In recent votes and a press release, Congressman Andy Harris continues to demonstrate his eagerness to leave millions of Americans hungry, to support a big government takeover of a woman’s body, and to falsely implicate the White House in the IRS scandal.
In voting yes on the recent Farm Bill, which was mercifully defeated, Harris voted to cut $33 billion from the Food Stamp (SNAP) program, which would have eliminated food assistance to two million people, most working families and seniors. The program, which was created by a bipartisan majority in the 70’s (sponsored by Bob Dole and George McGovern), has served as a powerful boon to economic recovery since its inception. Harris and other conservatives wanted to toughen work requirements for SNAP recipients, but at the same time would slash funding for training programs. Its defeat, according to the Washington Post, was a “moral imperative”, also noting that several GOP lawmakers voting against farm subsidies have actually received such subsidies. The Post excoriates Harris and those who voted yes guilty of “a shockingly cruel attitude toward the poor.”
In voting yes on the abortion ban, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks, Harris subscribed to an unproven medical theory that fetuses can feel pain. Moreover, victims of rape and incest must report these assaults to criminal authorities, but there is no provision for exceptions to women with severe fetal anomalies or situations where a women’s health is threatened by pregnancy. Incredibly, those GOP lawmakers who advanced the bill out of the Judiciary Committee were all men, led by Republican Chair Trent Franks’ comment that “the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy is very low,” a breathtaking falsehood that Harris seems to support, and reminds us of Todd Akins’ “legitimate rape” gaffe.
By voting yes, Harris, who should know better, continues, according to Democratic Representative Louise Slaughter, “to tell women what they can and cannot do, despite what the constitution (Roe v. Wade) tells them they can do.” Rather than focus on creating jobs, something Harris only pays lip service to, he believes it’s more important to support an unconstitutional abortion ban or repeal Obamacare 37 times, both a colossal waste of taxpayer money.
And finally (for now), a June 22 press release from Harris excoriates the waste of money in the Prince Georges and Baltimore City Schools (in itself very debatable) by putting them in the context of the IRS scandal, blaming the IRS division for “wasting hard-earned tax dollars and refusing to take responsibility for wrongdoing.” I don’t know where the myopic Harris gets his information, but no “wrongdoing” has been proved, in fact quite the opposite. GOP Oversight Chair Darrell Issa has tried to cherry-pick the evidence to support a pre-conceived conclusion, but full transcripts have proven his (surprise!) mendacity. And we now know, according to new IRS Head Danny Werfel, that not only Tea Party groups were targeted, but liberal groups with “Occupy” or “Progressive” in their titles, and that there has been no White House involvement at any stage.
Harris’ lunar ideology and complete disregard of evidence that does not suit his arguments is common knowledge, and even Republicans are tiring of him. His votes against the Violence Against Women Act, against Hurricane Sandy funding in his own district, and willingness to send the country into default are but a few examples of his irresponsibility. He needs to know that we are watching as he conducts his War on Women and the Poor, and we’ll remember in 2014.
Fred Patt says
Andy Harris acts as if he represents the national conservative movement, not Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Stephan Sonn says
He just acts out on us mortals.
Mike Hunt says
I have had my misgivings with Harris and continue to do so, but this op-ed is factually wrong and as such, grossly unfair. 1) The cuts to the food stamp program were not $33 billion, but $20 billion over 10 years. That cut is in keeping with the waste, fraud, and abuse the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found in the program; 2) Of course the abortion bill did not contain an exception for the health or life of the mother; none is necessary. Those exceptions are already required by law, including Constitutional law (and were so even before Roe v. Wade); 3) Mr. Calkins should listen to what the IRS Inspector General says and be a bit less sloppy with the facts (at least as the non-partisan investigators have laid them out): while a list of words indicating heightened scrutiny has been released–which includes words like “progressive”–no liberal groups were in fact targeted. The list is thus a red herring. Finally, 4) Harris–I assume Mr. Calkins knows–sponsored a bill for Hurricane Sandy relief. It just wasn’t loaded up with pork and spending which won’t even occur until four years from now when it is no longer needed. I happened to like Frank Kratovil, but I hate these hatchet-job screeds even more.
Keith Thompson says
I’m not a fan of Andy Harris either but I agree with your post. To add…I’ve interviewed Andy Harris on several occasions and I have found that he has pretty much represented the district based on what he has campaigned on. Nothing he has done should be much of a surprise.
gilbert watson says
We who live in the First District really need him defeated. Who does he THINK he represents?
Mike Hunt says
If you want a competitive 1st District, you should start by defeating the Democrats in Annapolis who control redistricting and decided to gerrymander the state and destroy all possibility of competitive districts.
Keith Thompson says
One ultimate irony here is that the Eastern Shore is represented by a Western Shore Republican and his chief opponent was a Western Shore Democrat who dropped out of the race due to voter fraud. There were Eastern Shore candidates who lost in the primaries which perhaps reveals exactly how little representation the Eastern Shore has in what is supposed to be their Congressional district.
The other ultimate irony is that there was a Congressional candidate from the Eastern Shore who was ON THE BALLOT and didn’t drop out due to voter fraud; and yet the only Upper Shore media outlet I know of who talked about him and reached out to talk to him was WCTR.
Ultimately Andy Harris represents the people who vote for him. If you don’t have the political clout to offer a viable alternative, complaining is the only option you have (an observation that applies in a offsetting ways to the state senator and delegates in the 36th).
Mike Hunt says
We have the political clout to have viable alternatives: 1) there was a ballot initiative a few months ago to throw out the redistricting which made the 1st and 6th Districts uncompetitive, just as the previous round did the same to the 2nd and 8th. The Washington Post called Maryland’s redistricting something like the most corrupt of all the states. That initiative failed; I hope all the complainers both signed up for it to be on the ballot as well as came out to vote for it. 2) We still have the political clout to have viable alternatives: Democrats. Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, etc. could march to Annapolis and demand redistricting reforms like non-partisan or judicially drawn districts which either increase competition or hew to geographic lines as closely as possible. If you don’t like Harris, complain to the Democrats in Annapolis. Who do you think THEY represent (their machine or the people)?
Keith Thompson says
Mike, your last sentence says it all. Harris is a product of the system and who controls the system?