reported out the annual National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 5658. He stated “This bill reaffirms our commitment to the men and women who serve proudly in the United States uniform by providing them with the necessary resources to protect Americans and our national interests. With our country engaged in a long war against violent extremists, it is critical that Republicans and Democrats come together in support of those who voluntarily fight to protect us and spread democracy throughout the world.” I wish he had sent out a news blast though, after the almost 8-hour debate, with a final vote recorded at 9:59 p.m., 58 amendments, and a 384-23 vote of the House, despite Bush’s grumblings about a veto that had actually started with amendments being made in the Armed Services Committee.The White House had objected to about 10 provisions in the Duncan Hunter National Defen[...]

Miller's Middle-Class Grades

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:13:00 +0000

2008 Final grade to be released 03.20092007 -F2005 -F2004 -F2003 -FH.R. 5715, Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008TOPICS: College tuition, Community college, Debt & Bankruptcy, Education, Saving for college, Student loans; NAYH.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008; TOPICS: Health Care, Hospitals, Medicaid, Public health; NAYH.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008; TOPICS: Consumers, Corporate taxes, Efficient technology, Energy & Environment, Energy conservation, Global warming, Green buildings, Green jobs, Oil, Renewable fuels, Utilities; NAYH.R. 5140, Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008; TOPICS: Consumers, Corporate taxes, Economic stimulus, Mortgage lending, Tax cuts, Tax Fairness, Workplace & Job Creation; YEAH.R. 4137, College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008; TOPICS: College tuition, Education, Energy conservation, Pell Grants, Student loans; NAYH.R. 3963, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 [Revised bill]; TOPICS: Health Care, Medicaid, Sales taxes, SCHIP; NAYH.R. 3548, Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2008; TOPICS: Drug safety, Government Accountability, Prescription drugs; YEAH.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008; TOPICS: Employment discrimination, Health Care, Medical research; NAY2007H.R. 4040, Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act of 2007; TOPICS: Capping damages, Consumers, Product liability; YEAH.R. 3996, Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007; TOPICS: Alternative minimum tax, Child tax credit, College tuition, Corporate taxes, Income taxes, Mortgage lending, Pay-go, Tax cuts, Tax Fairness; NAYH.R. 3688, United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act of 2007TOPICS: Consumers, Food safety, Outsourcing, Trade agreement, Workplace & Job CreationNo Vote H.R. 3580, FDA Amendments Act of 2007; TOPICS: Consumers, Corporate Accountability, Deceptive advertising and marketing, Drug safety, Food safety, Health Care, Prescription drugs;YEAH.R. 2895, Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007; TOPICS: Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Downpayment assistance, Housing, Mortgage lending; NAYH.R. 2831, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007; TOPICS: Civil Justice, Employment discrimination, Workplace & Job Creation; NAYH.R. 2669, College Cost Reduction Act of 2007; TOPICS: College tuition, Education, Pell Grants, Saving for college, Student loans; NAYH.R. 1429, Improving Head Start Act of 2007; TOPICS: Education, Head Start, Preschool; NAYH.R. 1362, Accountability in Contracting Act of 2007; TOPICS: Contracting, Government Accountability; NAYH.R. 1257, Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act of 2007; TOPICS: Corporate Accountability, Executive compensation, Shareholder rights; NAYH.R. 976, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007; TOPICS: Health Care, Medicaid, Sales taxes, SCHIP; NAYH.R. 800, Employee Free Choice Act of 2007; TOPICS: Right to organize, Unions, Workplace & Job Creation; NAYH.R. 6, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; TOPICS: Coal, Consumers, Corporate taxes, Efficient technology, Energy & Environment, Energy conservation, Global warming, Green buildings, Green jobs, Heating fuel, Job training, Oil, Pollution, Renewable fuels, Tax cuts, Utilities; NAYH.R. 6, CLEAN Energy Act of 2007; TOPICS: Corporate taxes, Efficient technology, Energy & Environmen[...]

Open Letter to Congressman Miller

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:58:00 +0000

6 May 2008

Representative Jeff Miller
US Congress

Via Facsimile: (202) 225-3414
(850) 664-0851

Re: Your Position on H.R. 333 & H.R. 508

To My Congressman:

Please share your opinion on the following:
1. Your website shows a poll regarding governmental regulation of gas prices. Today, it shows that 49% say yes, government should regulate gas prices and 51% say no. Can you tell us what is your opinion and what you are doing about the exorbitant gas prices?
2. Why did you vote against HR 895 that established an independent ethics investigation board?
3. Why did you vote against HR 5819 that would amend the Small Business Act to improve the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program?
4. What is your position, and why is that your position, on H.R. 333, an act related to tax-exempt payments to retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service connected disability?
5. What is the date the Veteran’s Committee will consider H.R. 333 and will you be there?
6. What is your position, and why is that your position, on H.R. 508, an act requiring United States military disengagement from Iraq, to provide United States assistance for reconstruction and reconciliation, among other purposes?

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Your Constituent

Miller vs. Small Businesses

Fri, 02 May 2008 03:02:00 +0000

Government should support small business development, not the growth of the federal administration. This week, the US Congress passed H.R. 5819 to reauthorize the “Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Research” programs. The bill passed with a vote of 368-43, with 75% of House Republicans voting for it. However, Representative Jeff Miller, chose to vote against small business development.

The programs are a 25-year-old government-wide initiative that have funded 85,000 projects for $18 billion, about $2.3 billion annually, and are the largest source of federal support for private-sector technological innovation. Funding for the programs comes from federal agencies with research and development budgets. The 11 largest agencies, such as the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and NASA, must reserve 2.5% of their budgets for the SBIR/SBTTR programs. Small businesses can receive grants to assist in developing technologies that will serve the research and development needs of those federal agencies. Priority is given to applications from companies in rural areas and depressed areas, from veterans, and from energy-efficient organizations.

The Bush administration opposed the resolution saying, basically, that it reduced funding for priority federal agency research activities, provided subsidies for business development, and that it could lead to inappropriate set asides for venture-capital businesses. Why would Representative Jeff Miller vote against 85% of his colleagues in Congress, against privatization for research and development, and on the side of an administration headed by a President with a 71% disapproval rating?

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