Statement from Congressman Wayne Gilchrest:

February 14, 2008

Statement from Congressman Wayne Gilchrest:

I would like to congratulate all of the campaigns and their supporters who worked so hard in this election. It is a real sacrifice to participate in the political process, and having been through many campaigns, I commend each candidate and their families who made the sacrifice to do so.

As I ponder my own future, I look forward to continuing to advancing good public policy to protect our environment and to promoting a more productive and peaceful planet.

GILCHREST TO CAMPAIGN IN EVERY COUNTY ON ELECTION EVE

The “Around the Bay in a Day” Express

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- U.S. Rep. Wayne will lead a busload of supporters on a barn-storming tour through every county in Maryland’s First Congressional district on Monday to encourage voters to get out to the polls on Tuesday.

“There is a lot of excitement in the air and we are encouraged by the momentum of our campaign. I look forward to taking our positive message to the voters in the final hours of this campaign,” said Gilchrest.

The current schedule of stops is detailed below. Please join Wayne in your county to pick up signs and rally with him in the final hours of the campaign!

Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest
“Around the Bay in a Day” Bus Tour
February 11, 2008
AM

6:30 – 7:00 Queen Anne’s / Kent Island Park & Ride Lot
Location: Route 8 & Route 50 Park & Ride Lot near K-Mart

7:00 – 8:00 Anne Arundel County / Severna Park Park & Ride Lot
Location: Route 2 Ritchie Highway & Jones Station Road
Notes: Gilchrest will be joined by Delegate Tony McConkey

8:45 – 9:15 Baltimore County / Perry Hall
Location: Corner of Bel Air Road & Silver Spring Rd.
Notes: Gilchrest will be joined by Jeff Griffin

9:45 – 10:30 Harford County / Bel Air
Location: Meet at County office building parking lot, 220 S. Main Street
Activity: Gilchrest will campaign through downtown with Councilman Jim McMahon & County Executive David Craig.

11:30 – 12:30 Cecil County / Elkton
Location: Walking tour with local business leaders begins at Elkton
PM Florist (132 W. Main Street)

1:00 – 1:30 Kent County / Galena
Location: Walking tour begins at St. Dennis Parking lot, Route 213

2:30 – 3:00 Caroline County / Denton
Location: Walking tour begins at Caroline County Court House, Denton
Notes: Gilchrest will be joined by Caroline County State’s Attorney Jonathan Newell

3:30 – 4:00 Talbot County / Easton
Location: Old Lowes Parking Lot, 207 Marlboro Road, Easton Bypass.

5:15 – 5:45 Somerset County / Princess Anne
Location: McDonald’s parking lot, Southbound side of Route 13, intersection of Route 13 & Route 388.

6:00 Salisbury/Wicomico Chamber of Commerce reception
Location: Adams Rib Restaurant, Route 13, South Salisbury

6:15 – 7:00 Wicomico / Salisbury
Location: Giant grocery store, Route 13 South, Salisbury.
Notes: Republican leader Blan Harcum will join Gilchrest

7:30 – 8:15 Worchester County / Berlin / Ocean Pines
GOTV Rally & Reception
Location: De Novo Trattoria, inside South Entrance of OP , Route 589.
Activity: WTG & volunteers join a pizza reception with local supporters.
9:30 – 10:00 Dorchester County / Cambridge
Location: Movie Theater & Shopping Center, 2775 Dorchester Square

11:00 PM Anne Arundel / Return to Severna Park Park & Ride

Endorsements for Tuesday

Please remember to vote on Tuesday (Feb. 12th) in the Maryland Primary Election. Until last Thursday, there were 3 races here in this area that were being closely followed by the area Republicans, the Presidential, Congressional District 1 and Commissioner District 5.

In the Presidential battle, I will not be endorsing any of the remaining candidates. I was the Cecil County Chair for the Mitt Romney Campaign which tells you who I was previously cheering on. In fact, many of the Maryland County Chairs for Romney will be still voting for him on Tuesday, just to send a message. But at the end of the day, I will still support the Republican nominee for the general election.

I am endorsing Robert Hodge for County Commissioner in District 5. Politically, this was an easy choice. I believe that Robert has the business experience that Cecil County needs going forward with BRAC coming to the area. Personally, it was a tough choice; I have known Tom McWilliams for over 6 years now. And like many other people, like Tom a lot. I just believe that he lacks the business experience that will be necessary to move the county forward.

I am endorsing Senator Andy Harris for Congress. I believe that he has the conservative values that match mine the closest. Congressman Gilchrest lost me when he supported a timeline for a troop withdrawn from Iraq. How can you vote to send folks to war and then turn around and withdrawn your support when the political winds change. With that being said, I had to say that this has been one of the most negative campaigns that I have even seen. My mailbox has been clutter almost on a daily basis with negative brochures from all three major candidates, Senator Pipkin, Congressman Gilchrest and Senator Harris.

POLITICO - Poll: Gilchrest with 60 percent negative rating among GOPers

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), in the midst of a fierce Republican primary fight to hold onto his Eastern Shore-based seat, has also hit rock-bottom with many of his Republican constituents, according to a newly released poll.

The Washington Times - Editorial on Congressional Race

To regain America's trust and deserve the majority, we must elect congressmen who not only say the right things, but do them. Actions speak louder than words, and Dr. Harris's consistent, conservative record speaks for itself. The Republican Party needs a strong dose of conservative medicine, and Dr. Harris is the right prescription for an ailing Congress.

Gilchrest starts accepting PAC money

By Joseph Gidjunis Staff Writer

SALISBURY -- U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest has stood on a political fundraising pedestal since 1993 for not accepting Political Action Committee money to directly fund his own campaigns.

These groups, known as PACs, are formed almost exclusively with the purpose to raise and spend money for political candidates, but while individuals are capped at giving $2,300 per election, a PAC has double the giving potential at $5,000. PACs are negatively stereotyped because they are often formed to push a special interest with contributions from residents outside the voting district.

But Gilchrest, a nine-term Republican incumbent, acknowledged stepping down from the pinnacle of his fundraising moxie Monday in order to combat the massive fundraising efforts of state Sen. Andrew Harris, R-7-Baltimore County.

The new position was confirmed after a fundraising lunch invitation for Gilchrest with House Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, was released stating the suggested contribution for the Washington meal is $1,000 in PAC or personal money.

The lunch is Thursday at noon. Gilchrest campaign spokesman Tony Caligiuri said the campaign was forced into this difficult move because groups such as Club for Growth have bundled the maximum amount of contributions allowed by federal law and urged hundreds of residents across the country to send Harris a campaign check.

The tactic is common, but Gilchrest has repeatedly supported a no-PAC policy, literally returning PAC campaign checks to the sender."After the last finance report, when we realized the Club for Growth was going to dump hundreds of thousands of dollars into this race, it wouldn't be a fair fight. He's taking PAC money, money from all over the country. We have to fundraise as aggressively as Andy Harris," Caligiuri said referring to D.C.-based Club for Growth, an anti-tax, small government organization.

"Fundraising has never been a strength of Wayne Gilchrest. He would rather not raise PAC money. ... It's a sad fact that this campaign has been pushed to do this."Gilchrest has made his no-PAC position clear numerous times, including in a letter The Daily Times published in 2002."I know special-interests groups don't like me very much and are helping to fund my opponent's campaign. That's because I don't take PAC money and my vote can't be bought," Gilchrest wrote in a letter printed Aug. 25, 2002. "I only accept contributions from people who can vote for me, and I wish every member of Congress subscribed to that."Caligiuri said the campaign started accepting PAC money this quarter, which began Oct. 1, but he could not immediately determine the total raised. Two contributions made in October totaling $4,000 were listed on the Federal Election Commission's Web site Monday. Congressional campaigns do not have to file their fourth quarter report, which ends Dec. 31, until January.FEC reports, however, are often amended or updated. Half a dozen contributions from other PACs earlier in the year were also listed. However, Caligiuri said most, if not all, of these checks were returned to the sender.Harris, who has listed more than $46,000 in PAC contributions, about one-tenth of his individual contributions, said

Gilchrest's policy shift is what voters in the 1st Congressional District should expect from their representative."What we are saying is the congressman ran one way 17 years ago, and now he has abandoned things that he said then, and taking PAC money is one of the things," Harris said.Harris emphasized that he has no problems with Gilchrest taking PAC money because he, too, is benefiting from these dollars. He conceded that without PAC money, a challenger can't defeat a 17-year incumbent. But what he wants to point out is the change in position."An incumbent has a tremendous advantage. If I had chosen not to accept money from outside the district, it would be impossible to challenge an incumbent," Harris said. "I've always accepted this money. I challenge anyone to see if this makes me beholden."GOP primary newcomer state Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-36-Queen Anne's, who announced his filing for the 1st Congressional District on Thursday, did not return a phone call for comment.

Statement on Pipkin Entering the Race

For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Meekins
November 29, 2007 443-553-4794

Statement on Pipkin Entering the Race

"America is a free country and anyone can run for office. We are glad the only state senator not to endorse Andy finally realizes that Gilchrest should no longer be representing the first congressional district. However, Pipkin and Gilchrest are two tax-and-spend peas in a liberal pod. Andy Harris is the only person in this race who shares the conservative values of the first congressional district which is why he will win on February 12th."

The News Journal - Pipkin to enter 1st District race in Md.

State Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R-Somerset, said he sees this move by Pipkin as good for the incumbent, almost guaranteeing another Gilchrest victory.

"I'm not going to support Pipkin," said Stoltzfus, who has endorsed Harris. "For him to get into the race this late, it ensures he and Harris will both lose."

GILCHREST VOTES FOR BAN ON TAXING THE INTERNET

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-Maryland-1st) voted in favor of legislation Tuesday that extends the ban on taxing the Internet for another 4 years.

H.R. 3678, called The Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments of 2007, passed by a vote of 405 to 2.

“This extension is important because it was due to expire on November 1st,” Gilchrest said. “But I’ve cosponsored legislation that would permanently prohibit taxing the Internet and I hope this Congress acts on that legislation.”

Gilchrest is a cosponsor of H.R. 743, which permanently bans Internet taxes and has 238 cosponsors in the House.

The legislation passed Tuesday extends the moratorium on certain state and local taxation of online services and electronic commerce until November 1, 2011.

Congress first banned Internet taxes in 1998. Over the last decade, Gilchrest has voted to make the Internet tax ban permanent, but those bills died in the Senate. Temporary bans have passed instead, the most recent passing in 2004.

“With an emerging industry like the Internet, Congress should be doing everything to encourage its growth, not tax it. Economic growth is the key to our strong economy, and this measure should help promote growth in one of our most promising fields,” Gilchrest said.

Andy Harris for Congress - Gilchrest Misleads Voters on Illegal Immigration

The full color franked mail Gilchrest's congressional office sent out at taxpayer expense is misleading the public on Gilchrest's record on illegal immigration. "The taxpayers are funding Gilchrest's misleading statements concerning his record on illegal immigration," said Chris Meekins, Political Director for the campaign.

The truth is Gilchrest supports AMNESTY for illegal immigrants (co-sponsor of H.R. 371, 2007). "Unlike the incumbent, I will never support any form of amnesty," Harris added.

Gilchrest's real record on illegal immigration:

* H.R.1885 5/21/2001 Vote 127: Gilchrest voted to allow illegal immigrants who overstayed their visas to pay a $1,000 fine and stay in the U.S. while they completed their residency application.
* H. AMDT 655 7/8/2004 Vote 341: Gilchrest voted against an amendment that would have increased funding for enforcing current federal laws against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
* H. AMDT 745 9/9/2004 Voted 439: Gilchrest voted against the amendment that would have barred illegal immigrants working in the U.S. from receiving Social Security benefits.
* H.AMDT 138 5/17/2005 Vote 177: Gilchrest voted against the amendment that would have denied federal homeland security funding to state and local governments who refuse to share information with federal immigration authorities.

Not only is Gilchrest misleading the public about his record, but he is also using taxpayer dollars to do it. "Apparently Gilchrest has so little respect for taxpayer dollars, that he votes for billions of dollars in wasteful spending and then uses taxpayer dollars to fund campaign activities," Meekins said.

"It is one thing to send a letter to a constituent who asks about a specific issue, it is a completely different thing to mislead them," said Chris Meekins, Political Director for Harris for Congress.


Using taxpayer funded franked mail for his own political benefit is nothing new for the office of Wayne Gilchrest. In the first quarter of 2007, Gilchrest's office was in the top 10% of all members of congress in his abuse of franked mail.

"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."

GILCHREST SUPPORTS MAKING BUSH TAX CUTS PERMANENT

GILCHREST SUPPORTS MAKING BUSH TAX CUTS PERMANENT



WASHINGTON – As Congress begins to debate the future of President Bush’s tax cuts, Congressman Gilchrest has cosponsored legislation that will make them permanent.

“Those tax cuts have helped stimulate our economy and kept it going strong in the face of some of difficult times,” Gilchrest said. “To repeal them now would be a disaster, and would hurt families across the country.”

Gilchrest this week cosponsored HR 2734, the Tax Increase Prevention Act, which makes the tax cuts the President introduced and Congress passed into law in 2001 and 2003 permanent. Currently they will expire in 2011 if Congress does not act.

“If we don’t make these tax cuts permanent, income tax rates will rise substantially in each tax bracket, and low income-taxpayers will see the 10-percent tax bracket disappear,” Gilchrest said. “Married taxpayers will see the marriage penalty return, and taxpayers with children will lose 50 percent of their child tax credits.”
He has also cosponsored HR 2380, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act. That bill would eliminate the estate tax, or so-called “death tax”, which can be crippling to families struggling to keep second and third generation farms and businesses alive.

“I think it’s pretty clear that this tax policy has helped our economy thrive, with steady job creation and strong economic growth. To change course now would be short-sighted and damaging to our economy and to jobs.”

Earlier this year, Gilchrest voted against the Democrat-sponsored budget because it sought to increase taxes by more than $200 billion. Instead, he voted for a Republican alternative that would have made the President’s tax cuts permanent. That alternative budget vote, however, failed.
.

WAYNE GILCHREST'S LATEST VOTE ON IRAQ

Copy of email from Congressman Gilchrest's office.

Yesterday Congressman Gilchrest voted for a resolution that urges the re-deployment and reduction of troops in Iraq, and re-defines the military mission in the Middle East. There have already been some gross misrepresentations in the media about this bill, therefore we wanted to attach an actual copy of the bill so that you can read it yourself.

It is important to note a few key points about this vote that are consistent with Congressman Gilchrest's message and position on this issue, which include:

*This bill DOES NOT require the complete withdraw of troops from Iraq, only a re-positioning and re-defining of our mission to include fighting Al Qaeda, training Iraqi troops, and providing security for our military and diplomatic mission.

*This bill DOES NOT affect funding levels for our mission or our troops

*This bill allows the President to determine the level of troops needed for this new mission, but requires he report that need to Congress and the American people.

*The bill requires the development of a comprehensive strategy in Iraq to include diplomatic, economic, political and military components.

Hopefully this information will help to explain Wayne's vote on this issue, and if you have any further questions, please just let us know. (Click on the title of the story for a copy of the bill)

110TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. ll
To require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number
of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April
1, 2008, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. SKELTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on llllllllllllll
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction
of the number of United States Armed Forces in
Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Responsible Redeploy-
ment from Iraq Act’’.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–
243), enacted into law on October 16, 2002, author-
ized the President to use the Armed Forces as the
President determined necessary and appropriate in
order to defend the national security of the United
States against the continuing threat posed by the
Government of Iraq at that time;
(2) the Government of Iraq which was in power
at the time the Authorization for Use of Military
Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was enacted
into law has been removed from power and its leader
indicted, tried, convicted, and executed by the new
freely-elected democratic Government of Iraq;
(3) the current Government of Iraq does not
pose a threat to the United States or its interests;
and
(4) after more than four years of valiant efforts
by members of the Armed Forces and United States
civilians, the Government of Iraq must now be re-
sponsible for Iraq’s future course.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ AND TRANSITION TO
A LIMITED PRESENCE OF THE ARMED
FORCES IN IRAQ.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall
commence the reduction of the number of Armed Forces
in Iraq beginning not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act and shall complete the reduc-
tion and transition to a limited presence of the Armed
Forces in Iraq by not later than April 1, 2008.
(b) REDUCTION AND TRANSITION TO BE CARRIED
OUT IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY MANNER.—The reduction
of the number of Armed Forces in Iraq and transition to
a limited presence of the Armed Forces in Iraq required
by subsection (a) shall be implemented in a safe and or-
derly manner, with maximum attention paid to protection
of the Armed Forces that are being redeployed from Iraq.
(c) REDUCTION AND TRANSITION TO FURTHER COM-
PREHENSIVE STRATEGY.—The reduction of the number of
Armed Forces in Iraq and transition to a limited presence
of the Armed Forces in Iraq required by subsection (a)
shall further be implemented as part of the comprehensive
United States strategy for Iraq required by section 4 of
this Act. 24

SEC. 4. COMPREHENSIVE UNITED STATES STRATEGY FOR
IRAQ.
(a) STRATEGY REQUIRED.—Not later than January
1, 2008, the President shall transmit to the appropriate
congressional committees a comprehensive United States
strategy for Iraq.
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A discussion of United States national secu-
rity interests in Iraq and the broader Middle East
region and the diplomatic, political, economic, and
military components of a comprehensive strategy to
maintain and advance such interests as the Armed
Forces are redeployed from Iraq pursuant to section
3 of this Act.
(2) A justification of the minimum force levels
required to protect United States national security
interests in Iraq after April 1, 2008, including a de-
scription of the specific missions of the Armed
Forces to be undertaken. The justification shall in-
clude—
(A) the projected number of Armed Forces
necessary to carry out the missions;
(B) the projected annual cost of the mis-
sions; and
(C) the expected duration of the missions.

(3) As part of the justification required by
paragraph (2), the President shall, at a minimum,
address whether it is necessary for the Armed
Forces to carry out the following missions:
(A) Protecting United States diplomatic
members of the Armed Forces who are engaged
in carrying out other missions.
(B) Serving in roles consistent with cus-
tomary diplomatic positions.
(C) Engaging in actions to disrupt and
eliminate al-Qaeda and its affiliated organiza-
tions in Iraq.
(D) Training and equipping members of
the Iraqi Security Forces.
(4) Specific plans for diplomatic initiatives to
engage United States allies and others in the region
to bring stability to Iraq.
(c) UPDATE OF STRATEGY.—Not later than July 1,
2008, and every 90 days thereafter, the President shall
transmit to the appropriate congressional committees an
update of the strategy required by subsection (a), includ-
ing a description of the number of Armed Forces deployed
to Iraq and the missions for which such Armed Forces
are so deployed.
(d) FORM.—The strategy required by subsection (a)
and each update of the strategy required by subsection
(c) shall be transmitted in unclassified form, but may con-
tain a classified annex, if necessary.
(e) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means—
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the
Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;
and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the
Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 5. ARMED FORCES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 101 of title 10, United States
Code.