Andrew P. Harris
Encyclopedia
Andrew P. Harris is an American
physician
and politician
who is the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
and formerly served in the Senate of the Maryland General Assembly
.
who was born in Miskolc
, Hungary
in 1911 and emigrated to the United States in 1950; his mother, Irene, was born in Poland
.
Harris earned his B.S. in biology (1977) and his M.D. (1980) from the Johns Hopkins University. The University's Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public health conferred the M.H.S. in 1995 in Health Policy & Management and also Health Finance & Management.
Harris served in the Navy Medical Corps
and the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander on active duty during Operation Desert Storm, and currently serves as a Commander. He has worked as an anesthesiologist, as an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and as Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
. Harris also served as Commanding officer for the Johns Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit from 1989 to 1992.
His district was later redrawn to be District 7, representing Baltimore County and Harford County. He defeated Democratic challenger Diane DeCarlo in the general election in 2002, and from 2003 to 2006 served as the Minority Whip. In 2006 he won re-election, this time defeating Patricia A. Foerster.
and State Senator E.J. Pipkin in the Republican primary for Maryland's 1st congressional district
. Harris explained that he was upset with Gilchrest's decision to support a Democratic bill setting a time table for troop withdrawal from Iraq and suspected that many of his constituents also felt that way. Andy Harris was endorsed by the Club for Growth
, which raised nearly $250,000 for him, and by former Governor Bob Ehrlich, seven of ten state senators who represent parts of the district, and House Minority leader Anthony J. O'Donnell
. His general election opponent Frank Kratovil
attacked the Club for Growth's policies, and Harris for having its support. Gilchrest endorsed Kratovil for the General election.
The November election was as close as expected. On election night, Kratovil led Harris by 915 votes. After two rounds of counting absentee ballots, Kratovil's lead grew to 2,000 votes. Forecasting that it would be nearly impossible for Harris to close the gap, most media outlets declared Kratovil the winner on the night of November 7. Harris finally conceded on November 11. Harris won most of the suburban Baltimore
portion of the district, but lost the Eastern Shore, home to half of the district's population. It is interesting to note that John McCain won this district by 19 points.
Harris won the primary and went on to challenge Democratic incumbent Frank Kratovil
. Libertarian Richard James Davis and Independent Jack Wilson also ran. Harris defeated Kratovil on November 2, 2010
by 14%.
The National Journal
's Cook Political Report
named Harris one of the top 10 Republicans most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012, noting that Maryland Democrats could redraw the First District away from Harris's home in Baltimore.
.
Andy Harris has been an active member in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus
, an officer in the Thornleigh Neighborhood Improvement Association (vice-president, 1984–85; president, 1985–86), a member of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Community Association, 1987–91, and served as Vice President of St. Joseph's School Home-School Association from 1992 to 1994. Also, he has been on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Leadership Council, 1995–98, a member of the North Central Republican Club (treasurer, 1997–98; vice-president, 1998), and finally as a Delegate to the Republican Party National Convention, 2004. Harris has received the Laughlin Award for Distinguished Public Officer, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland in 2001.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who is the U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and formerly served in the Senate of the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
.
Early life, education and career
Harris's father was Zoltán Harris, an anesthesiologistAnesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
who was born in Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1911 and emigrated to the United States in 1950; his mother, Irene, was born in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Harris earned his B.S. in biology (1977) and his M.D. (1980) from the Johns Hopkins University. The University's Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public health conferred the M.H.S. in 1995 in Health Policy & Management and also Health Finance & Management.
Harris served in the Navy Medical Corps
Navy Medical Corps
The Medical Corps of the United States Navy is a staff corps consisting of military physicians in a variety of specialties. It is the senior corps among all staff corps, second in precedence only to line officers...
and the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander on active duty during Operation Desert Storm, and currently serves as a Commander. He has worked as an anesthesiologist, as an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and as Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
. Harris also served as Commanding officer for the Johns Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit from 1989 to 1992.
Maryland General Assembly
Andrew Harris was first elected to the Maryland Senate in 1998 for District 9 for Baltimore County. He defeated his predecessor, F. Vernon Boozer, in the 1998 primary election. In the general election he defeated Democratic challenger Anthony O. Blades.His district was later redrawn to be District 7, representing Baltimore County and Harford County. He defeated Democratic challenger Diane DeCarlo in the general election in 2002, and from 2003 to 2006 served as the Minority Whip. In 2006 he won re-election, this time defeating Patricia A. Foerster.
2008
Harris defeated incumbent Republican Wayne GilchrestWayne Gilchrest
Wayne Thomas Gilchrest is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who represented . In 2008, the moderate Gilchrest was defeated in the Republican primary by State Senator Andy Harris....
and State Senator E.J. Pipkin in the Republican primary for Maryland's 1st congressional district
Maryland's 1st congressional district
Maryland's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maryland. The district encompasses the entire Eastern Shore, including Salisbury, as well as parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties....
. Harris explained that he was upset with Gilchrest's decision to support a Democratic bill setting a time table for troop withdrawal from Iraq and suspected that many of his constituents also felt that way. Andy Harris was endorsed by the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, which raised nearly $250,000 for him, and by former Governor Bob Ehrlich, seven of ten state senators who represent parts of the district, and House Minority leader Anthony J. O'Donnell
Anthony J. O'Donnell
Anthony O'Donnell is an American politician, currently representing District 29 in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:...
. His general election opponent Frank Kratovil
Frank Kratovil
Frank Michael Kratovil Jr., is the former U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He was defeated in his bid for reelection on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
attacked the Club for Growth's policies, and Harris for having its support. Gilchrest endorsed Kratovil for the General election.
The November election was as close as expected. On election night, Kratovil led Harris by 915 votes. After two rounds of counting absentee ballots, Kratovil's lead grew to 2,000 votes. Forecasting that it would be nearly impossible for Harris to close the gap, most media outlets declared Kratovil the winner on the night of November 7. Harris finally conceded on November 11. Harris won most of the suburban Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
portion of the district, but lost the Eastern Shore, home to half of the district's population. It is interesting to note that John McCain won this district by 19 points.
2010
Harris ran again for Congress in . His challenger in the Republican primary was Rob Fisher, a conservative businessman.Harris won the primary and went on to challenge Democratic incumbent Frank Kratovil
Frank Kratovil
Frank Michael Kratovil Jr., is the former U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He was defeated in his bid for reelection on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
. Libertarian Richard James Davis and Independent Jack Wilson also ran. Harris defeated Kratovil on November 2, 2010
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S...
by 14%.
The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
's Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
named Harris one of the top 10 Republicans most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012, noting that Maryland Democrats could redraw the First District away from Harris's home in Baltimore.
Health care controversy
Harris’ prominence as a medical doctor in opposition to government-run health care made him a lightning rod for attacks by supporters of the 2010 health care legislation. At a closed-door employee benefits briefing for new congressmen during the November 2010 freshman orientation, Harris was surprised to learn that the Federal employee health benefit plan would leave the new congressmen and their staffers without coverage until the following pay period, 28 days after inauguration. Concerned about this gap in coverage, he asked whether new government employees could purchase temporary coverage to fill this gap. "This is the only employer I've ever worked for where you don't get coverage the first day you are employed”, he said through his spokeswoman, Anna Nix. Through a spokesman, his defeated opponent, Frank Kratovil, seized upon this dialogue, characterizing the question as a “demand” for special treatment and for access to the benefits he opposed in the new law. Furthermore, "Harris then asked if he could purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap," added an aide, who was struck by the similarity to Harris's request and the public option he denounced as a gateway to socialized medicine.Committee Assignments
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationThe Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over...
- Subcommittee on Highways & TransitUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and TransitThe House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee oversees highway, transit, and highway safety programs in the United States, as well as policy governing how highway and transit projects...
- Subcommittee on Water Resources & EnvironmentUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentThe Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, the civil works programs of the U.S. Army...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
- Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
- Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chairman)
Personal life
Harris and his wife Sylvia have five children and reside in Cockeysville, MarylandCockeysville, Maryland
Cockeysville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 19,388 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
Andy Harris has been an active member in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, an officer in the Thornleigh Neighborhood Improvement Association (vice-president, 1984–85; president, 1985–86), a member of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Community Association, 1987–91, and served as Vice President of St. Joseph's School Home-School Association from 1992 to 1994. Also, he has been on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Leadership Council, 1995–98, a member of the North Central Republican Club (treasurer, 1997–98; vice-president, 1998), and finally as a Delegate to the Republican Party National Convention, 2004. Harris has received the Laughlin Award for Distinguished Public Officer, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland in 2001.
External links
- Congressman Andy Harris official U.S. House site
- Andy Harris for U.S. Congress official campaign site