To Aaron Miller, the federal government’s top priority should be to gets its fiscal house in order.

“Washington needs to live within its means,” the Byron resident said.

Miller spoke with two Austin residents during a meet-and-greet at the Austin Public Library Wednesday afternoon. He announced his candidacy Tuesday in Rochester for the U.S. House of Representatives, and for the Minnesota Congressional District 1 seat now occupied by incumbent Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., of Mankato.

He visited Albert Lea, stopping at the Tribune, before heading to Austin.

Miller said one way for the government to save money would be cutting down on wasteful spending in every one of its departments. As a command sergeant major in the Army Reserves, Miller said he saw wasteful spending in the military. Going over costs line by line, every department could find a place to save money.

Miller also said wanted to see more control given to small governments and less sweeping, nationwide regulation.

“Allowing local government and state to find solutions to the problems within their state is a much better way than allowing the federal government to,” he said.

The Affordable Care Act, often referred to as “Obamacare,” is an example of a law that Miller said takes a blanketing approach to an issue too diverse for a single law to cover.

“I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer,” he said. “There’s a reason we have 50 states.”

While Miller said there were a couple of points about the new law that made sense, such as allowing children to stay on their parents’ health plans until age 26, President Barack Obama’s administration pushed the act through too quickly. It needs further discussion and clarification, he said.

“It’s not quite ready for prime time,” he said. “What was in it was basically vague language.”

One Austin woman asked that Miller’s staff be available to answer the questions of his constituents if he were to be elected.

“If I contact your office with a problem, I would like your staff to be knowledgeable,” she said. “I want a specific answer to those questions.”

Miller agreed, saying he wanted to stay connected to his constituents and not get grounded in Washington.

“I don’t plan on being a multi-term politician,” he said.

Miller said it’s important to get fresh opinions in Congress, and questioned Walz’s upcoming run for his fifth term at the 2014 election.

In the meantime, Miller said he will abide by the Republican Party’s endorsement when it is given in spring next year — unlike 2012 candidate Allen Quist. Miller faces Mike Benson, a state representative from Rochester; Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth, the son of son of former Congressman Tom Hagedorn; Quist, a St. Peter farmer and professor, and Randy Demmer, a Hayfield farmer and business owner.

Miller points to his private sector experience — as an account manager with more than 15 years of experience in the health care industry — as what qualifies him as a good candidate.

Miller serves as a command sergeant major in the Army Reserves and has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa. He lives in Byron with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Abigail and Emily.