As you already know, Nothern Virginia IT lobbyist Harris Miller (pictured to the left with Sen. George Allen - preparing for a debate? ha ha) announced yesterday as a contender for US Senate from Virginia. He filed papers with the FEC and launched his website, while speaking broadly of "the future" and of "reach[ing] across party lines and reach[ing] common-sense solutions." He also attacked George Allen, rightfully, for not being serious about serving out his Senate term if he's re-elected. According to Miller:
I'm committing to serve six years in the Senate. Clearly, George Allen has other things on his mind. I don't think there are too many people in New Hampshire who can vote for him in November.
Great line, and please keep going after Allen! There's so much material to use, it's not even funny. But now, I'd like to know more about your views on the issues, Mr. Miller. For starters, I've got 10 questions that I'm really curious about:
1) What's your current position on H1-B visas, which you strongly lobbied for while head of the ITAA? How do you respond to people who say that the purpose of these visas is to bring cheap labor into the U.S. labor market, thus "weaken[ing[ American programmers' and engineers' bargaining power via-a-vis their employers?"
2) What's your position on outsourcing of Federal Government jobs, and specifically the controversial A-76 program?
3) What is your position on personal privacy and individual rights during the "war on terror?" Specifically, what do you think about the use of techniques like "data mining" and biometrics?
4) Did you support the invasion of Iraq? Do you think that the Bush Administration lied or exaggerated the threat from Saddam Hussein to take us into ths war? What do you believe we should do at this point?
5) What is your position on "life" issues - abortion, the death penalty, "Terry Schiavo" cases?
6) Given America's huge budget deficit, would you be willing to roll back some or all of President Bush's huge tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations?
7) As a long-time lobbyist yourself, what would you do to fix the culture of corruption in Washington DC, and would you support strong lobbying reforms, including stiff jail time and other penalties for those who break the law?
8) What is your position on "free trade?" Do you believe the World Trade Organization, along with trade deals like CAFTA and NAFTA, are working well or should be amended? Do you believe that "free trade" is truly "free?"
9) What is your view of Samuel Alito, President Bush's nominee for the US Supreme Court?
10) On the environment, what specifically would you do to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, stop global warming, and reverse the loss of habitat and biodiversity on our planet?
Thank you very much for answering these questions, Mr. Miller. I'm sure that many Virginians besides myself would love to hear your responses.
P.S. One "bonus round" question: what is the deal with that picture of you and George Allen, anyway?