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Candidate Profile from Congressional QuarterlyGary Miller (R) of Diamond BarOpen Seat
Miller made history in Sacramento in 1995, he was the first freshman to be named chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, presiding over the state's high stakes, highly partisan budget battles. Although Miller comes to Washington with the hope of securing a plum committee assignment, he does not expect history to be repeated when he arrives in January. Miller soundly defeated three-term GOP Rep. Jay C. Kim in the June 2 primary after the incumbent pleaded guilty to accepting $250,000 in illegal foreign contributions during his 1992 campaign. Miller says he wants committee assignments that build upon his experience as a key player in California's annual budget negotiations. As a successful real estate developer, he says the best fit for his business experience is the Ways and Means, Appropriations or Commerce committees. But Miller acknowledges that those slots rarely are given to freshmen and said he would be interested in seats on the Transportation and Infrastructure and/or Budget committees. Voters in California's 41st District will not see much change at the policy level. Like Kim, Miller considers himself a fiscal and social conservative, subscribing to the GOP tenets of shrinking the federal government, overhauling the tax code and advancing a pro-family agenda. But unlike Kim, who kept a low-profile among his colleagues, Miller wants to be more of an activist. "I have absolutely no interest in going all the way to Washington to just sit in a corner," he said. Miller is already vocal about House Republican leaders, criticizing them for allowing President Clinton to take credit for legislative successes, such as the balanced-budget agreement, which he says truly belong to Republicans. |
