Joe Miller says he received Medicaid
U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller said today that in the past his family received assistance from federal Medicaid and Denali KidCare, the state low income health care program. His write-in opponent, Lisa Murkowski, called him a hypocrite for taking the assistance while now saying federal entitlement programs are unconstitutional.
The Miller campaign for the past week-and-a-half did not answer when asked what low income assistance he received. But Miller today answered the question when asked by reporters after a debate, saying he considers it a distraction but people are entitled to know.
"I have the same sort of struggles in my past that other people have had. There is a proper role for government. The question is, who controls the power, is at the federal level or the state level? It's our perspective that the state is the best arbiter, the state is the best point at which we make those decisions," Miller said.
Miller said he hasn't been on government assistance "for years." He didn't provide a timeline but campaign spokesman said he believes he stopped receiving the benefits in 2002.Miller, who has eight children, said his family received Denali Kid Care, the state program that includes federal Medicaid money.
Miller criticized Murkowski in June during the Republican primary for supporting Denali Kid Care, some money of which funds abortions.
"As you are aware, just last week the Anchorage Daily News reported that the Denali KidCare Program funded 662 abortions last year. Senator Murkowski has been a champion of this program, voting against the majority of her Republican colleagues for CHIPRA (HR 2) in January of 2009," Miller wrote in a fundraising letter.
Miller said today he was critical of expanding the program, not the program itself. "We've also got a federal government today which is in completely different conditions than it used to be. At the time, I don't know what the deficit was but it certainly was less than half I believe than what it was today," he said.
Miller, when asked what other federal or state low income assistance he received, noted that he received a low-income state hunting and fishing license in 1995.
"That was contingent on two things. That you have low income or that you have a program. That was before Denali KidCare, I think at the time we had three children and one on the way, and I believe it was probably some form of Medicaid program we were on at the time," Miller said.
Murkowski said there was nothing wrong with using government "safety nets."
"What I find so hypocritical about Miller is he has stated repeatedly his opposition to these programs, stating that they are unconstitutional. So if you believe they are unconstitutional then why would you avail yourself of these safety nets.you either walk the talk or you don't."
Miller said what he's talking about is state control of the programs. "That doesn't mean we cut off the programs, that is ultimately a state decision. And I think there is a use, in fact the most effective use is probably those programs that help transition the populations from more of a situation of dependency to one where you can be independently economic.
Like his on-again, off-again buddy Sarah Palin, I think investigative bloggers in Alaska can probably have a field day with this guy. He will be the gift that keeps on giving.
