politics and government

The unexpected announcement by U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski that she will not seek re-election means a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs to a nonincumbent. It is the first domino toppling, setting off a chain reaction that will be felt in Washington, Annapolis and various county seats, perhaps especially in the Baltimore-Washington region.

The Senate moved Wednesday to give Marylanders convicted of some minor offenses an opportunity to have their criminal record shielded from public view.

In a flash, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman's first 100 days in office are already behind him. The Republican, elected in November and sworn into office on Dec. 1 last year, passed the benchmark without any fanfare on March 10.

The fast-moving race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski has the potential to divide Maryland's traditionally cohesive congressional delegation, observers said Tuesday, as two rising candidates for the coveted seat begin to square off over political ideologies and allegiances.

Fourteen years ago, O.J. Brigance delivered the first tackle in the Ravens' first Super Bowl win. Tuesday, testifying with a machine that replaced the voice ALS took from him, the former linebacker told state lawmakers his most significant feat came after he grieved his degenerative condition and decided to live.

Environmentalists and others fed up with litter are making a pitch in Annapolis for a statewide ban on plastic bags. But the effort faces long odds, with powerful industries opposed and many lawmakers skittish of any proposal that could cost or inconvenience consumers.

Hogan says Miller, Busch are 'parroting' his views on business climate

Republicans' letter to Iran was inappropriate and counter-productive.

Climate change bill passes Senate on party line vote

Smigiel says he's looking at run for Congress in 1st

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chris Van Hollen's campaign for Senate announced endorsements on Tuesday from several progressive Democrats as part of an effort to confront an emerging storyline that liberal groups are lining up behind Rep. Donna F. Edwards.

With Donna Edwards in, Maryland is now guaranteed more turnover in its congressional delegation than it's seen in a generation.

Capitol Hill looks like dysfunction junction. Let's take a look at possible legislative changes that could help prevent Annapolis from following that route.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen worked both chambers of the Maryland State House Tuesday, gathering support for his nascent senate bid.

WASHINGTON -- Former Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey is likely to seek the House seat that will be left open by Rep. Donna Edwards' decision to run Senate, a source close to the Democrat told The Baltimore Sun.

Rep. Donna F. Edwards announced Tuesday that she will run for Senate, jumping into a still undefined race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski.

Current Maryland law states that employers may not discriminate against their employees based on race, sex, age, creed, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

In a shift from the "tough on crime" rhetoric of years past, some Maryland lawmakers are questioning whether the state has gone overboard in punishing ex-offenders long after they have paid their dues and are back on the street.

The General Assembly's top leaders came together with Hogan administration officials Monday to call for passage of a package of bills intended to improve Maryland's business climate.

A Senate committee recommended confirmation of Gov. Larry Hogan's pick to be economic development secretary Monday. But the panel put off voting on five other Cabinet nominees for a week to study them more.

Rankings for boys and girls basketball and wrestling from the The Baltimore Sun.

Vice President Joe Biden, whose planned visit to Baltimore last month was postponed by the first major snowstorm to strike the region, is now planning to come next Monday, the White House said.

ROCKVILLE -- In the first campaign event of Maryland's 2016 Senate contest, Rep. Chris Van Hollen secured the endorsement of the entire Montgomery County Council on Monday.

Del. Kumar P. Barve of Montgomery said Monday that he will jump into the wide-open contest for the Democratic nomination for the 8th District congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

Netanyahu's insulting speech

That was quite a performance Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives, courtesy of Speaker John Boehner in his continuing campaign to impede and discredit the presidency of Barack Obama.

The case of Anne Arundel County shows why Hogan's symbolic repeal of the 'rain tax' deserved to be killed in the legislature.

Rep. Donna F. Edwards is planning to run for the Senate seat that will be left open by the retirement of Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, making her the second candidate to jump into the high-profile primary.

Goldberg: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has what it takes to win the GOP nomination, but his timing may be off.

Everyone is an important person to Barbara Mikulski, and therein lies the political genius that resulted in her being elected five times to the House of Representatives and then five times to what had been the ultimate boys club — the U.S. Senate. It is not a genius of calculation. It is a simple but miraculous ability to connect.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is unified in opposition to several proposed tax cuts in the General Assembly that would affect the retirement incomes of military personnel, first responders, the elderly, the disabled and property taxes for small business.

When Barbara A. Mikulski first stepped onto the Senate floor in 1987, she saw only one other female senator. They were required to wear skirts and were prohibited from using the male-only gym. But as the retiring Maryland Democrat prepares to relinquish the title of "dean of the Senate women," she leaves a political environment that is fundamentally changed — from access to the treadmills to the possibility that a woman could ascend to the presidency.

The Maryland Republican Party decries House panel vote rejecting Gov. Larry Hogan's bill to repeal the storm-water fee law, while Maryland League of Conservation Voters applauds.

A House committee voted along party lines Friday to kill Gov. Larry Hogan's bill to repeal the so-called "rain tax.'' Dealing a blow to one of the Republican governor's top legislative priorities, the Democratic majority of the House Environmental Matters and Transportation Committee refused to roll back the controversial 2012 law that requires Baltimore city and the state's nine largest counties to levy storm-water remediation fees on property owners.

Baltimore attorney Susan L. Burke, known for her work representing military service members who say they are victims of sexual assault, said Friday that she is seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate.

If voters in the Palmetto State get a chance to know Maryland's former governor better, his presidential chances might improve tremendously

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid endorsed Rep. Chris Van Hollen's bid for Senate on Friday -- adding high-profile support to the candidate who is moving more quickly than any other to replace Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski in the 2016 election.

WASHINGTON -- A running list of who is in, considering or is being talked about for the Maryland Senate that Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski will leave open when she retires after the 2016 election.

Senate approves four more Hogan Cabinet appointees

WASHINGTON -- Benjamin Jealous, the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is considering a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski -- the latest high-profile figure said to be looking at the race.

Where would Maryland be now if progressives had listened to Doug Gansler?

Is Boehner a better leader for the Democrats than Nancy Pelosi?

What did the White House really know about Clinton's emails?