Joe Miller, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska, supports reform in government contracting programs for tribes, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Miller, an attorney who has the backing of the Tea Party movement, said the program should benefit Native shareholders. He wants corporations to put their own people to work instead of handing out business to other companies

"You scratch your head and wonder, is this really helping?" Miller said at a candidate forum, The Anchorage Daily News.

Scott McAdams, the Democratic candidate, said the program is working as intended. "I think it's important that we pause and recognize both the great wealth and great opportunities that have been generated through the 8(a) program," he said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who is running as a write-in candidate, said the program is helping Alaska Natives. "We need to make sure when we're talking about government contracting, we get the value that we had intended," she said.

Get the Story:
Senate candidates' first joint apperance (The Anchorage Daily News 10/8)

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