by Rhonda McBride

9:19 p.m. AKDT, October 8, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

It's been a rough week for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller. After a fundraising visit to Washington, D.C., he returned to Alaska -- and faced a host of questions about his finances and his family's use of government programs.

His critics say his attacks on federal programs like unemployment insurance and the expansion of Denali Kidcare make him a walking contradiction, based on his personal use of those programs.

This week Miller admitted that his family has used a state program similar to Denali KidCare, which is partly funded by the federal government.

"At the time, we had three children and one on the way," Miller said. "I believe it was some form of a Medicaid program, same thing as Denali KidCare. I don't have anything to hide -- it's what, 15, 16 years ago?"

Earlier this week, a blogger revealed that Miller's wife Kathleen received unemployment for a short period of time while she clerked for him when he was a federal magistrate.

"Kathleen paid into the system -- it's a contractual arrangement, again, I think, best administered and controlled by the state," Miller said.

Miller says his wife began to collect unemployment after federal policy changed and barred magistrates from hiring family members.

This week Miller was accused of nepotism, but says what he did was perfectly legal because most magistrates juggle the part-time jobs in court with their private practice.

"It was the common practice of that particular court and other part-time judges throughout the nation to have family members work in their office, and also work as a magistrate judge clerk," Miller said.

Miller has also been criticized for applying for a low-income hunting license in 1994, after buying a home in Anchorage and earning a salary at a prestigious law firm.

"I've got a student loan of some significance that's still being paid; the fact of the matter is, I used to be a poor college student," Miller said.

"I find it incredibly hypocritical," said Miller's Republican opponent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is running a write-in campaign. "Now I would never fault anyone for availing themselves of the various safety nets we have in place, whether it's unemployment compensation or Denali KidCare. But the statements Miller has made about these programs and about the constitutionality of them, and then to use them -- if they're good enough for his family but they're not good enough for other families, I really question that."

Murkowski's campaign is also raising questions about Miller's financial disclosures, which were filed several months late. Both Murkowski's campaign and that of Democrat Scott McAdams met the deadline.

Miller says the delayed filing was an oversight that he’s since fixed. But now that his forms are available to the public, his critics are raising questions about the amount of debt he's carrying.

The forms don't ask for specific amounts, instead asking the candidate to check a range of dollars. On credit card debt, Miller checked a box for between $35,000 and $80,000. He also indicated that his student loans were between $15,000 and $50,000, and listed a personal loan to his campaign between $100,000 and $200,000.

If a candidate's credit card debt is below $10,000, disclosure is not required. Neither Murkowski nor McAdams reported credit card debt.   

A report filed earlier this year with the Federal Elections Commission says Miller loaned himself just over $100,000.

At Kriner's Diner in Anchorage, it's easy to find Miller supporters who say this week's news doesn't bother them.

"I think you can find things about anybody, if you dig deep enough -- probably about Lisa too," said Miller supporter Marie Beatty.

"This is that time of the year when they drag out all the little dirty monkeys in the closet," said Miller supporter Andy Kriner. "I'm sure you can find dirt on every walking person on earth; I haven't heard anything substantial at all."

The McAdams campaign is also raising questions about the inconsistencies between Miller's life and his statements during the campaign.

Miller says there are no contradictions in what he's said and done, and blames the news media for misrepresenting his views. Miller says he's repeatedly expressed his support for government programs like unemployment, so long as they're managed and controlled by the state, but says this doesn't get reported.

Contact Rhonda McBride at rmcbride@ktuu.com