Greg Miller
US Air Force (separated)
Democrat
BloomfieldElected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
As representative, I'll listen to all residents. My opponent often ignores the needs of voters in the 32nd District, in favor of the special interests that fund her. Representatives must work for the good of all, not just the wealthy. I will work to ensure that the benefits of government are shared fairly. After years of one-party rule, new approaches are needed. Average taxpayers spend billions, yet rarely see the benefits. Cuts to healthcare and education must be restored and property tax burdens reduced. I am a young candidate, bringing new energy. My background as an Eagle Scout and five years in the Air Force taught me to act with integrity, with a spirit of service. No one will worker harder for the 32nd District.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The top issue in District 32 is the over-reliance on property tax. This affects many government services and is most harmful to public school funding. Under the last sixteen years of one-party rule the legislature has negligently allowed school funding to lag, harming children’s educations and putting extreme fiscal pressure on homeowners, small businesses and school boards. My proposal is to remove private school funding from property tax rolls. Vouchers should be funded from general revenue, if at all. Public schools would be allowed to keep current funding when private schools are removed, closing funding gaps. This would ensure that progressive income tax rates fund private benefits, not regressive property taxes. Furthermore, public and private schools should be funded equally in all areas.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Power in the Legislature is too concentrated. The speaker’s control over the legislative agenda and committee appointments stifles legislation that the majority of Wisconsinites support, causing public frustration and undermining people’s faith in government. There needs to be mechanisms in place to allow bills with sufficient support to move efficiently and increase public participation. One way to do that is to allow more public hearings on bills. Not only does this reduce the ability of the speaker to manipulate the agenda, hearings allow the public a greater opportunity to see the legislative process and to participate in it. Wisconsin was historically one of the first states to champion open government and must be so again.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
I take pride that during the Civil War, the Wisconsin second, sixth, and eight regiments made up a majority of the highly coveted Iron Brigade. This brigade defended against Stonewall Jackson at the second battle of Bull Run, and stood its ground at the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. Later in the war the Iron Brigade took part in the Overland Campaign and the siege of Petersburg that destroyed Robert Lee's Army of the Potomac.