Congressman Harris Talks Fiscal Cliff - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

SALISBURY, Md. - "The real fiscal cliff is the debt and deficit problem that we have that is not going to be solved before January 1st," said Rep. Andy Harris (R, MD-1).    

The clock ticks away as that looming fiscal cliff nears, but Rep. Harris tells WMDT, for the Republicans the deadline is just that: a deadline.

"We can come in and solve this in January and February and make all the changes retroactive to January 1st and take the time to get it right.

"What you don't want to do is harm the economy because really, the only way were going to get out of this debt and deficit eventually is to grow the economy enough and put more people back to work and paying taxes."    

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, in November the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent with 145,000 new jobs. 

But the Congressman said 350,000 U.S. citizens stopped looking for work altogether and if no agreement is reached, raising taxes could cut at least 2,000 jobs on the Eastern Shore alone.

"We have to avoid a tax increase on small businesses that provide the bulk of the jobs on the Eastern Shore of Maryland."    

So, what's the hold up with the House striking a deal?

"We haven't gotten it right the deficit has grown by $4 trillion. We have to solve it. In the end, it's getting Americans back to work which is going to solve our problem."