Joe Miller Says Unemployment Benefits Are Unconstitutional, Struggles To Say How He Would Deal With

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Joe Miller Says Unemployment Benefits Are Unconstitutional, Struggles To Say How He Would Deal With Poverty (VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/19/joe-miller-alaska-poverty-unemployment-unconstitutional_n_730710.html



In an interview today with "Fox News Sunday," Alaska GOP Senate nominee Joe Miller had trouble explaining how he would help the 43.6 million Americans in poverty, even as host Chris Wallace repeatedly pressed him for more than conservative talking points.

Wallace asked Miller about his assertion in August on CBS's "Face the Nation" that unemployment benefits are unconstitutional, noting that without them, many more Americans would be in poverty. "What would you do for them?" asked Wallace.

Miller, however, struggled to come up with an answer, and instead shifted to talking points about reducing the size of the federal government. Wallace repeatedly pressed him on the issue, without ever receiving an actual response:

MILLER: I think the question is what is the role of the federal government? Right now we've grown the federal government into such a size we have, I think we have, what -- in absolute terms now, $13.4 trillion in debt. If you look at the future unfunded obligation, a lot of those are the entitlement programs, by some estimates $130 trillion. That is unsustainable. That's just the facts. And I think Americans recognize that those are the facts. The exciting thing is Americans are looking for answers. Alaskans are looking for answers. Here in Alaska, 40 percent of our economy in Alaska is somewhat derived from the federal government. If we continue say things have to continue the way they are, the expansion from the government which is unconstitutional in many ways is the future, it's a dead-end road. Particularly for this state, because of the impending bankruptcy --

WALLACE: Mr. Miller, if I may, I'm not sure you answered my question. Why are unemployment benefits unconstitutional? In the time of a tough economy, recession, and now kind of a jobless recovery, what are you going to do for the 44 million people who are living in poverty?

MILLER: I think what you need to look at is the context. We had an extension of unemployment benefits several weeks ago, which is beyond what we had in the past in this country. What we have in this country is an entitlement mentality. Entitlement, not just as individual but even at the state level. If all goes wrong, it's the federal government's role to get in there and provide for the general welfare and provide for solvency; particularly, of states and the auto companies, and the banks. Everything else that fails, the government should be involved in bailing out. The Constitution provides enumerated powers. I guess my challenge is to anybody that asks, show me the enumerated power. And then look at the 10th amendment that says if it's not done in the Constitution, it's a power that belongs to the state and the people. And I think we as a people need to stop being disingenuous about what the Constitution provides for. It does not provide for this all-encompassing power that we've seen exercised for last several decades. It's what got us in the bankrupt position.

[still_one]

1. So I assume if we used this in a campaign ad, faux would sue us? /nt

[Ikonoklast]

2. This guy speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

There are lots of things that the Federal Government does that aren't specifically stated in the Constitution, and this "States Rights" dumbass knows it. These things have been adjudiacated as legal by the SC, and no amount of blathering nonsense to his loony base will change that fact.

But if he wants to stop Federal help to the states, we can always start with his state, and see how long he lasts as any type of politician.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Social Security, unemployment benefits, medicare, and the New Health Care bill...

come under Article I, section 8 of the U. S. Constitution.
"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

[badgolfer]

4. less government

I hear Palin, Miller, Angle, and some Republican governors in the Republican party yelping about big government. Okay, let us start sizing down the Federal Government by cutting 'ALL' Federal aid to their States. Alaska is the biggest pig feeding off Federal aid and they are the biggest complainers.

I had this argument with my BIL and suggested decreasing the farm bill of which he benefits. He hasn't emailed me since with this crap.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

5. Another "I got mine, so screw everybody else" -er...........

No real shocker there. I guess I'm getting to the point where I'm surprised when someone actually has a SYMPATHETIC position to the impoverished in this country.

[madrchsod]

6. that poor boy needs a shave.....

[Turbineguy]

7. And if you do 6 years in the Senate

it's unlikely you will ever need "to go on unemployment".

Fuck you Joe, I got mine too.

[wisteria]

8. This is all these Tea Party candidates are all about-sound good talking points.

There is no thought or substance beyond the point. I hope the media starts doing there job and start presenting the emptiness of these candidates-and that includes Palin.

[SmileyRose]

9. Does he think the FDIC is unconstitutional too?

The federal government stepped in and bailed out the unemployment insurance programs because massive job failure meant the claims exceeded the reserves. If there was a massive bank failure they'd have to do the same thing for the FDIC.

I wonder if Joe believes in trashing EVERYTHING backed by the full faith and power of the federal government. If so then he favors shutting the doors of every financial institution of every sort in this country.