Orange County Register

Miller said he had to vote yes

September 29th, 2008, 12:02 pm · 11 Comments · posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

Rep. Gary Miller

On his way to the airport after today’s historic bailout vote, Rep. Gary Miller said this was the toughest vote he’s cast in his 20 years in politics.

The Diamond Bar Republican didn’t know when he left the chamber that his colleagues voted 205-228 against the measure.

“I could have come up with a lot of excuses to vote no,” Miller said. “I could use everything I believe in - free market principles, small government. But you also have to look the people in the eye you represent - the small business man, the guy running the big business, all those people you see who might not have a job, the families who need a loan to get a new car or buy a home.

“When banks stop lending to banks and the upheaval that would occur in the daily lives of average people if this market takes a tumble. I didn’t see a choice but to do everything I was empowered to do to make sure the economy stayed solid.

Miller said he believes in the end “the federal government could make a pretty sizable profit on this deal. I think we’re investing this money and with good oversight this could be a win win for the American people.”

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Posted in: Economy • meltdown • Gary Miller
 

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 11 Comments

• BF says:

  September 29, 2008 at 8:05 pm

  Are you serious?

  “Miller said he believes in the end “the federal government could make a pretty sizable profit on this deal. I think we’re investing this money and with good oversight this could be a win win for the American people.”

  “But you also have to look the people in the eye you represent ”

  Didn’t you get the email from the “people you represent”?

  “I could have come up with a lot of excuses to vote no,” Miller said”
  Was any of them that you discussed it with “Economist”
• Vlad says:

  September 29, 2008 at 9:42 pm

  If the people that Gary Miller represents are losing jobs, he might lose his job in November for voting ‘yes’.
• ocballfan says:

  September 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm

  Let’s See…

  I called his local office in Brea, his National office in D.C., and even sent him an e-mail. They told me that I would get a phone call back on how he voted. I’m still waiting Congressman Miller!!
  I find it odd that our elected officials aides were blowing off his constituents in that manner.
  Does anyone here in South County wonder why a businessman who lives in Diamond Bar, CA. would be repesenting those of us who live in South County.

  Let me know!
• flubby says:

  September 29, 2008 at 11:28 pm

  Come november, I will do everything in my power to elect your opponent., and if that means volunteering every minute of my spare time to your opponent’s campaign, so be it. You refused to listen to your constituents… and that cannot go unpunished.
• neteligent says:

  September 29, 2008 at 11:40 pm

  Never Vote for Gary Miller Again.We are too poor to bail out greed, house flippers and fatcat banks.
• Sandy says:

  September 30, 2008 at 6:00 am

  Gary, thank you for your courageous vote of “yes” for the “bail out”!

  We need people of integrity representing us who vote for the good of all!

  This is not a perfect solution; but it is so much better than the alternative!

  Thank you
• Please says:

  September 30, 2008 at 9:13 am

  Miller you should be replaced “the government could actually make a profit” are you stupid really then why wouldn’t wall street be throwing every penny they had at these assets. The truth is they suck and you jerks are trying to add credit cards and car loans into the mix and don’t forget overseas investors. Where is the money for the American people? You politicians all suck and have zero clue what the people want, you just vote what you feel they need, like you know better. Have fun in your retirement because as your people learn the truth about this bill you will not be back.
• Rob Nel says:

  September 30, 2008 at 11:12 am

  It seems to me that the vast majority of Americans do not want a bailout. These are normal average everyday hardworking people who do not have vast amounts of money in stock markets if any at all. They did not max out on their home equity line of credit or default on their mortgages. They are also not in the market to borrow money for a new car or any other major purchase. So who is this bailout for?
• Angler says:

  September 30, 2008 at 2:13 pm

  I usually call Congressman Miller’s office often on issues but did not on this one, because I do not know enough about it, nor can I find out much about it. How do did we get in this mess? When did it start and what people are responsible? How many of these bad loans are at the low income level, how many were made to non citizens, how many are middle income people trying to move on up, and how much of it is due to fat cats on wall street with obscene severance packages? What institutions are holding the bad paper, and how much? Where is the bail out money going and who will be our watchdog? Who in Washington was responsible for creating this mess? The same people who will get up out of it?
  Until we have this information, it is difficult to discuss it, let alone vote on it.
• Kathi says:

  September 30, 2008 at 7:56 pm

  Please.

  The Register’s comments on how to deal with the situation sound like just plain old good sound financial principles.

  As near as I can understand what the bailout is supposed to do is that it will keep credit flowing freely. But it seems that too freely flowing credit is a big part of the problem.

  this is true of banks, individuals, govts. I’m reading that some banks aren’t hurting because they were not leveraged (using debt a lot) like the ones the didn’t survive or are in trouble.

  Sure spending may slow and it may be tough as business may go down some, etc. But what I read about the effects of this not passing, sounds like something that needs to happen. Credit needs to tighten with companies, govt and individuals not being so over-extended.

  Like the Register said, pay down debt, etc. While there may be some pain in the short term, we will all be stronger financially in the end if we all learn to not depend on debt so much, but to keep a margin of cash.

  The old, if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it should be the rule. Individuals and companies get in trouble when they don’t leave a cushion of money to allow for downturns.

  And yeah, I emailed him also to vote no. Maybe I’ll try sending another email to be more specific.

  And even if he and some others are right that in the end the govt may make money, we need changes in the behavior that led to this whole mess and the bailout seems to be all about just enabling more borrowing.
• Michael says:

  October 3, 2008 at 10:27 am

  Rep. Miller is a complete sellout. He needs to be voted out at the next opportunity. Even though he ‘represents’ the 42nd District, he has no intention of voting with the majority of his constituents. He has also been tainted by a number of corruption scandals. His arguments for this bailout don’t even make sense. It’s clear he is doing the bidding of his corporate masters.