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Emily Miller

Emily Miller

Emily Miller is senior editor of opinion for The Washington Times. She is the author of “Emily Gets Her Gun … But Obama Wants to Take Yours” (Regnery 2013). Miller won the 2012 Clark Mollenhoff Award for Investigative Reporting from the Institute on Political Journalism.

Articles by Emily Miller

** FILE ** President Barack Obama pauses during a news conference, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, in the White House briefing room in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MILLER: Firing back at gun control

The Obama administration's anti-gun agenda, which has been sneaking into the federal bureaucracy in recent years, was blasted by Congress last week. Republicans used the $1 trillion omnibus bill for 2012 to shoot back at the sneaky use of federal funds for gun control. Published December 22, 2011

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, wants to add almost $7 billion in disaster aid to a temporary funding bill crafted to avert a government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. (Associated Press)

MILLER: Senate’s silent night

Silent Hill. Harry's left. All is dark - Senate side. The House voted simultaneously on Tuesday to disagree with the Senate two-month extension legislation for the payroll-tax holiday and send both chambers' versions to a conference committee to negotiate a final deal. Published December 20, 2011

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio tells reporters on Capitol Hill on Sept. 22, 2011, that there will not be a government shutdown despite the failure of the continuing resolution on the previous day. (Associated Press)

MILLER: A Christmas political pageant

All a Democrat wants for Christmas is a two-month deal. A two-month deal. Republicans want a full year. The payroll-tax holiday is set to expire in 11 days, but on Saturday, the Senate evaded its responsibility by giving Americans a break only until the end of February. President Obama has asked repeatedly for another year of this toothless tax cut but switched to these shenanigans to buy himself extra time in the election year to campaign against a dysfunctional Congress. House Republicans won't bite. Published December 19, 2011

House Speaker John Boehner (center), Ohio Republican, flanked by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (left), Texas Republican, and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, briefs reporters Dec. 16, 2011, on Capitol Hill after lawmakers from both political parties came together on an 11th-hour deal to keep the government from shutting down. (Associated Press)

MILLER: Inside the 1,200-page omnibus

Congressional Republican leaders are crowing that they cut discretionary spending in the ginormous omnibus spending bill. In fact, spending will go up in 2012 because of smoke-and-mirrors budget games that have become commonplace on Capitol Hill. A 1,200-page piece of legislation filed late the night before the vote continues to be the unfortunate way politicians operate. Published December 16, 2011

** FILE ** President Barack Obama pauses during a news conference, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, in the White House briefing room in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MILLER: Obama wants to steal Christmas

It was the week before Christmas, and all through the House and Senate, no approps bills were stirring, not even a cut. That's because President Obama, the political Grinch who stole Christmas, cares more about winning a political game than doing the people's business. Published December 15, 2011

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, wants to add almost $7 billion in disaster aid to a temporary funding bill crafted to avert a government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. (Associated Press)

MILLER: Harry’s blockage

Taxes for everyone are set to go up on New Year's Day, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid won't allow a vote to keep this from happening. Nine of the 12 annual appropriations bills expire on Friday night, and the Nevada Democrat refuses to bring them up for a vote, leaving open the possibility of a partial government shutdown. Mr. Reid wants Republicans to look like obstructionists, but he's the one saying "no" to everything. Published December 14, 2011

President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper appeared in front of reporters Dec. 7, 2011, to answer questions after meeting at the White House about border issues, including the Keystone oil pipeline project. (Associated Press) **FILE**

MILLER: Obama’s Keystone cop-out

President Obama has done everything in his power to keep oil from flowing through the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada says this $13 billion project would put 20,000 to work immediately, but the Obama administration wants none of it. House Republicans have come up with a clever strategy to get around the blockage. Published December 12, 2011

"There has been some progress ... and a lot of it has to do with fencing, with increased border patrol agents. [But] the Tucson area is still in disarray," Rep. Benjamin Quayle said on "America's Morning News." (Associated Press)

EDITORIAL: Make congressional pensions passe

A public-pension crisis is looming, and something must be done. Federal, state and local government employees enjoy cushy retirements compared to the rest of Americans - all at taxpayer expense. Rank-and-file members in the House of Representatives want to see reform, and they're starting with their own pensions. Published December 9, 2011

** FILE ** U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (center), Kentucky Republican, listens to Kentucky Senate President David Williams as state House Speaker Greg Stumbo sits at left before their testimony before a state Senate committee in Frankfort, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. All three spoke in support of a bill that would require a prescription for certain cold medicines because of their use in making methamphetamine. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

MILLER: Congress’ year-long sit-in

While the rest of the public was enjoying Thanksgiving turkey and kicking off the start of the Christmas shopping season, the federal government put another $237 billion on its limitless credit card. That's Washington's version of austerity. Instead of doing something about the runaway deficits, Capitol Hill is doing everything it can to avoid conflict. Published December 9, 2011

** FILE ** In this June 1, 2011, file photo, House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., listens outside the White House in Washington. It might be time for another midnight ride by Paul Revere, this time warning "the creditors are coming." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

MILLER: Breaking the spending cycle

The United States is going deeper and deeper into debt, and no one in Washington can agree on what to do about it. For over a year now, the federal government has operated off a series of continuing resolutions instead of a long-term, binding budget. Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, wants to repair this broken process. Published December 7, 2011

Then-Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain announces he is suspending his campaign as his wife, Gloria (left), looks on, on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Tulis) ** FILE **

MILLER: Cain’s impact

It was always a long shot to think a businessman could compete head on against career politicians for the highest office in the land. On Monday, Herman Cain told his staff and supporters he was proud of reaching fourth place in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Though his operation is winding down, Mr. Cain's fresh voice retains its lasting impact on the presidential field. Published December 5, 2011

Illustration: Battle worn Tea Party by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

MILLER: Tea Party decline?

A new Pew Research Center survey shows support for the Tea Party has declined both nationally and in the districts represented by the 60 House members of the Tea Party Caucus. Much of this can be attributed to the natural falloff in enthusiasm during a non-election year, but it may also be a sign of disillusionment with their representation in Washington. Published December 2, 2011

GETTY IMAGES Rob Portman, seen here in 2006, is a former congressman and director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Bush (at left). He says he isn't seeking to be presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate this fall. He is more likely to seek the governorship of Ohio in 2010.

MILLER: Hope for a corporate tax fix

The supercommittee went belly-up because Democrats demanded huge tax increases before they would give ground on even the smallest of spending cuts. Hope for corporate tax reform was thought to have died with the failed congressional deficit-reduction body until some of its Republican members revived the plan. Published December 1, 2011

The 2012 budget proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, (left next to Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat) includes additional billions of dollars for defense but at a slower rate of growth. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

MILLER: The waste eraser

Members of Congress, even with supercommittee powers, are incapable of cutting spending. With the public debt growing more and more out of control, something has to be done. So House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, joined his ranking member, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, in reviving the idea of a line-item veto on Wednesday. Published November 30, 2011

Rep. Barney Frank arrives Monday at Newton, Mass., City Hall, where he announced he would not seek re-election in 2012. The Democrat was first elected in 1980. (Associated Press)

MILLER: Nancy Pelosi’s office without a view

Less than a year ago, Rep. Nancy Pelosi was forced to move across the second floor hall of the Capitol, leaving behind the magnificent speaker's balcony that overlooks the National Mall. With the possibility of retaking control of the House of Representatives growing more remote by the day, the California Democrat will have to get used to the east-front view of parked cars and the visitors' center entrance as her Democratic colleagues abandon ship. Published November 29, 2011

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta (left) and Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (The Washington Times)

MILLER: Defense on the chopping block

The supercommittee was unable last week to agree on a plan to pay for the next trillion to be added to our $15 trillion debt. That failure triggers a sequestration mechanism that hits the Pentagon harder than any other part of our bloated federal government. Published November 28, 2011

Illustration: The stimulus box by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times.

MILLER: We need a holiday from stimulus

When it comes to solutions to our economic woes, President Obama has a plan. Unfortunately, it's the same stimulus that proved to be a failure in 2009. Mr. Obama's latest scheme is to pay for another year of payroll-tax holiday by hiking taxes on small businesses and investors. He's wasting both the American people's and Congress' time by campaigning for a proposal he knows can't pass. Published November 26, 2011

Newt Gingrich

MILLER: Newt’s substantive surge

It's no fluke that Newt Gingrich is the front-runner in the Republican presidential primary race. Some in the media credit his surge in the polls to his not being Mitt Romney or say he's picking up Herman Cain's former supporters. It's more than that. The former House speaker is well prepared for his turn in the spotlight. Published November 22, 2011

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (left), Texas Republican, and Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, co-chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, sit together as the supercommittee meets on Capitol Hill on Nov. 1, 2011. (Associated Press)**FILE**

MILLER: Supercommittee success

The supercommittee failed Monday to agree on $1.2 trillion in deficit-reduction measures. This failure happens to be the best outcome given Democratic intransigence on spending. Republicans refused to strike a sham deal that would have given political cover to an unpopular Congress without addressing entitlements, which are the central cause of the debt crisis. Published November 21, 2011

Grover Norquist, president of a taxpayer advocacy group, Americans for Tax Reform, center, meets with a group of millionaires discuss issues related to the debt supercommittee, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

MILLER: Too much moolah, too little sense

President Obama has finally found some people to take him up on the idea of raising taxes on the rich. A small group of millionaires wants to force everyone else to fill government coffers, but don't expect them to chip in themselves. Published November 18, 2011