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WINONA LAKE - Eric Miller believes in lower taxes, school choice and banning abortion and child pornography.
Miller, executive director of Advance America, Indiana's largest pro-life, pro-tax, conservative reform group, shared his views during a luncheon at Westminster Hall Thursday.
He said he is trying to encourage people to get involved in the most important election in 30 or 40 years. He also said that 30 percent of people say it doesn't make any difference who becomes president when, in fact, it makes all the difference.
Advance America's philosophy is "letting the people know the truth and the country will be saved." This philosophy includes two main issues: informing the public and affecting the public, according to Miller's information packet, "Victory in 2000."
Miller started Advance America in November 1980 with only nine other people. The organization now reaches more than 20,000 families, more than 3,400 churches and more than 1,300 businesses, and sends out 750,000 voter guides each general election.
Advance America is non-partisan, Miller said. The issues he discusses are not Republican or Democratic. "In my opinion they are right vs. wrong," said Miller.
"A politician cares about one thing," Miller said. "The next election. A statesman cares about one thing - the next generation."
The issues Miller discussed were: posting the Ten Commandments in schools and businesses, school choice, homosexuality, abortion, child pornography, increased property taxes and wage discrimination.
Miller believes schools and businesses should be allowed to post the Ten Commandments. Advance America managed to push through a bill permitting this during the 2000 legislature, even after the Indiana House of Representatives refused to hear the bill.
On the issue of school choice, Miller believes school competition will bring about excellence. Indiana is one of eight states that doesn't have school choice.
"Parents ought to have the right to choose their children's education," said Miller.
On homosexuality, he said, "I believe homosexuality is a lifestyle that is wrong." He said bills to ban homosexual foster parents did not make it to the floor of the Indiana House or the Senate for a vote in 1999. Miller said this shows it is evident the government supports homosexual foster parents.
"We believe life begins at conception," Miller said about abortion. He said abortion clinics have fewer regulations than veterinary clinics. The state Senate passed a bill in 1999 to mandate abortion clinics having the same health standards as outpatient surgical centers. The House refused even to give the bill a hearing.
When asked to comment on the topic of RU-486, commonly known as the abortion pill, Miller said, "RU-486 is a tragedy. Approving that was disaster."
Miller's view on child pornography is to increase the penalty for possession of such material from a misdemeanor to a felony. This bill passed the state Senate in 2000 by a vote of 47-3 and was killed in the House because it did not receive a hearing.
The bill, drafted by Advance America, will be reintroduced in 2001.
"We just pay too much in taxes," Miller said about the increase in property taxes.
Advance America supports imposing a spending cap on state government. With this cap, government spending could only increase by inflation and population growth. This would permit a substantial and permanent reduction in property taxes.
Miller said Gov. Frank O'Bannon does not support this.
"A spending cap is a straitjacket," said Phil Bremen, the press secretary for O'Bannon, according to Miller.
State Sen. Kent Adams and Rep. Dave Wolkins each spoke briefly at the end of the presentation.
"He (Miller) is probably the most feared lobbyist," Wolkins said. He also stressed the importance of voting.
Adams, too, stressed voting. "I'm not going to tell you how to vote, but be sure you do vote," he said. "Get out and vote because you can make a difference."
Miller's game plan for the 2000 election is: voter registration, information and mobilization.
"In my opinion one person can make a difference and one person must make a difference," said Miller.
