Statement from Marvel Hansbraugh, Clerk of the Alaska U.S. District

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Anchorage, Alaska. October 8, 2010 — In response to several inquiries regarding the employment of Joe Miller as a part-time Magistrate Judge in Alaska, Marvel Hansbraugh, Clerk of the Alaska U.S. District Court, issued the following press release (PDF link) today:

Mr. Miller served as the Court’s part-time Magistrate Judge in Fairbanks, Alaska, from June 13, 2002, through June 1, 2004. Mrs. Miller was employed by Magistrate Judge Miller to provide clerical and secretarial assistance in 2002.

United States Magistrate Judges and part-time United States Magistrate Judges are employed to serve in the District Courts of the United States to perform services authorized by 28 U.S.C. • 636. The process for selecting Magistrate Judges is governed by statute, 28 U.S.C. • 631, and regulations adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Sections 420.1 thru 420.50 of the Guide to Judiciary Policy govern the selection of part-time Magistrate Judges. Mr. Miller was selected pursuant to this process. The position in Fairbanks is a level IV position and is paid by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, not by the District Court.

It is the practice of part-time Magistrate Judges to engage an assistant to perform necessary secretarial and clerical tasks. Frequently this is a person that works for the Magistrate Judge in the Judge’s private law office. Upon inquiry by Mr. Miller, he was advised that he could employ his wife in this capacity.

Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and…Lisa Murkowski?

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Anti-Reform Teachers Union Endorses Senator Murkowski

Anchorage, Alaska. October 8, 2010 — Senator Lisa Murkowski recently announced on her website that she has achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the only incumbent Republican in the U.S. Senate to win the endorsement of the nation’s largest teachers union -– the National Education Association.

With this honor, Senator Murkowski joins such political figures as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Representative Barney Frank who have also received ‘A’ ratings from the anti-reform teacher’s union.

“The NEA is so far to the left that even the Obama Administration’s education policies like expanding charter schools and teacher performance pay have come under fire from this group,” stated Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto. “The fact that Lisa Murkowski received both an endorsement and an ‘A’ rating from the NEA speaks volumes about her liberal voting record.”

A story on NEA’s endorsements in the Washington Post (October 6) noted, “Critics of the union say that it stands for the status quo in education and against innovation.” The story goes on to say, “In dozens of targeted races, most of the union’s recommended candidates are Democrats. But NEA officials said they are backing selected Republicans who have supported their causes, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)….”

For the 2010 election cycle, the NEA has endorsed 316 candidates in House and Senate races. 303 of the endorsed candidates (96 percent) are Democrats; just 13 (4 percent) are Republicans.

Among the many votes that earned Senator Murkowski an ‘A’ rating from NEA was a vote to kill the popular “Opportunity Scholarship Program” in Washington, D.C., which allowed disadvantaged students to leave failing public schools and attend more academically rigorous and safer private schools.

DeSoto also stated he was curious about why the NEA would choose to back a write-in candidate over Democratic Party nominee Scott McAdams. “We certainly have our differences with Scott McAdams on the issues, but his educational credentials cannot be disputed,” said DeSoto. “Mr. McAdams has served as the president of the Alaska Association of School Boards, he’s a former member of the Sitka School Board, and he’s currently the Director of Community Schools for the Sitka School District. We can only conclude that Lisa Murkowski’s anti-reform voting record back in D.C. was more attractive to the NEA than Mr. McAdams’ hands-on experience.”

Statement on Miller – Palin Emails

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between him and Todd Palin. Mr. Palin told the Weekly Standard on Wednesday that a miscommunication was the impetus for a personal email that was leaked and posted online. This email was picked up by an owner of a similar domain name, unconnected with the Miller campaign, and then apparently leaked by that owner to the media.

Mr. Miller spoke Wednesday morning with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly. When asked by Kelly about the “dust up” with Todd Palin, Mr. Miller said that he and the Palins are good friends. He further went on to state that Sarah Palin was critical to his success in the primary. The Palins have since reiterated their support for Joe, and Sarah Palin continues to be featured on the Joe Miller U.S. Senate website: joemiller.thelibertylab.com.

Murkowski’s “Troubling” Conflicts on Troubled Assets

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Senator claiming to “fight for Alaskans” had thousands invested in Wall Street banks and had taken thousands in Wall Street contributions when she voted for $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

Anchorage, Alaska. October 5, 2010 — Senator Lisa Murkowski had substantial and troubling conflicts of interest when she voted for the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, also known as TARP.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org), Murkowski’s campaign committee has received more than $217,000 in campaign contributions from Securities and Investment firms, including several that received funds from the Wall Street bailout the Senator voted for. Among these are CitiGroup, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

All the more troubling is the very real conflict of interest that Murkowski had when she voted for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout. At the time, the Senator and her family had upwards of $335,000 invested in Wall Street banks and institutions who, in turn, received billions of dollars in bailout funds. Among them was Morgan Stanley. The information is publicly available on Murkowski’s personal financial disclosures.

“It is clear that Lisa Murkowski sold out the interests of Alaskan and American taxpayers by voting for special interests and her interests,” Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto said. “At the very least, she should have recused herself from the vote. Or, she could have done the right thing for the taxpayers by voting against the bailout.”

While Murkowski has waffled on her support for TARP, Joe Miller’s opposition to the program has been steadfast and clear. The bailouts and budgets have added trillions to the national debt.

Joe Miller is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Joe is a graduate of West Point and Yale Law School, a decorated combat veteran from the First Gulf War, a former state magistrate and federal magistrate judge. He and his wife Kathleen are the proud parents of eight children and live in Fairbanks where he is a practicing attorney.

Hard to Fight for Alaska If You Don’t Bother to Show Up

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Lisa Murkowski makes time for DC lobbyists, but is MIA while Republican colleagues continue the fight for lower taxes and against the Democrat agenda.

Anchorage, September 30, 2010 — Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has missed 80% of the Senate’s votes since losing the Republican primary, including every Senate vote since proclaiming she was “continuing the fight for Alaskans” by launching her write-in campaign.

Lisa has missed critical Senate votes to: cut government spending; reign in some of the outrageous small business burdens in ‘health care reform’; and to provide ‘disapproval’ of National Mediation Board rules changes for airline and railway unions, among others. In some cases she was the only Republican missing. In fact, since the Republican primary, Murkowski has only been present for one day of Senate votes out of eight (September 16, 2010).

“Actions speak louder than words and this is just another example of Lisa saying one thing to Alaskan voters and actually doing another,” Miller spokesman Randy DeSoto said. “Murkowski spent months trying to convince the voters that she really was a conservative while voting for things like the Wall Street Bailouts and sponsoring Alaska job-killing cap and trade legislation.”

DeSoto continued, “Our self-described ‘conservative Republican’ senator is now surrounding herself with Democrats, tacking hard to the left and is back championing her old big spending ways. Is she really ‘fighting for Alaska?’ It’s hard to fight for the people of Alaska when you don’t bother to show up.”

As a ‘write-in candidate’ Lisa has managed to find time for DC lobbyists though. According to the September 17, 2010 Politico story “Murkowski hits up lobbyists,” her staff were quick to call on some of DC’s “most prominent lobbyists” for a call with the Senator just one day after her campaign announcement. It makes sense that she would solicit lobbyists before telling Alaskans of her campaign. According moneyline.cq.com, nearly 65% of the money she has raised in 2009 and 2010 has been raised from individuals and interests outside of Alaska.

DeSoto pointed out, “It is interesting to note that during the primary campaign she said she was too busy to debate Joe Miller (until days before the election) because she was “fighting for Alaska” in the U.S. Senate. Why has she abandoned the fight now?”

The critical votes:

Senate Vote 231 – HR 5297: Small-Business Tax and Lending – Cloture

September 14, 2010 – The Johanns amendment would repeal a tax information-reporting requirement from the 2010 health care overhaul law, offset by increasing the affordability exemption to the individual mandate in the health care law and funding allocated for prevention programs. The Nelson amendment would exempt businesses with fewer than 25 employees from the tax compliance provision in the health care law and would raise the reporting threshold for the remaining companies from $600 to $5,000. The substitute [Johann] would provide for a variety of small-business tax initiatives, including a revival of an expired bonus depreciation provision to allow companies to write off assets more quickly, and authorize a small-business lending fund.

Motion rejected 46-52: R 39-0; D 7-50; I 0-2.

Senate Vote 239 – S J Res 30: Union Elections – Motion to Proceed

September 23, 2010 – Isakson, R-Ga., motion to proceed to consideration of a joint resolution that would provide for congressional disapproval of a National Mediation Board rules change regarding airline and railway union elections under the Railway Labor Act.

Motion rejected 43-56: R 40-0; D 3-54; I 0-2.

Senate Vote 245 – HR 3081: Continuing Appropriations ‘Shell’ – Spending Reductions

September 29, 2010 – Thune, R-S.D., amendment no. 4676 to the Inouye, D-Hawaii, substitute amendment no. 4674. The Thune amendment would provide for a 5 percent reduction in spending, except for defense, homeland security, veterans programs and other matters adjusted by the substitute. The substitute would provide continuing appropriations through Dec. 3, 2010, for all federal departments and agencies whose fiscal 2010 appropriations bills have not been enacted.

Rejected 48-51: R 40-0; D 8-49; I 0-2.

Murkowski’s Missed Votes since the Primary:

9/13: 1 vote

9/14: 3 votes

She was present on 9/16: 4 votes

9/21: 1 vote

9/23: 2 votes

9/27: 1 vote

9/28: 2 votes

9/29: 5 votes

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Parnell and Miller to Hold Joint Meet and Greet

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Anchorage, Alaska. September 23, 2010 — Tomorrow, Friday the 24th at NOON, Governor Sean Parnell and Joe Miller are holding a joint Meet and Greet in Wasilla. The event will be from 12 to 1 pm at the Menard Sports Complex. For directions to the Sports Center, click here.

Come out and join us for a community picnic!

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FreedomWorks Backs Joe Miller

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Anchorage, Alaska. September 23, 2010 — Joe Miller, candidate for US Senate, picked up the endorsement of FreedomWorks. The group is dedicated to bringing lower taxes, less government and greater freedom to the American people. FreedomWorks PAC Chairman Dick Armey observed, “Joe Miller is the clear choice for true conservatives in this election. He has enough common sense to recognize that a nation cannot tax its way to growth, or spend its way to prosperity. We need to support candidates like Joe who will hold the line on spending and make job creation and fixing the economy the top priority.”

The endorsement adds, “Miller is also a signer of the Contract FROM America, an authentic grassroots document created by the people, for the people, expressing what a majority of Americans want for their future. After garnering nearly half a million votes in less than two months, the Contract was whittled down to ten core ideas which advocate fundamental tax reform, fiscal responsibility and limited government. Joe Miller opposes all encroachments on individual freedom, including ObamaCare, job-killing cap and trade energy regulation, and all unnecessary tax hikes.”

Miller responded, “I’m deeply appreciative of FreedomWorks’ endorsement and its willingness to work with our campaign towards victory this November. The mission of the organization is directly in line with our core message of the need to return to limited government. Dick Armey was a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution and one of the top leaders that orchestrated the Republican Revolution of 1994. He has been a consistent voice calling for restoring American government to its proper bounds. My highest goal, if elected to the US Senate, is to be part of the solution of putting our nation back on a prosperous path and free from massive deficits.

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Miller Holds Double-Digit Lead Over McAdams, Murkowski

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Republican Joe Miller attracts 42% of the vote in the first Rasmussen Reports poll of the Alaska Senate race since GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her write-in campaign to try to keep her job.

The telephone survey of Likely Voters in Alaska shows Murkowski picking up 27% of the vote and Democrat Scott McAdams earning 25%. One percent (1%) say they’d prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided.

This race now moves from Leans GOP to Solid GOP in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.

Read the full article at Rasmussen

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Alaska was conducted on September 19, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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CNN: Miller Interviewed by John King

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(CNN) – Joe Miller hit back at his on-again opponent Sen. Lisa Murkowski Monday, saying she broke her word to voters by announcing her plans to run as a write-in candidate in the Alaska Senate race.

“I won the Republican primary with the largest Republican voter turnout in the history of this state, and we’ve had an extraordinary number come behind this campaign in the days following that, and even more coming behind this campaign after [Murkowski] announced her write-in campaign, which of course contradicted the word she gave just a few days before the primary that she would support the victor of the Republican primary,” Miller told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.

Read the rest of the story at CNN

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Miller Calls on Alaskans to Look to the Future

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Anchorage, Alaska. September 18, 2010 — Joe Miller, candidate for US Senate, remarks (as prepared) following the decision of Lisa Murkowski to run as a write-in candidate for this November’s election.

“I’m pleased to be joined by fellow Alaskans here tonight, including supporters of Lisa Murkowski’s campaign in the primary. Tonight, they’re standing with me as a visible sign of the unity that we need to build in order to bring change to Washington, D.C. and protect Alaska’s future.

“As Alaskans we have differences on some issues, and that is to be expected. But what unites us at this time is vastly more important than what divides us. What unites us is our conviction that the federal government — under the leadership of President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi– is leading our country toward economic ruin. Skyrocketing unemployment robs our generation and our children’s of their chance at the American Dream: to work hard, earn success, and provide for their families. Heavy taxes and regulations strangle our businesses, stifle innovation, and send more and more jobs overseas. The liberal idea that governmental dependency creates prosperity is flawed. Obama’s Health Care law takes away our choices, and plunges us deeper and deeper into debt. Another example of how a governmental program that is sold to the American people under the guise of safety and security that in fact does quite the opposite. It eats away at the pockets of the individual and gives almost nothing in return on our investment and steals the financial security of the future from our children.

“The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has released estimates showing that over the first three years of the Obama Presidency, 2009-2011, the federal government will borrow an estimated $3.7 trillion. Here is how the Wall Street Journal puts that $3.7 trillion figure into perspective: ‘… [It] is more than the entire accumulated national debt for the first 225 years of U.S. history. By 2019, the interest payments on this debt will be larger than the budget for education, roads, and all other non-defense discretionary spending.’ We know this kind of reckless spending cannot be sustained. This is more than a fiscal issue – it is really a moral issue. The policies of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi will lead to a massive tax burden on our children and grandchildren.

“When we look to the history of our country, it is very clear that each generation of Americans has left this country a stronger and better place for the generations that follow. To ensure that this generation is able to do the same we must stop the plunge that is currently occurring across the country. It is our duty as citizens and stewards of our country to do everything in our power to create a more prosperous nation for the future. The thought that our generation – my generation – could be the first to actually leave the country worse off is truly frightening. And yet, if we don’t make a dramatic change of course, this is what we’ll be facing.

“Earlier this year, our late Senator Ted Stevens spoke to Republicans gathered at the Lincoln Day dinner in Anchorage. Addressing the issue of out-of-control spending, Senator Stevens said the following: ‘…I believe that this is no time for new programs. It’s time to review all existing programs and to cut federal expenditures wherever possible. This is a tough time. Tax bills that they will inherit because of our nation’s current debt are astronomical. Clearly there’s a need for a reconsideration of all that we’ve done in the past that led to this fantastic level of debt.’

“In addition to concerns over the national economy, our state economy in Alaska is threatened by the policies of President Obama and the Democrats in Congress. Our abundant natural resources can secure a prosperous future for Alaskans. But the harsh reality is that Barack Obama and the entire Democratic Party are beholden to an extreme, anti-development environmental agenda. ANWR will NEVER be opened as long as they are in power. We will never realize our full potential as a state, so long as the radical environmental agenda is allowed to triumph over common sense. Federal lands policy affects almost every aspect of Alaska’s economy – whether it’s oil and gas, mining, timber, fisheries, and tourism. We must join forces to secure more control over our state’s resources and safeguard our economic future.

“This evening, I want to invite all Alaskans who are concerned about the direction of our country to join this campaign. I especially want to invite my fellow Republicans who supported Senator Murkowski to unite behind us in this crucial mission. My message is, and has been, simple. I am a conservative. I know this country is going in the wrong direction and will do my best to help turn it around. I believe the federal government tries to do too many things and in the process wastes our money. I am for reducing spending AND reducing taxes, because these things will help our ailing economy. And foremost, I am FOR Alaska. I came here because I believe this is the greatest State in the greatest nation on Earth, and I will do all that I can in order to protect its future and our children’s future.”

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