Press Release Andy Harris Award

The Maryland Taxpayers Association, Inc., will honor Dr. Andy Harris, State Senator, with an award for his consistent and continuous fight on the behalf of Maryland citizens and families for limited government spending and against higher taxes, and economy stifling regulation since his first election in 1998.

WHEN AND WHERE: At the Thursday Meeting, January 10, 8 am to 10 am (expected time about 9:30 am) of the Center Right Coalition, 100 West St., Annapolis.

Dr. Harris’ recognition represents the first of several awards to other legislators.

Dr. Harris is a signer of the “No New Taxes” pledge originated by the Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington, D.C., based group, and supported in Maryland by the Maryland Taxpayers Association.

In addition to his no tax votes, Dr. Harris has voted against the last two budget bills of FY 2007 and FY 2008. The first set record spending growth of about 11 per cent in the last year of the Erhlich administration and the FY 2008 budget increased effective spending by more than 8 per cent in the first year of the O’Malley administration and set up the tax increases of the recent Special Session. These new taxes are expected to harm the Maryland business environment, and consequently, jobs, according to the Tax Foundation.

Former Delegate Herb McMillan and MTA Board Director noted that “It is easy to campaign against taxes, nobody wants them. It’s harder to vote against excessive spending, everybody wants something.” (See Washington Times editorial of 12/10/087.)

The award will be presented by Dee Hodges, President of MTA. She says: “Andy Harris is representative of the ideal legislator in that he consistently acts to support a healthy economy from which good jobs flow. “ Lower taxes under Presidents Kennedy and Reagan have been demonstrated to lead to economic prosperity and greater financial security for the people.