Joe Miller Offers Mark Begich An Economics Lesson

Fairbanks, Alaska. October 10, 2013 – Senator Mark Begich is currently running ads in Alaska questioning the intelligence of those who do not see matters as he does regarding the economics of Obamacare and the National Debt. Joe Miller thought it might be helpful to ensure the junior senator is fully apprised of some important facts concerning both.

“Obamacare is not only bad public policy, it is bad economics,” said Miller who received his masters in economics from the University of Alaska, where he also taught as an adjunct professor in political science. “Mr. Begich would do well to exercise a little independence and just do the math.”

When Democrats pushed the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act through on a straight party-line vote in 2010, they told us that the ten-year projected cost to taxpayers was $900 billion. The CBO has now projected those costs have doubled to $1.8 trillion. And just as Senator Begich is doubling down on his vote for the ill-conceived program, it was reported this week that by some projections it may cost up to $3 trillion.

Not only is the price tag astronomical, virtually every promise made about the program is already proving to be false. Instead of “bending the cost curve” as the President promised, insurance premiums have skyrocketed. Instead of Americans being able to “keep the coverage you have,” a recent survey finds up to 30 percent of employers plan to drop coverage in 2014. Further, instead of having no detrimental economic impact, many employers plan to freeze hiring or cut back on their number of full-time employees to avoid the law’s onerous mandates.

This unneeded stifling of job creation comes as our nation continues to experience unemployment numbers well above historic averages. The current unemployment rate of 7.3 percent does not include millions of Americans who have left the workforce altogether. Four years into the “Obama recovery,” only 63.2 percent of Americans are employed in full-time work, which matches numbers not seen since the severe recession of the early 80s and harkens back to the Great Depression.

And this all comes against the backdrop of the largest and most reckless spending spree in American history. During Mr. Begich’s short 5-year tenure in the United States Senate, the deficit nearly quadrupled, and the national debt has risen by $7 trillion, more than 60 percent.

This unprecedented deficit spending coupled with no will to address it has resulted in exactly what Miller predicted in 2010: the downgrading of our nation’s credit rating. The Federal Reserve, in turn, has engaged in massive quantitative easing, to the tune of over $3 trillion, to buy up treasury notes with money printed out of thin air, which has led to the devaluing of our currency. This insidious, unseen tax on all Americans is felt everywhere from the gasoline pump to the grocery store. Yet the junior senator continues to march in lock-step with Harry Reid and Barack Obama as they bring us ever closer to fiscal collapse. And he has the audacity to call the adults in the room “knuckleheads”?

“If Senator Begich cannot see the dire economic consequences of Obamacare and profligate federal government spending with all the facts in plain view, he never will,” said Miller. “If Mark Begich is more interested in serving the flawed economic policies of Barack Obama and Harry Reid than the people of Alaska, it is time for him to find a new line of work. I believe Alaskans will assist him in that endeavor in 2014.”

Borough, ex-Mayor admit to judgment in Miller vs. FNSB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Fairbanks, Alaska.  June 18, 2012 – Today, the Fairbanks North Star Borough and its former Mayor Jim Whitaker have admitted that they are liable for a judgment to Joe Miller.  Mr. Miller accepted the Borough and Mr. Whitaker’s offer to allow the entry of a final judgment against them and in Joe Miller’s favor.  This allows an enforceable judgment to be entered against the Borough and Mr. Whitaker, both individually and jointly, on both liability and damages.

This case was never about damages. This case was about getting the truth. As a result of depositions in this case, we now have much of the truth.  We know, for instance, that implications of criminal wrongdoing made by the Borough and unsupported allegations of felonies made by Mr. Whitaker in 2010 were false. We know that the Borough Attorney had a secret meeting with Mr. Whitaker in May of 2010 where they discussed disclosing Mr. Miller’s confidential personnel information.  Based on the claim of privilege, we also know that the Borough Attorney provided legal advice to Mr. Whitaker even though he was not the Borough Mayor and she was not authorized to provide legal advice to private citizens at the time.  Many other important facts were also gathered in the course of discovery in this case.

The judgment itself of $5,000 is minimal.  Nevertheless, this was never a case about money.  Rather, this case was about getting at the truth and setting the record straight.  There is now a permanent record doing just that.

Mr. Miller thanks John Tiemessen, Esq., and all of the members of his firm of Clapp Peterson Tiemessen Thorsness & Johnson for their excellent work, both on behalf of the Joe Miller for U.S. Senate campaign as well as their work on his behalf in the litigation that followed.  No senate campaign funds were used for legal fees or costs in this case after the post election litigation concluded in January 2011.

Mr. Miller will be available for limited press inquiries tomorrow, but will be fishing with his son in Alaska on a previously scheduled trip Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday.  All inquiries should be made to Joe Miller’s spokesman, Bill Peck ([email protected]) or John Tiemessen, Esq. (907-479-7776).

Miller Chooses Not to Appeal Legal Fees Ruling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Fairbanks, Alaska. July 21, 2011 — After much consideration, Joe Miller has decided not to appeal the Superior Court’s award of attorney fees from the suit with the State of Alaska, Division of Elections.

Spokesman Randy DeSoto stated, “We still have concerns with the Court’s reasoning, particularly with respect to the false and insulting notion that Joe’s run for the United States Senate was driven by selfish financial gain. Joe’s reasons for public service have not changed. It is the same love of country that motivated him to risk his life in combat as an Army officer.”

Joe Miller added, “The Court’s claim that I was motivated by a U.S. Senator’s salary is wrong and has no factual support in the record. The truth is I ran for the Senate because I wanted to serve my country and represent the people of the great State of Alaska. I was stirred to action by a deeply held belief that our country was (and is) headed in the wrong direction, and I wanted to be part of the solution. I’ve chosen not to appeal, recognizing that course would have spent money that hard-working Americans entrusted to me. Given the amount at issue, it simply does not make good financial sense to move forward with the appeal. Pyrrhic victories are not my goal. Accordingly, this court fight ends today. I’m directing my counsel to contact the Alaska Attorney General’s office today and make arrangements to pay the fees required by this court ruling in an expeditious manner.”

Though the court battle ends today, Joe’s commitment to public service, and his fight for the future of our country, will continue.

Memorial Day Reflections


Dear Fellow Patriots,

All of us recognize that our nation faces grave challenges.  Whether it’s the crushing national debt, unemployment, an upside down housing market, or the extreme crisis of leadership in D.C., it’s easy to despair of these formidable problems.  No elected official or candidate has the apparent courage and ability to lead us back to our constitutional foundations of limited government.

But on this Memorial Day, I encourage you to think back to the other challenges our great nation has confronted.  Our extraordinary people have stood up to a world super power with a fledgling, ragtag army in the Revolutionary War.  Only several decades later, we faced down that same power again in the War of 1812.  In the next half a century, Americans fought a devastating Civil War that threatened to rip us apart.  Other exceptional challenges followed, including World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.

At each challenge, our nation’s veterans answered the call.  From the patriots of Lexington-Concord to the Greatest Generation, it was our military that selflessly sacrificed their blood to protect the God-given freedoms that our sacred Constitution was designed to protect.

On this 2011 Memorial Day, please remember that this same Patriot spirit is alive and well, represented by the hundreds of thousands serving in the U.S. armed services.  Endless deployments, constant danger, and spilled blood mark their exceptional sacrifice.

Let us join together in seeking God’s Providence for their protection.  Let us be encouraged that this warrior spirit will see this nation through its current struggles.  And let us never forget that the United States is the bright Shining City on a Hill, exceptional amongst the nations.

Warmest Regards,

Joe Miller

Joe Miller: My Latest Plans and Activities

I am pleased to announce to my core support group several new ventures that I am involved in. Although a press release will issue next week, I wanted you to hear about these endeavors from me first. What follows is a quick overview of where we’re going.

First, though, let me thank you again for your support during the campaign last year. That support was – and remains – one of the most gratifying aspects of the election. I hope that you will continue to support our efforts to restore liberty through any or all of the following organizations:

Restoring Liberty Alaska PAC

This PAC is dedicated to impacting elections across the state to benefit all Alaskans directly, and the nation at large by extension.

We will fight to get state and local officials elected who are dedicated to the principles of limited government and assert states’ rights under the 10th Amendment. Educating the public on the foundation of our nation – the Constitution – will also be a top priority.

We will work to restore vote integrity across the state, closely monitoring the recommendations made to the state legislature and the Division of Elections.

And we remain unwavering in our support of the pro-life movement.

Please visit us here:

We would love to have you join us at a fundraiser in Fairbanks on June 3 for the launch of the PAC.

Restoring Liberty Action Committee

Restoring Liberty Action Committee (RLAC) is an organization designed to have nationwide impact by educating the public and elected officials about the original intent of the Constitution, public policy matters, and other matters of national concern through public discussions, research and analysis, and legal work. RLAC recently filed a brief before the US Supreme Court urging the Court to return to the Founders’ vision of the Fourth Amendment.

You can read the brief here:

RLAC is a 501c(4) tax-exempt organization.

Talk Radio

I have been in discussions with several radio stations regarding a daily broadcast program. It is likely that a contract will be concluded within the next several weeks. My intent is to touch on issues that affect Alaska, which as we all know, is greatly affected by what happens across the nation and, in particular, by the shenanigans in Washington, DC.

We’re expecting an announcement within the next month once details are finalized.

Western Representation PAC

As many of you know, I am the Chairman of the Western Representation PAC, based in Sparks, Nevada. This is a leading Tea Party organization that is passionate about restoring liberty to our nation.

Beginning with no financial or political backing, Western Representation PAC has become one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing political organizations thanks to over 250,000 supporters across the country.

You can follow us here:

Joe Miller Remarks: The End of the Beginning

Joe Miller Concedes

Anchorage, Alaska. December 31, 2010 — Joe Miller made the following remarks announcing his decision to end his legal fight regarding the U.S. Senate election in Alaska:

As many of you know, I am a father. I have 8 wonderful children and an extraordinary wife. One of the primary reasons I decided to run for the U.S. Senate was because of my sincere belief that the reckless spending by those in office was bankrupting our country. In what can only be described as actions that are selfish, irresponsible and immoral, we continue to pass on trillion-dollar deficits to our children. This delusional spending has no regard for the burden placed on them, and no consideration for the difficulties we place on ourselves.

It is said that a politician runs for the next election, but a statesman runs for the next generation. I have always viewed my platform as one that would benefit the next generation more than ourselves. It was a message that over 90,000 Alaskans endorsed and millions across the nation supported.

But we ultimately fell short this time. While it appeared unlikely that the vote margin would be overcome, we wanted to make sure that the vote count was honest and conducted in compliance with the law. Adhering to the rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy. We raised concerns about the election process under a state law that a federal judge recently ruled was “a poorly drafted state statute” and that the court suggested “the Alaska Legislature act to clarify it.” Recent comments and prefiled bills by Alaskan legislators on both sides of the aisle suggest that they too agree on the need to revise state election laws. Even the lieutenant governor has called for an internal review. All Alaskans should demand that this review is transparent and independent.

I have been criticized for seeking to apply the rule of law to this election, and I have paid a price for our approach. I accept that criticism knowing that often doing what is right is not the same thing as doing what is easy—or popular. The easy thing to do would be to ignore the electoral irregularities and move on to other things. While persisting in this fight, I knew my motives, and indeed my judgment, would be called into question. What is true, is that I fought this fight, so that candidates in the future would not have to do so. There can be nothing more serious, and more sacrosanct, than our election process. It’s the tool we use to maintain the will of the people in determining the course of this state and the nation. When the laws governing this sacred process — laws voted into place by the people and their legislators — when these laws are disregarded, for whatever reason, all Alaskans should demand answers. And so, given the facts, and my position at the time, I chose to fight, for this process, and the rule of law. We were not successful in that endeavor, but the fight was a worthy one, and one I will not shy away from, should I be faced with it again.

As a Constitutional conservative, I respect the rule of law as much as I sought to have enforced the rule of law. I say today that the courts have spoken. To my many supporters who continue to urge me to appeal to the Ninth Circuit and the US Supreme Court, I say that I hear you, but the time has come to accept the practical realities of our current legal circumstances. We shall abide by the courts’ decisions even if we do not agree with them.

I stand before you today to explain where we are in the process and what our future plans are. I started my run for Senate out of a sincere love for my country and my state. There is no place more extraordinary than Alaska, with its wide open spaces, rugged extremes and individuals, and unparalleled challenges. And there is no nation more exceptional than the United States of America, founded on the unshakeable principle that God has given us fundamental rights that no one and no government has the right to take away. I voluntarily pledged my life and all my resources to defend this country and those principles. And I would do so again.

Like so many Alaskans, I have grave concerns about the course our country is taking. We are spending money we don’t have. I brought a message to this state and I sounded an alarm. The way of the past, with its obsession for growing the federal government, out of control spending, pork barrel politics, corrupting earmarks, and its disregard for individual liberty, is destroying our country. Now is the time for us to engage in a national conversation about the role of the federal government, its relationship with the states and the people, and the need to balance and responsibly manage the federal budget. I also applaud the efforts of the Republican leadership to not only read into the record the Constitution, but to cite the Constitutional authority for each proposed law.

Unlike so many people in D.C. right now, I still believe in American exceptionalism.

I still believe in the American individual.

I still believe in the sovereign State of Alaska and the independent Alaskan.

And always, always, I believe in and maintain an unshakeable faith in God and his providence and grace.

Our campaign was an underdog from the beginning. Going against the establishment, and a political force with so much money and power standing behind it to defend the status quo was a formidable challenge that few thought we were up to. Many knew the risk of standing against such power, and still they stood with us. Our support network, many of whom we see here, and the will, passion and foresight of a great people were up to the task, and through the grace of God, we prevailed in the primary.

However, more than just a testament to the will of our supporters, defeating a sitting Senator in the primary reflected a simple truth–tens of thousands of Alaskans heard my message and knew its truth. And over 90,000 Alaskans said loud and clear on Election Day–enough! And in a state that is dependent on enormous federal funding, the fact that so many Alaskans were able to see beyond today and look to the future was an amazing achievement, and a testament to their character.

My message was honest. The truth cannot be hidden from the people any longer. But blunt honesty has a price. The messenger may not always be appreciated. It’s been said that in war you can only die once, but in politics you can die a thousand deaths. I like to kind of focus on the resurrection part of that message.

But in speaking the truth we saw how quickly those whose economic model depends on government waste reacted. These powerful vested corporate interests, funded in part by U.S. taxpayer dollars with no bid contracts, successfully organized against our messages of reform and fiscal responsibility.

The campaign is over, but the real impact of the outcome is just starting to be felt. We’ve seen in just the past few weeks what direction Senator Murkowski wants to take the country and Alaska, a direction that I campaigned against, and I will continue to oppose.

We need to demand that our elected leaders remember that “Freedom” is not unlimited financial support funded by fellow taxpayers. “Liberty” is not recklessly spending us into bankruptcy. The ability to prosper in this nation and reach our full potential is not based on how much the government can give us, but rather how much it will leave us be, to thrive and determine our own destiny.

People ask me what my plans for the future are. I know for a fact that standing down is not an option, and I will continue to sound the alarm about the state of our nation. But exactly what form that will take, I don’t know quite yet.

I do know that I have a loving family and the support of my wonderful wife. We have a great state, and the support of tens of thousands of Alaskans. My supporters were the most loyal, devoted and energetic volunteers any campaign could hope for. I studied American politics, while I was at West Point; I’ve been a student of it since; I taught it when I was at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. I have never seen, of course I am a little bit biased here, I have never seen a campaign so energized, so funded, so supported by the base. Extraordinary. That’s one thing that ought to go down in the history books. We have been blessed beyond words by your contribution and sacrifice. These were people, who gave not just their financial resources, but their time. But beyond these sacrifices, and quite possibly even more significant, they gave us their endorsement. They took the value of their good word, built up with friends and neighbors over a lifetime of honest deeds and actions, and put that behind me and this cause. They placed signs in their yard and said, “This is my candidate. I stand with him.” There can be no greater honor, and no more humbling experience for me personally, than to receive the faith and trust of these good people. I will live my life trying to live up to the magnitude of that trust, so that no one who has ever placed that faith in me will be let down. To all of you, and especially to my incredible wife Kathleen, I say thank you.

People from across the country have reached out to us. Great leaders and minds of conservative thought embraced us and our message also. Again, let me say we are, and were, humbled and honored beyond words by this.

This is not the beginning of the end. This is the end of the beginning. While Alaska may not, at this point, have embraced the sort of reform that this nation and state needs to survive, hope IS apparent, as evidenced by the overwhelming message sent to Washington DC in this last election cycle. The American people are increasingly rejecting socialism, and conservatives are rejecting career politicians who stand for nothing save self preservation. These are great days, in that regard, and all who value liberty should take heart at these recent events. There is much to do, but the light has shone, and I believe, more and more Americans and Alaskans will wake up to this light, and embrace, and not oppress, those values that for so long in our recent times, we have forsaken.

Whatever comes next, I can make only one promise: I will work now, and for the rest of my life, to educate and inspire, and to fight to protect the things that have made this state and this nation great, and will defend with every fiber of my being, the hallowed principles outlined in the divinely inspired document that for over 200 years has not just ensured our freedom, but has been a beacon of hope for the entire world: the Constitution of the United States. Where corruption and complacency threaten to weaken it, I will draw the lines of battle and step into the breach. I would ask those who believe in these principles, and share this love of liberty, to step with me.

Thank you, all of you, for the privilege of being your candidate.

May God continue to bless our state, our country, and guide Senator Murkowski in her future actions.

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For speaking engagements, please contact: [email protected]

Joe Miller to Hold Press Conference and Availability

Anchorage, Alaska. December 29, 2010 — Joe Miller, the Republican Nominee for the U.S. Senate, will hold a Press Conference & Availability at 2:00 pm Friday, December 31, 2010.

Who:

Joe Miller, Republican Nominee for the U.S. Senate

When:

Friday, December 31, 2010

2:00 pm

Where:

607 West Northern Lights Blvd.

Anchorage, AK 99503

What:

Miller will address his plans moving forward, including whether he will pursue a federal appeal or state election contest.

For media questions email Randy DeSoto at [email protected]

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Miller Responds to Federal Court Ruling

Fairbanks, Alaska. December 28, 2010 — In response to today’s ruling by Alaska’s Federal District Court, Joe Miller issued the following statement:

“I am disappointed with the federal court’s ruling today. The U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause presented the most significant constitutional issue. Specifically, should the courts be required to follow the legislature’s standard for the selection of U.S. Senators or create their own? My legal team believes that the clear language of the Election Clause as well as precedent support our claims. Thus, we are evaluating the ruling and determining what our next step should be.”

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Miller Will Not Oppose Certification of U.S. Senate Race

Federal Case to Move Forward

Fairbanks, Alaska. December 26, 2010 — Joe Miller, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, will not oppose state certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska. For the sake of the integrity of the election, Miller will go forward with the federal suit, which was filed last month, but required a final determination by the Alaska state court to proceed further. He will be filing a motion in federal court to stay the post certification election contest timeline until after the federal case has concluded.

“After careful consideration and seeking the counsel of people whose opinion I respect and trust, I have decided that the federal case must go forward. The integrity of the election is vital and ultimately the rule of law must be our standard. Nevertheless, I have also decided to withdraw our opposition to the certification of the election, ensuring that Alaska will have its full delegation seated when the 112th Congress convenes next month.” Miller added, “This decision will allow Alaskans to focus on bringing fairness and transparency to our elections process without distraction of the certification issue.”

In its court filings, the Miller legal team pointed out several issues that require further review including: whether the U.S. Constitution’s Election Clause was violated by ignoring the legislature’s mandatory provisions for write-in candidates; whether the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause was violated by the different vote counting standards that were applied, dependent on the candidate in question; and other issues such as at least hundreds of felons voting and at least hundreds of ballots being filled out by a handful of people.

Miller stated, “We want the end result of this legal action to be for the people of Alaska to not only have full faith in the outcome of this race, but a confidence in the manner in which elections will be conducted in our state in the future. Election integrity is vital.”

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Alaska Supreme Court Rules in Miller Case

Miller reviewing what impact the state supreme court’s decision may have on his federal suit.

Fairbanks, Alaska. December 22, 2010 — The Alaska Supreme Court issued a ruling earlier today denying both Joe Miller’s appeal and Lisa Murkowski’s cross-appeal, affirming various decisions of the Division of Elections that the candidates had challenged.

“We disagree with the court’s intrepretation of the election code, but respect both the rule of law and the court’s place in the judicial system,” Miller said. “We are studying the opinion and carefully considering our options.”

He added, “I am deeply gratified by the unwavering support that so many people throughout the State have offered throughout this entire process.”

The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska also issued an order, inviting Miller to submit a brief regarding his federal claims by this Monday, December 27, and directed the State to file a response by the following Wednesday.

“We are reviewing the state supreme court’s ruling to determine the impact it will have on our federal claims–which the federal court already noted were ‘substantial’–and identify the best way to proceed,” noted Michael T. Morley, one of Miller’s attorneys.

Miller noted, “This litigation always has been about preventing the Division of Elections from being able to re-write the law as it chooses, and seizing for itself the power to be able to affect the outcome of elections based on what write-in votes it chooses to count.”

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