Knoxville-area congressional candidate Mark Harmon today called on his opponent, Tim Burchett, to remove a factual error in Burchett's online constituent newsletter.

Burchett wrote the Inflation Reduction Act will "increase the United States' deficit by $146 billion."

The Congressional Budget Office calculated that "enacting this legislation would result in a net decrease in the deficit by $102 billion over the 2022-2031 period."

Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

"I'm worried some partisan hack is writing Burchett's material. We constituents at a minimum deserve factual accuracy," said Harmon.

Burchett, a Republican, has yet to respond to the Democratic candidate Harmon's call for televised debates between them.

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The FBI search warrant executed against Former President Donald Trump's Florida residence has reverberated in local politics. Congressman Tim Burchett issued a Twitter statement, "I want to know what was the national security risk at Mar-a-Lago that warranted an FBI raid? Why did they decide it needed to happen NOW? FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland need to testify before Congress this week to explain themselves."
Burchett's Democratic opponent, UT journalism professor Mark Harmon, responded, "Let's talk about this in a televised debate, congressman. I'll be the one supporting the judge-approved warrant." Burchett has not agreed to debate his Democratic opponent in either of his past two elections for this office.
Earlier Burchett had put out a glib tweet declaring, "This just in, no pedophiles who were associated with Epstein have been arrested yet Mar-a-lago was raided?" Harmon retorted, "Let's help Tim with his memory problem" and posted this photo of Epstein and Trump.

My opponent has joined the upper echelon of GOP crazy; Tim Burchett was one of only 20 voting against a mental health bill, joined by such lesser lights as Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The Hill

It appears my little start-up congressional campaign has freaked out Rep. Tim Burchett. He's fundraising from it. Here's part of what Burchett blurted.

It's all boilerplate nonsense. He even alludes to me getting support from Hollywood moguls. That isn't happening, but if you'd like to help, a check would be nice--Mark Harmon for Congress, PO Box 27185, Knoxville TN 37927