Severna Park: Get to Know Your New Congresswoman

The last time Anne Arundel County was in one Congressional District, our representative was Marjorie Holt, a Republican Severna Park resident.  That was from 1973 to 1987, and the county was actually in District 4 at the time.  

Since 1992 Anne Arundel County has been divided between 4 congressional districts and Severna Park has been represented in Congressional District 1. After this most recent redistricting Severna Park will move back into Congressional District 4 which includes Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties - areas that are heavily Democrat and urban.  

Severna Park will change representatives from Andy Harris, a freshman congressman who believes in smaller government; is pro-life; fights for lower taxes and individual freedom - to Donna Edwards.  

She couldn't be more unlike Dr. Harris than well...night and day.  Rep. Edwards basically supports larger government, higher taxes, unions, bail-outs, progressive programs and the Dream Act.   In her short tenure in office she has voted for the stimulus package, the Health Care Bill, Cap & Trade, raising the debt ceiling and getting rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".   She also voted to continue funding for both Planned Parenthood and ACORN. 

These two Representatives are like tea party meets Wall Street protestors. 

According to the Washington Post, "During her short time in Washington, Edwards has emerged as a leading figure of Congress' left-leaning forces."   Some of her stances:  She opposes military spending for the war(s) and wanted to make the health care bill and the Wall Street bailout package more progressive.  For example she fought hard for a public option for healthcare, and wanted to make it harder for banks to foreclose on homeowners who could not make their payments.   She co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for unions to organize.  

This was the bill that would do away with secret ballots for voting whether or not to allow a union into a workplace.  That bill failed but is expected to be introduced again in the 112th Congress.  Oh, she also received almost $20,000 from SEIU - the largest union in the country - when she ran for office in 2008. 

She is vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.  She is an attorney by profession and beat the incumbant in that seat by accusing him of voting with President Bush on issues such as the war in Iraq...which of course many other Democrats, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did also.  You can watch that interesting exchange in the posted video. 

Be aware that Congresswoman Edwards isn't happy with the change in representation either.