Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 15, 1994 TAG: 9404150093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DAVID REED ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Among the suggestions the Republican hopeful makes: incentive pay for Congress.
``It's not meant tongue-in-cheek,'' Miller, a former federal budget director, said Thursday. ``We have the incentive pay idea in business. If you do well, you make more; if you don't, you don't make as much.
``If members of Congress can get deficit spending under control, can reduce tax rates and can get the economy steaming, then pay them a lot more, it would be a bargain,'' he said.
Miller and Oliver North are vying for the GOP nomination for the seat held by Sen. Charles Robb, a Democrat, who is running for re-election in November.
The Republicans will select a nominee June 4 in Richmond. Democrats pick among Robb and three challengers June 14.
In the 176-page book released Thursday, Miller suggests paychecks for members of Congress and the president be cut in half if they fail to meet budget deadlines.
``Fix the U.S. Budget,'' Miller's eighth book, resembles the Miller campaign - heavier on issues than charisma.
Miller drew contrasts to his opponent's autobiography, ``Under Fire,'' and the Iran-Contra figure's more flamboyant campaign.
``This is a book about problems and how to solve them, not about how I got into trouble and tried to get out of it,'' Miller said, referring to North's explanation of his role in the arms-for-hostage scandal.
After being read excerpts Thursday, North spokesman Dan McClagan said Miller was making him sleepy. ``Do not operate heavy machinery after reading this book,'' he quipped.
The Miller book, with a plain black and white cover, is packed with history and facts, 30 bar charts, footnotes and a long index. There are no pictures.
``There have been too many kiss-and-tell books coming out of Washington,'' Miller said. ``In most any administration, there are people who have taken advantage of their close positions.''
Miller apologizes in the preface for inserting himself into the book, much of which was written at his mountaintop cabin in Greene County. ``Although anecdotal, my own experience is not atypical, and thus in places I have included a modicum of personal material,'' he writes.
North has made a small fortune on his book by buying surplus copies at a low cost and selling them at the door when he makes speeches.
Miller said he is making no royalties and wrote the book published by Hoover Institution Press for free.
But there weren't many who were able to take advantage of his generosity.
Miller drew only nine supporters and only a few media representatives to his news conference in a Roanoke motel.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB