Club PAC Endorsement in MD-01
Club for Growth PAC Endorses Andrew Harris in Maryland-1
Washington – Today, the Club for Growth PAC endorsed Republican Maryland State Senator Andrew Harris in Maryland’s first congressional district’s Republican primary.
State Senator Andrew Harris has a consistent track record of fighting for limited government and pro-growth policies. Harris led the floor fight against the Wal-Mart Tax bill in the Maryland State Senate and sponsored a repeal of the Maryland inheritance tax (SB 160, 2000). In a demonstration of his principled independence, he voted against 6 out of 9 state budgets (SB 323, HB 935, SB 508, HB 147, AP 03/28/06, HB 50) and sponsored of a constitutional amendment to protect private property rights from eminent domain abuse (AP, 02/21/06). Harris has also won a similar challenge in the past, ousting an incumbent Republican State Senator in a 1998 primary.
In contrast, the incumbent Republican congressman, Wayne Gilchrest, has accumulated a definitively anti-growth record during his sixteen years in Congress. Gilchrest is clearly one of the most economically liberal Republicans in the House of Representatives, ranking 212th on the Club for Growth’s 2006 scorecard and 205th on Citizens Club for Growth’s 2005 scorecard. His long catalogue of anti-growth votes includes:
- Voted for the recent Farm Bill, including a tax hike on foreign companies (RC #756, 07/27/07)
- Voted for a tax hike on oil companies (RC #835, 08/04/07)
- Voted for anti-political free speech proposals, including McCain-Feingold in 2002 and the 527 Reform bill last year (RC #34, 02/14/02) (RC #88, 04/05/06)
- Voted to keep egregious subsidies alive, including those for mohair (RC #383, 07/11/00), sugar (RC #234, 06/08/05), and Viagra (RC #312, 06/24/05), and voted for the massive 2002 Farm bill (RC #123, 05/02/02)
- Routinely votes against the conservative RSC alternative budget (RC #156, 05/18/06).
- Voted for the 2003 Medicare drug bill (RC #669, 11/22/03)
- Voted against an amendment that would restrict eminent domain abuse (RC #477, 09/26/06)
- Voted against all fifty anti-pork amendments this year during the appropriations process (see here)
- Voted to raise the minimum wage (RC #18, 01/10/07)
“Andrew Harris has demonstrated the principles and the leadership skills to fight for limited government and free-market policies in the United States Congress,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “In stark contrast, Rep. Gilchrest’s voting record reflects deep hostility for private enterprise, individual rights, and economic growth. We firmly believe that voters in Maryland’s first congressional district will rally around Andrew Harris’ message of fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and individual freedom.”
PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.
