George Miller (California U.S. House member)

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George Miller
Image of George Miller
Prior offices
U.S. House California District 11

Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $651,504

Education

Associate

Diablo Valley College

Bachelor's

San Francisco State University, 1968

Law

University of California, Davis, 1972

Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Attorney

George Miller (b. May 17, 1945, in Richmond, CA) is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House. He represented California's 11th Congressional District from 1975 to 2015. He did not seek re-election in 2014.[1]

Miller began his political career as a legislative assistant to the Senate Majority Leader of the California State Senate. He worked in that position from 1969 until his election to the U.S. House in 1974.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Miller's academic, professional, and political career:[2]

  • 1965: Graduated from Diablo Valley College with A.A.
  • 1968: Graduated from San Francisco State University with B.A.
  • 1972: Graduated from University of California Law School, Davis with J.D.
  • 1969-1974: Legislative assistant to senate majority leader, California state legislature
  • 1975-2015: U.S. Representative from California

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2013-2014

Miller served on the following committees:[3]

2011-2012

Miller served on the following committees:[4]

Key votes

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[5] For more information pertaining to Miller's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[6]

National security

NDAA

Nay3.png Miller voted against HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[7]

DHS Appropriations

Nay3.png Miller voted against HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines.[8]

CISPA (2013)

Nay3.png Miller voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[9]

Economy

Farm bill

Nay3.png On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, known as the Farm Bill.[10] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill provides for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[11][12] However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[12] Miller voted with 102 other Democratic representatives against the bill.

2014 Budget

Yea3.png On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[13][14] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.[14] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[15] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the protection of the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Miller joined with the majority of the Democratic party and voted in favor of the bill.[13][14]

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

Nay3.png On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[16] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[17] Miller voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[18]

Yea3.png The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[19] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Miller voted for HR 2775.[20]

Federal Pay Adjustment Act

Nay3.png Miller voted against HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013, with a vote of 261 - 154. The bill called for stopping a 0.5 percent pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect. The raises were projected to cost $11 billion over 10 years.[21]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Nay3.png Miller voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status.[22] The vote largely followed party lines.[23]

Healthcare

Healthcare Reform Rules

Neutral/Abstain Miller did not vote on House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires that all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[24]

Social issues

Abortion

Nay3.png Miller voted against HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill was to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.[25]

Previous congressional sessions

Fiscal Cliff

Yea3.png Miller voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[26]

Issues

American response in Syria

See also: United States involvement in Syria

On August 29, 2013, 53 House Democrats signed a letter written by California Rep. Barbara Lee that called for a congressional resolution on strikes and cautioned that the situation in Syria "should not draw us into an unwise war—especially without adhering to our constitutional requirements."[27][28] The letter also called on the Obama administration to work with the U.N. Security Council “to build international consensus” condemning the alleged use of chemical weapons. Miller was one of the 53 Democrats in the House to sign the letter.[27][28]

Campaign spending

Miller discussed California's top-two primary system and campaign spending on MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown." He said, "That anonymous, secret money is, to me, … as dangerous as anything that’s ever been pointed at our democracy." When asked about his thoughts on the effects of California's primary system, he continued, "I think we don’t know yet. So far … the top two running just means you have to spend twice as much money. It doesn’t really lead to different results. I’m much more concerned about whether or not you have a fair and open reapportionment system, and then I’m deeply concerned about the advance of anonymous, large amounts of money. I think it destroys the impact of local communities on who their candidates and who their representatives are going to be."[29]

Elections

2014

See also: California's 11th Congressional District elections, 2014

Miller chose to retire rather than seek re-election in 2014.

2012

See also: California's 11th Congressional District elections, 2012

Miller won re-election in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 11th District as a Democrat.[30] He was displaced from the 7th District by redistricting. He and Virginia Fuller (R) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating John Fitzgerald (D) and Cheryl Sudduth (D). Miller then defeated Fuller in the general election on November 6, 2012.[31][32]

U.S. House, California District 11 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Miller Incumbent 69.7% 200,743
     Republican Virginia Fuller 30.3% 87,136
Total Votes 287,879
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"
U.S. House, California District 11 Open Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Miller (D) Incumbent 58.5% 76,163
Green check mark transparent.pngVirginia Fuller (R) 31% 40,333
John Fitzgerald (D) 7% 9,092
Cheryl Sudduth (D) 3.6% 4,635
Total Votes 130,223

2010

On November 2, 2010, George Miller won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rick Tubbs (R) in the general election.[33]

U.S. House, California District 7 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngGeorge Miller incumbent 68.3% 122,435
     Republican Rick Tubbs 31.7% 56,764
Total Votes 179,199

Full history


Campaign donors


Comprehensive donor history


BP-Initials-UPDATED.png The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.



George Miller (California U.S. House member) campaign contribution history
Year Office Result Contributions
2012 U.S. House (California, District 11) Won $743,547
2010 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $972,502
2008 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $1,155,882
2006 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $667,494
2004 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $573,259
2002 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $471,747
2000 U.S. House (California, District 7) Won $382,248
Grand total raised $4,966,679
Source: [[52] Follow the Money]



2014

Candidates for Congress were required to file reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Miller's reports.[53]

2012

Miller won re-election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Miller's campaign committee raised a total of $743,547 and spent $891,945.[57] This is less than the average $1.5 million spent by House winners in 2012.[58]

Cost per vote

Miller spent $4.44 per vote received in 2012.


2010

Miller won re-election to the U.S. House in 2010. During that election cycle, Miller's campaign committee raised a total of $972,502 and spent $1,008,838.[59]

His top five contributors between 2009-2010 were:


Personal Gain Index

Congressional Personal Gain Index graphic.png
See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives
Net Worth Metric graphic.png

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Miller's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $257,010 and $1,045,999. That averages to $651,504, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2012 of $5,700,168.36. Miller ranked as the 247th most wealthy representative in 2012.[60] Between 2004 and 2012, Miller's calculated net worth[61] decreased by an average of 0 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[62]

George Miller Yearly Net Worth
YearAverage Net Worth
2004$653,298
2012$651,504
Growth from 2004 to 2012:−0%
Average annual growth:−0%[63]
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[64]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Miller is the ranking Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce. Miller received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Building Trade Unions industry.

From 1989-2014, 34.21 percent of Miller's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.[65]

Donation Concentration Metric graphic.png
George Miller (California U.S. House member) Campaign Contributions
Total Raised $7,468,963
Total Spent $7,539,076
Ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Building Trade Unions$622,145
Industrial Unions$548,375
Public Sector Unions$519,767
Transportation Unions$456,135
Lawyers/Law Firms$408,600
% total in top industry8.33%
% total in top two industries15.67%
% total in top five industries34.21%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Miller was a far-left Democratic leader as of July 2014. This was the same rating Miller received in June 2013.[66]

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[67]

Miller most often voted with:

Miller least often voted with:


Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Miller missed 1,792 of 23,888 roll call votes from January 1975 to July 2014. This amounts to 7.5 percent, which is worse than the median of 2.5 percent among current congressional representatives as of July 2014.[68]

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Miller paid his congressional staff a total of $1,102,577 in 2011. He ranked 52nd on the list of the highest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranked 65th overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, California ranked 5th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[69]

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Miller ranked 63rd in the liberal rankings in 2013.[70]

2011

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Miller ranked 30th in the liberal rankings in 2011.[71]

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Miller voted with the Democratic Party 91.9 percent of the time, which ranked 131st among the 204 House Democratic members as of July 2014.[72]

2013

Miller voted with the Democratic Party 95.7 percent of the time, which ranked 84th among the 201 House Democratic members as of June 2013.[73]

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Miller and his wife, Cynthia, have two children.

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term George + Miller + California + House


See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. Politico, "Veteran Democrat George Miller to retire," January 13, 2014
  2. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "George Miller," accessed November 2, 2011
  3. CQ.com - Roll Call, "House Committee Rosters for the 113th Congress," accessed January 18, 2013
  4. Congressman George Miller, Standing Up for the 7th District of California, "About George's Committees and Caucuses," accessed August 1, 2011
  5. Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 112th Congress," accessed September 5, 2013
  6. Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 113th Congress," accessed March 4, 2014
  7. Project Vote Smart, "HR 1960 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  8. Project Vote Smart, "HR 2217 - DHS Appropriations Act of 2014 - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  9. Project Vote Smart, "HR 624 - CISPA (2013) - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  10. Clerk of U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 31: H.R. 2642," accessed February 12, 2014
  11. Politico, "House clears Farm Bill," accessed February 12, 2014
  12. 12.0 12.1 New York Times, "Senate passes long-stalled Farm Bill, with clear winners and losers," accessed February 12, 2014
  13. 13.0 13.1 CNN.com, "House passes compromise $1.1 trillion budget for 2014," accessed January 20, 2014
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 21," accessed January 20, 2014
  15. Roll Call, "Omnibus Sails Through the Senate," January 16, 2014
  16. Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  17. Buzzfeed, "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013
  18. Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  19. The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
  20. U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013
  21. Project Vote Smart, "HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  22. The Library of Congress, "H.AMDT.136," accessed September 16, 2013
  23. Project Vote Smart, "H Amdt 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  24. Project Vote Smart, "H Amdt 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  25. Project Vote Smart, "HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013
  26. U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
  27. 27.0 27.1 Congresswoman Barbara Lee, "Rep. Barbara Lee and 53 other Democrats sign letter to Obama urging debate on Syria," accessed September 3, 2019
  28. 28.0 28.1 Washington Post, "More than 50 House Democrats also want Syria strike resolution," accessed September 2, 2013
  29. Politico, "George Miller: Anonymous cash 'dangerous'," January 14, 2014
  30. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cnnr
  31. California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
  32. California Secretary of State, "Unofficial election results," November 6, 2012 (dead link)
  33. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  34. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  35. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  36. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  37. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  38. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  39. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998," accessed March 28, 2013
  40. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
  41. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," accessed March 28, 2013
  42. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1992," accessed March 28, 2013
  43. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990," accessed March 28, 2013
  44. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1988," accessed March 28, 2013
  45. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986," accessed March 28, 2013
  46. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1984," accessed March 28, 2013
  47. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982," accessed March 28, 2013
  48. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1980," accessed March 28, 2013
  49. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978," accessed March 28, 2013
  50. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1976," accessed March 28, 2013
  51. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1974," accessed March 28, 2013
  52. Open Secrets, "Career Fundraising for George Miller," accessed March 22, 2013
  53. Federal Election Commission, "George Miller Summary Report," accessed July 23, 2013
  54. Federal Election Commission, "George Miller April Quarterly," accessed July 23, 2013
  55. Federal Election Commission, "George Miller July Quarterly," accessed July 23, 2013
  56. Federal Election Commission, "George Miller October Quarterly," accessed October 21, 2013
  57. Open Secrets, "George Miller 2012 Election Cycle," accessed February 20, 2013
  58. Open Secrets, "Election 2012: The Big Picture Shows Record Cost of Winning a Seat in Congress," accessed June 19, 2013
  59. Open Secrets, "George Miller 2010 Election Cycle," accessed November 2, 2011
  60. OpenSecrets, "George Miller (D-Calif), 2012," accessed February 18, 2014
  61. This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
  62. This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
  63. This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
  64. This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
  65. OpenSecrets.org, "Rep. George Miller," accessed September 19, 2014
  66. GovTrack, "George Miller," accessed July 21, 2014
  67. OpenCongress, "George Miller," accessed July 18, 2014
  68. GovTrack, "George Miller," accessed July 21, 2014
  69. LegiStorm, "George Miller," accessed August 21, 2012
  70. National Journal, "2013 Congressional Vote Ratings," accessed July 18, 2014
  71. National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
  72. OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
  73. OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
Political offices
Preceded by
Ron Dellums
U.S. House - California, District 11
1975-2015
Succeeded by
Mark DeSaulnier


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