Mary'and's First Congressional District

Recently, State Sen. Andy Harris signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for Maryland’s First Congressional District. Harris is hoping for a rematch against incumbent Democrat Frank Kratovil, who defeated Harris in 2008 by less than 3,000 votes. In this conservative district, Kratovil will have a hard time explaining his votes for the Waxman Cap and Tax Bill and the so-called "Stimulus Package."

 The Cook Political Report rates this race a “Toss Up” with a PVI of R+13. The district has voted for a Republican presidential candidate in the last three elections. McCain won the district with 58% in 2008 and former President Bush won the district with 62% in 2004 and 57% in 2000.

To read ATR’s official statement on Harris signing the Pledge, click “read more.”

Andy Harris (R-Md.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
House candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Andy Harris, a Republican running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland’s 1st District, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 33 U.S. senators and 173 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, nine Governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge. 

“After the passage of the so-called “Stimulus Package,” better known as the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Spending Give-Away, Americans are desperately searching for candidates and politicians that will protect their livelihoods and put their wallets ahead of the federal government’s coffers,”said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Andy Harris demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Maryland.”

“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.

 For a printable pdf, click here.