Harris Miller's ITAA

From 1997-2000 Harris Miller had the following three positions at the ITAA

President
Treasurer of PAC
#1 Donor

In that time frame Harris donated 48% of the ITAA income.  In addition as Treasurer/President we can assume Harris had a lot of imput into how the money was spent.  Here's how it went out in the frame:

Republicans $10,000 (88%)
Democrats   $1,350    (12%)

This PAC is starting to look like a vehicle for Harris Miller to donate to the Republican Party.

For the 2001-2002 cycle, Harris Miller was still President, Treasurer and #1 personal donor.  That period he gave 27% of the total income, and it was spent as follows:

Republicans $10,036 (93%)
Democrats    $750     (7%)

Finally in the 2003-2004 cycle, Harris Miller did not report donating any money to the PAC.  However, in this time frame it was still mainly spending money given before, as it donated over four times the amount of money that it had incoming during this period, so some of the money being spent was still from Harris.  He was also still President and Treasurer at this time.  The breakdown:

Republicans $8,000 (86%)
Democrats $1,250 (14%)

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In total Harris Miller donated 34% of the ITAA PAC income, and the breakdown of spending was as follows:

Republicans $28,036 (89%)
Democrats $3,350 (11%)

Comments

What's going on? What's the alert about?

[Fan of Integrity]

Woah

[NoVA Democrat]

"Mark Warner Democrat" my butt...

The republicans are in power, thats who lobbyists spend their money on... the people who can make a difference. This is stupid....

[Dannyboy]

Anon 4:25

Yeah, but that money you use to effect who's in power is the very same money that KEEPS THEM IN POWER.

[LeftBehindChild]

Anon 4:25,

You want to see what ITAA's money and lobbying efforts got Harris? Check out DisgustedDem's comment in DanG's front page diary on RaisingKaine.com. If you still think how Harris spent his money is okay, then more power to you. You're able to overlook a lot more unethical behavior than I am.

[Fan of Integrity]

Yes - the republicans were in power - and yes - they were passing legislation through Congress imperative to the success of outshoring and outsourcing.

At the urging of who? Harris Miller

Disgusting

[J.C. Wilmore]

Harris Miller was Tom DeLay's bitch.

[not staige blackford]

who did miller endorse in the 2000 us senate race?

[Dannyboy]

More importantly:

Has a Harris Miller
endorsement ever changed anybody's mind?

J.C., play nice. :)
You should read my piece on RK, bud. You'd like it.

[not staige blackford]

I hope webbs endorsement of allen didn't swing a few percent in 2000 and cost dems this seat....

[Dannyboy]

Probably not, NSB. I would highly doubt that. Did it change a few minds? Eh...maybe. But did it swing the election 4%? No way. He would've had to change 108,733 votes that season.

[Free Byrd]

I knew I liked Miller for a reason, he donates to the good guys!!

On another note, I recently met a "former republican" that was collecting signatures for Webb in Roanoke. I wonder if he was really a former republican, or if that is what the Webb people have their volunteers saying to open conversation with potential signers. I signed it, but not as Free Byrd.

[LeftBehindChild]

Actually, Free Byrd, if it's the person I think it was that asked you for the signature in Roanoke, it's true. He was a Republican activist for many years. He came to the light a number of years ago.

Perhaps more interesting to me, however, is that the most active Webb signature getter in my area, which is Virginia Beach, is a recent convert to the Democratic Party. A retired Navy captain, who worked on McCain's primary campaign in 2000. He's completely over the Republican Party and has gotten a lot of support for Webb from other lifelong Republican vets. This guy really thinks that Webb is going to take a huge number of military folks with him into the Democratic Party. Hope he's right. If he is, then Virginia will definitely be in the blue column.

[Info_Tech_Guy]

"This guy really thinks that Webb is going to take a huge number of military folks with him into the Democratic Party"

Don't you think that many in the military and vets aren't quite angry and dissatisfied with the conduct of the Iraq war? Even some of the neocons are trying to back themselves out of responsibility for this misadventure. See Fukuyama's piece in the NYT, for example. The fact is that some in the military and out now see this war as disastrous for our military readiness. The real question I have is how many hold this belief.

[James Young]

Well, this might be the nicest thing you've ever written about Harris Miller, Ben. ;-)

[LeftBehindChild]

ITG, I don't just think there are a lot of people upset with the conduct of the war, I know there are. In my neck of the woods, people are very upset about it because they've been there or are headed there. I had friend killed there a few days after Christmas. People aren't happy in Hampton Roads. The real question is whether these people who are so disillusioned will decide to make a permament home in the Democratic Party or whether they will vote for Webb but continue to consider themselves disillusioned Republicans. The man I'm talking about thinks it's going to be the former. I'm not placing any bets, but I hope he's right. That said, these people aren't going to follow Miller anywhere.

[Thegools]

NLS,
I commend that research. Where did you get the info and will you tell us a break down of what candidates were supported by this large chunk of money? I am guessing there were some very anti-Democrats in the bunch.

Clearly the life long Dem label doesn't stick. I am glad others are starting to see it. Miller is the entire reason I was one of the early proponents of drafting Webb.

Miller's actions speak louder than his words, and he has acted quite a lot....a pretty uncouth and murky guy.

[not staige blackford]

you're missing my point, dannyboy. let's focus on something real: what's the money race for the first quarter going to look like?

[this is sad]

Another great non-story

[Fan of Integrity]

Definitely a relevant, informative story.

[Riley, Not O'Reilly]

Okay, as someone who works for a trade association and runs its PAC, I have some insight here.

First, any trade association that represents business interests is going to be heavily tilted toward the GOP. Second, the most Miller can give to the PAC is $5,000 per year. Third, ITAA has a rinky dink PAC (the one I run does $600K+ per cycle compared to ITAA's top cycle of just over $11K), so they have to use their funds judiciously to advance the interests of their membership. Fourth, their giving is most likely determined by a group of the association's members, not necessarily Miller.

This stuff is pretty small potatoes compared to the amounts and percentages that Miller has given personally.