Miller's official portrait in the 95th Congress, 1977
In 1974, incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Jerome Waldie gave up his seat to make an unsuccessful run for Governor of California. Miller decided to run for the open seat, which had been renumbered from the 14th congressional district to the 7th congressional district in a mid-decade redistricting. He won the primary with a plurality of 38%.[2] In the general election, he defeated Republican Gary Fernandez 56% to 44%,[3] the lowest winning percentage of his career. He went on to win reelection 18 times and never won with less than 60% of the vote.[4]
After redistricting, Miller's district was redrawn and renumbered the 11th. He ran against, and defeated, Republican Virginia Fuller in the general election.[6]
In a 2012 campaign ad, Miller said that the main challenge the U.S. faces is the need “to correct the disparities that exist in our country.”[7]
According to a 2013 article in the National Journal, Miller was one of seven members of the 113th Congress House of Representatives who tied for most liberal.[8]
In 2011–12, Miller sponsored 10 bills (placing him at #40 out of 440 House members), none of which were made into law (ranks 18 of 440). He co-sponsored 199 bills (placing him at #138 out of 440), 4 of which were made into law (ranks 17 of 440).[9]
During Miller's 1974 campaign, he routinely disclosed his donors and expenses, taking advantage of the Watergate scandal that was still in the minds of voters. This helped get him a seat in the House at the age of 29, becoming one of the Watergate Babies. At the time of his retirement, he was one of the last surviving members of the large Democratic freshman class of 1974, and had spent over half of his life in Congress.[10] Miller has been described as someone who has "proven himself both a liberal lion ...and savvy about working both sides of the aisle.”[11]
With his father being the former chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee and mentor Phillip Burton being an integral part of liberal politics in the 1970s, Miller has been described as the “heir to a tradition of Bay Area working-class politics.” Miller had one of the most liberal voting records in the House, and brings "a zest for political combat." A review of Miller's career states that, although he has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of top party positions, he has "learned a legislator’s virtues of patience, timing, and creativity."[12]
Environmental issues
In the House, Miller was a member of the Natural Resources Committee; he was that Committee's chairman from 1991 to 1994. Miller supported efforts to preserve public lands such as the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, which among other things created Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park. In addition, Miller was the chief sponsor of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992, which mandated that the federal government's Bureau of Reclamation manage the Central Valley Project in order to better protect the fish and wildlife populations of California's Bay-Delta region.[13] Miller lost his chairmanship when Republicanswon control of Congress in 1994. He stayed as the committee's Ranking Member until 2000, and remained on the committee as a member until 2015. Miller was also a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.
Miller's biggest defeat was when he lost 424-1[17] in congress for his amendment to House Resolution 6 of 1994.[18] His refusal to make provision for homeschooling caused the national home school community to lobby the whole congress against Miller's amendment[19] to the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. Miller sponsored the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act, a bill that would require school districts receiving federal funds to give all employees criminal background checks.[20] The bill passed the House of Representatives on October 22, 2013.[20]
Port Chicago disaster
Miller has petitioned to clear the names of the sailors of the World War IIPort Chicago disaster in which more than 200 black men were court-martialed and 50 convicted of mutiny for refusing to continue to load ammunition onto warships after a tremendous explosion killed hundreds. For the most part, Miller's efforts failed, and fewer than four of the sailors convicted of mutiny are still alive. However, in 1999, PresidentBill Clinton pardoned Freddie Meeks, one of the 50 mutineers.[21] In addition, Miller wrote the legislation to designate the site of the event as a National Memorial.[22][23]
Native American gaming
Miller was a supporter of Native American gaming. In 2000, as ranking member of the House Resource Committee, Miller inserted an amendment to the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act that took an existing cardroom into federal trust for the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians. The amendment made the land acquisition retroactive to 1987, stating that "[s]uch land shall be deemed to have been held in trust and part of the reservation of the Rancheria prior to October 17, 1988."[24] This allowed the Lyttons to open a casino at the cardroom under the terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Some members of Congress and the gambling industry have called the amendment "underhanded," while other politicians have called the maneuver nothing out of the ordinary.[25]
Miller has been considered Nancy Pelosi's most trusted confidant, with conservative columnist Robert Novak describing him as "her consigliere, always at her side."[27] Pelosi receives advice from Miller as well as protection from potential adversaries in the Democratic Caucus. Miller describes her as the leader he has been waiting for 30 years and supported her when the Democrats lost the majority in 2010, saying that the Obama administration did not defend her or her accomplishments. Pelosi also named Miller chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, where he had an influential role in preparing the "New Direction" for the 2006 election.[12]
Their friendship has spanned "over 30 years and many plane trips to Washington from their neighboring California districts," with some colleagues saying that they have become so close that they finish each other's sentences. The New York Times reported that "In the concerns of some Democrats — and the I-told-you-so’s of some Republicans — Mr. Miller represents Mrs. Pelosi’s true liberal soul.”[11]
SunPower controversy
It was reported that Miller and his son, George Miller IV, a lobbyist, were involved in the controversy surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy awarding a $1.2 billion loan to the struggling SunPower Corporation.[28] The loan was awarded hours before the DOE program was set to expire. It was reported that by April 2012, the company's stock had fallen nearly 50% since the loan had been awarded. SunPower has paid Miller's son and his lobbying firm US$138,000 to represent them. Miller asserts that he and his son never discusses legislation; his son, however, does boast of political connections in Washington openly.[28]
Accepting free travel
In January 2012, Miller was cited as one of the members of Congress who had accepted the most free travel the previous year.[29]
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↑ [permanent dead link], United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences.
* Alternately named Economic and Educational Opportunities in 104th Congress and Education and the Workforce in 105th through 109th and 112th through 115th Congresses.
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