Miller Defends Lobbying Stances
By Chris L. Jenkins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 9, 2006; Page B01
Harris Miller saw the future of American industry, and it was based on global cooperation.
So as a lobbyist for an information technology trade association, Miller trekked to Capitol Hill, arguing for the international interests of industry heavyweights such as Oracle and Microsoft and actively supporting legislation like the Northern American and Central American free trade agreements that loosened trade barriers.
But as Miller heads toward Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary against former Navy secretary James Webb, his support for a borderless trade world has gotten him into trouble with a key portion of the Democratic base: unions. Leaders for several sectors of the labor movement have blasted Miller positions that they say have hurt U.S. workers.
The union leaders have gone after Miller for his stewardship of the Information Technology Association of America, saying the organization played a crucial role in opposing restrictions on outsourcing.
They also have criticized comments he made before a congressional subcommittee in 2003, when he was asked to discuss the effects of sending American high-tech jobs overseas: "Outsourcing -- rather than trying to build and retain a substantial in-house capability -- remains the most effective strategy for conducting a wide variety of IT operations."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/08/AR2006060801650.html