"Gilchrest Changes Position to Support Wasteful Spending"

Annapolis - Republican congressional candidate Andy Harris today called on his opponent Congressman Wayne Gilchrest to reconsider his support for the massive, new spending plans being proposed by the Democratic Congress.

"Wayne Gilchrest was elected to cut wasteful government spending. He was elected to change the way Washington does business. It's sad but it appears that the system has changed him," said Chris Meekins, Political Director for the Harris for Congress campaign. (Click on the title for more to the story)
In a Congressional Quarterly article last week entitled "GOP Support for Spending Vetoes Weakens," Congressman Gilchrest announced that he had changed his stance on opposing Democrat spending increases and supporting the president's veto of those wasteful spending bills. Harris is asking him to reconsider his latest support for the Democrats' massive new spending proposals. Despite already voting for each of the Democrats' wasteful proposals, Gilchrest can still show fiscal restraint by supporting President Bush's veto. Gilchrest's apparent change in support of the veto is just one in a long line of fiscal positions Gilchrest has altered since going to Washington in 1990.

Last month, Gilchrest had initially written a letter to the White House telling the President that "Like you, we oppose the large overall increase in federal spending contained in the fiscal year 2008 budget resolution."

Last week, however, Gilchrest is quoted in the article as saying "The letter is a marker, it sets a tone, but the letter in my judgment does not draw a line in the sand." Typical of a Washington politician, Gilchrest tries to say that previously using the word "oppose" doesn't really "draw a line in the sand."

"When it comes to wasteful spending you either support it or oppose it. Gilchrest is showing he supports wasteful government spending, I oppose it. The contrast in our positions on fiscal issues couldn't be greater," Harris said.

Chris Meekins points out Gilchrest has changed since the first congressional district sent him to Washington. "When Wayne Gilchrest went to Washington he spoke against wasteful government spending. Now he votes for every spending increase that comes down the pike. I believe Republican voters understand Wayne has changed-he's not the man we sent to Washington 17 years ago," Meekins said.

As a state senator, Andy has a consistent record of opposing out-of-control spending bills. During his nine years in the State Senate, Andy has voted against six of the nine budgets because of their dramatic spending increases. Andy pointed out, "Since taking office as a senator in 1999, the size of the state budget has doubled while voters' earnings have not." Andy added, "Fiscal responsibility is not just about opposing new taxes, it is about limiting government spending. One cannot exist without the other."

Harris added, "In Washington, a go-along to get-along spending mentality permeates the halls of Congress and has resulted in us being trillions of dollars in debt. Instead of taking the lead in fiscal responsibility, Wayne has joined the Washington crowd. Wayne went to Washington claiming to be an outsider, but that has changed just like he has abandoned support for lower spending and fiscal responsibility."