Miller Split with Bush?

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 Defense Authorization Act, including a $719 million cut in the amount of missile defense funding requested by the Pentagon and a provision to review the role of foreign subsidies in the $35 billion Northup Grumman deal. Republican Duncan Hunter (CA) argued that lawmakers needed flexibility to add weapons to the budget that had been forgotten by the Pentagon. He argued on the House floor, "We've put in systems that save lives that the Pentagon did not think about," and cited additional funding for armor for Army trucks, greater use of unmanned airplanes, and equipment to defuse roadside bombs.

Granted, there is a lot more to this story than we all know. However, is it possible that Mr. Miller will join his fellow Republicans as they continue the split from the Bush Administration? Americans have had enough and every member of Congress should know that by now.