Harris Defends Comments After Insurance Flap

Maryland’s newest congressman is defending comments about congressional health care that critics are calling hypocritical. Representative-elect Andy Harris, a Republican who has said he would vote to repeal Congress’ health care overhaul, is facing criticism over questions during a Monday orientation on why his congressional health coverage did not begin immediately upon taking office. Harris told Baltimore’s WBAL-TV that he asked about the start date because members of congress are going to have to align their current insurance with their new insurance. Harris pointed to what he said was the irony in requiring American’s to have health insurance when federal employees who are not hired on the right day of the month have to go without health care for a while.