politics and government

Bills would curb governor's power to replace U.S. senators

Congress must exercise its authority to declare war against ISIS while setting reasonable limits on the use of military force

Public education deserves greater support than Maryland's governor or his Republican allies seem willing to offer.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans pressed the Obama administration Wednesday for a plan to address the long-term health of Social Security as lawmakers began to debate a more immediate shortfall in a program that benefits millions of disabled Americans.

Susannah Kipke, wife of Maryland House Minority Leader Nic Kipke, was among those testifying Wednesday in favor of a bill that would clear the way for midwives to assist at home births.

If the goal of today's college students is to finish with as little debt as possible, Ifechukwudeli Okafor of Overlea has begun with the aim of a marksman.

The Carroll County Circuit Court will be holding a hearing at 2 p.m. today to receive arguments concerning the merits of issuing an order to compel the Carroll County Republican Central Committee to submit one name for the vacant Delegate seat in District 5.

A General Assembly bill that would guarantee paid sick leave for many Maryland workers has official support from half the members of Howard County's delegation to Annapolis, who say the legislation will benefit workers and businesses alike. Some local business owners, meanwhile, say they feel the proposal represents an unnecessary intrusion by the state.

A General Assembly bill that would guarantee paid sick leave for many Maryland workers has official support from the entire District 21 delegation, but business owners in the region are less united.

Following through on a campaign promise, Gov. Larry Hogan unveiled legislation Tuesday that would repeal Maryland's requirement that its largest counties impose a fee to pay for stormwater cleanup. Critics call it the "rain tax."

Larry Hogan was elected to make changes in Annapolis that Democrats now seek to block

Miller, most Senate Democrats back end to contested judicial elections

Should Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address Congress on March 3, despite claims it will politicize the relationship between the U.S. and Israel?

Busch backs AFSCME in fighting Hogan's pay rollback, budget cuts

Republicans seem confused as to whether they should stick to the theme that the economy is still weak — which they've been claiming since President Obama took office, even though the Great Recession was created on their watch — or whether they should acknowledge the obvious sharp improvement in the economy today and somehow take credit for it.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, despite a cordial breakfast with Gov. Larry Hogan to smooth over friction from Hogan's State of the State speech, continued to offer grim prospects for the new governor's legislative agenda.

FCC lacks proper regulatory authority to govern the Internet and assure net neutrality

Democrats may not have enjoyed State of the State address but voters want to see less government spending and more job creation

The GOP "establishment" is scrambling for money from Mitt Romney backers now that he's out of the 2016 race.

Some lawmakers said Monday that General Assembly should change a school funding formula that gives great weight to property values — and is projected to cost Baltimore millions of dollars in lost state aid for next year.

The Carroll County Republican Central Committee is now accepting applications for the vacant Delegate seat in District 5.

Look through the latest polls for boys and girls basketball and wrestling.

The first major partisan dust-up of the new term in Annapolis leaves the governor looking good, but many more pitfalls lurk ahead.

Tom Wither is the author of the military intelligence thrillers "The Inheritor" and "Autumn Fire" (Turner Publishing) and a 25-year veteran of the intelligence community.

Larry Hogan can only get Annapolis under control if the public has his back.

Hogan the union-buster

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is the vanilla candidate, says Jonah Goldberg -- not the favorite, not hated.

President Obama is due to roll out one of the most ambitious and controversial programs of his presidency: an effort to grant a reprieve from deportation for millions of adult immigrants living in the country illegally

The number of people receiving disability insurance from the Social Security Administration declined last year for the first time since 1983, a reduction that comes as Congress is wrestling with a deadline to fund the program or risk cutting benefits to millions.

The Maryland Senate delayed the confirmation of five nominees to Gov. Larry Hogan's Cabinet Friday, two days after Democrats panned Hogan's State of the State speech as an affront to bipartisanship.

Several of the more populous counties in Maryland are considering forming a coalition with intentions to work with the new Republican governor to ensure their voice — taking the form of legislative proposals — is not forgotten.

The fight over a vacant Carroll Co. Senate seat ended well, but it still underscores the need for special elections.

The fight over a vacant Carroll Co. Senate seat ended well, but it still underscores the need for special elections.

A recap of the Feb. 5 episode of "Scandal," as Mellie comes to the rescue?

Jeb Bush easily chased off Mitt Romney from running for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, Witcover writes.

The nation's largest organization for conservative-minded members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has launched a new chapter in Maryland.

Still fuming at what they considered the partisanship of Gov. Larry Hogan's State of the State address, the General Assembly's Democratic leaders predicted Thursday that most of the governor's legislative agenda would fail.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, a longtime advocate for the National Institutes of Health, offered new details on Thursday of legislation she has introduced to increase funding for medical research -- adding her voice to a growing debate in Congress over research grants.

In his first-ever State of the County speech, newly installed Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman laid out a set of priorities for the early days of his administration, with a focus on sustainability -- a term he used to encompass much more than its typical connotation as an environmental buzzword.