I did not have to check the official record last week to confirm that when the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan compromise to raise the federal debt limit and avoid a default on federal debt, that Andy “Handgun” Harris voted no. I also did not need to hear his explanation for his vote. Donald Trump had already issued his order during the now-infamous CNN New Hampshire Republican Town Hall Meeting on May 10. At that event, Trump called for a default on the federal debt. Harris’ vote was consistent with Trump’s call.
On June 2, like other First District residents who subscribe to Harris’ newsletters, I received a particularly offensive email from Dr. Harris. Our congressman (and my hand shakes as I write that) had the audacity to boast about his irresponsible vote on the recently passed increase in the federal debt ceiling and to tell us that he was doing what we wanted him to do as our representative in Congress. Really?
I do not recall anyone asking Dr. Harris to precipitate a national economic crisis by defaulting on the federal debt.
Consider what Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on May 11 about the consequences of not increasing the debt ceiling, “A default would threaten the gains that we have worked so hard to make over the past few years in our pandemic recovery. And it would spark a global downturn that would set us back much further. It would also risk undermining US global economic leadership and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.”
Does Harris, an anesthesiologist by trade, think Yellen is lying?
Don’t trust a Democratic Treasury Secretary who also served as Federal Reserve Chair? International Monetary Fund economist Filippo Gori told us, “It [a default] would be a spectacular debacle—weakening the U.S. economy and undermining the United States’ international standing.”
Harris’ vote suggests he and the defeated ex-president, who knows a thing or two about defaulting on debts, think they know better than Yellen and Gori. They do not.
What did Harris tell us in his email: “I voted No. [in Red].” He added, “Maryland families and the voters in my district didn’t send me to Washington to write blank checks for the federal government–they sent me to Congress to permanently change the way Washington does business and this includes getting our fiscal house in order.”
First District voters may be conservative, but they did not elect Harris with the intention of collapsing the U.S. economy. One might add that Harris is right that voters do not want Congress to “write blank checks.” Harris does not add that he always votes for tax cuts and against tax increases regardless of the current state of the national debt.
First District voters also did not elect Harris to jeopardize federal programs that many people in his district depend on, things like food assistance, healthcare, aid to schools, and support for improving our roads and bridges.
Harris also tells us, “I have always believed that if we raise the debt ceiling by a dollar, we should reduce spending by a dollar.” That sounds like simplistic nonsense to me.
Harris is okay supporting tax cuts for the wealthy regardless of whether they increase the federal debt. Following his logic, tax cuts will force additional cuts in federal spending. To him, that is a good thing, regardless of whether the programs which spending supports are needed in the First District.
Andy Harris’ vote reflects a willingness to risk a federal debt default and the interruption of benefits to his constituents. If asked, maybe Harris would tell us that he only voted “no” after realizing that the bipartisan compromise on the debt ceiling had the votes to pass. We will never know whether this is true. And I do not want to know. I just want Harris gone.
The First District did not send Harris to Washington to engage in extreme right-wing politics, including attending the infamous White House meeting to discuss overturning the 2020 presidential election results.
The Eastern Shore has real needs. Why not focus on those for a while and quit being a toady for Donald Trump? The First District deserves better representation in Congress. Andy “Handgun” Harris just proved that with his irresponsible debt ceiling vote.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Dorothy Whitcomb says
Thank you for this article. You nailed Harris. I used to think that if I called his office complaining about some “stand” he took or statement he made, somebody might listen. Apparently, not.The only solution is to get him out of office. Heather Mazur almost managed that. Too bad we have to wait for long for another crack at good representation.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for your comment. I am hopeful Heather might run again for the First District seat.
Wilson Dean says
Harris’ knee-jerk reaction of being opposed to any measure associated with the government’s spending money constitutes a mindless approach to governance. If AI is coming for people’s jobs, his should be among the first to go as it entails no thought at all.
Oliver Wendell Holmes noted in 1937 that “Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.” No one wants to pay more taxes than necessary, but the Eastern Shore needs someone who demonstrates a considered approach to determining those priorities and then paying for them when payment comes due—-not someone who is willing to risk the financial leadership of the United States in the world and place the global economy in peril.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and reminding me of Oliver Wendell Holmes wisdom.
Francine De Sanctis says
Thank you, JE Dean for your vivid explanation of the political nightmare District 1
lives in. Our representative (my hand is also shaking) is not interested in serving our community as exemplified by his position on the Debt Ceiling crisis as well as every other piece of legislation put forward by this Administration. I have to wonder what about Harris’s performance is worthy of his supporters votes?
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for you comment.
You raise a good question–what is it about Harris’ performance that makes him worthy of his supporters votes.
Kevin Knussman says
Sooner or later the federal debt will destroy the economy. Both parties have failed to reduce spending and tax appropriately given the size of federal spending. Both political parties are at fault. And few political leaders are willing to do what is necessary to prevent an economic disaster as just the interest on the debt eats up a growing portion of the federal budget. Someday the house of card will collapse. Each increase in the debt limit is one step closer to the edge. The next generation will pay the price.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the column and raising the issue of the national debt. I share your concern over federal spending. It is not fair to kick the can down the road to the next generation.
In my view, threatening to force the federal government to default on our debts is not the solution. Ideally, elected members of Congress would do what most families do–match spending with revenues. We need a government that is willing to both spend and tax. And citizens need to understand that the benefits we enjoy are not free.
Mickey Terrone says
Mr. Knussman, let’s review. The national debt under the “King of Debt”, Donald Trump grew by $7.8 trillion dollars and was exacerbated by his multi billion dollar tax cuts for the wealthiest 1%. For that, Andy Harris went right along without a peep. Now, he was more than willing to throw the country into an economic catastrophe through default without massive spending cuts for the bottom 90%. That he voted against the acceptance of the Electoral College results for the 2020 election in support of Trump’s terrible effort to overythrow the election and that he likely participated in the plans for the insurrection itself make him a danger to the country, much less a deadbeat congressman.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Harris is nothing but a tragic figure. Have pity on this poor excuse for a man who once he is out of Congress can do less harm. How the heck did we end up with such a losing politician who no one takes seriously? Harris
is a running joke on on Hill, how pathetic and embarrassing for us?
Willard T Engelskirchen says
We have the national debt we have because Bush gave the wealthy a tax cut we could not afford and Trump did the same. It is telling that the first GOP bill to fix the debt ceiling issue had a cut to subsidies for corn based ethanol. The Iowa GOP delegation objected and that part of the bill went away.
Andy’s knees jerk way too easily for the good of our congressional district.