u s debt ceiling

• Opinion

The deficit of deficit talk in Trump's Washington

As a candidate, Trump promised to reduce budget and trade deficits but three years later, they are spiraling out of control.

• Opinion

'Tax justice' critical to social stability, economic progress

Despite the intent that they would fund jobs and capital investments, the 2017 tax cuts have largely funded share buybacks, which hit a record $1.1 trillion in 2018. The big winners were corporations, large shareholders and top corporate executives.

• Opinion

Goldberg: Republicans in Congress deserve chunk of blame for shutdown

Jonah Goldberg: Why are the Republicans are getting off scot-free in the shutdown blame game?

• Maryland

Maryland added more jobs in 2018 than any year since 2000, but shutdown's uncertain economic impact looms

Maryland's unemployment rate dropped in December and the state added jobs in 2018, but uncertainty from the federal government shutdown casts a shadow over 2019.

By Meredith Cohn

Jan 18, 2019

• Politics

Ben Jealous vows to end lawsuit against State Center developer if elected Maryland governor

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous wants to move ahead on the State Center redevelopment project. Scott Sloofman, a spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan’s re-election campaign, said Jealous’ proposal is illegal.

By Luke Broadwater

Aug 28, 2018

• Opinion

Government shutdowns are for losers

Government shutdown is a shared failure, not some noble standoff.

• Opinion

Cal Thomas: Thanks, China (maybe)

China says it may slow its purchases of U.S. Treasuries, which should awaken sober minds in Washington, says Cal Thomas.

• Opinion

Alternative Fact of the Week: Trump supports ACA fix, or doesn't, or both

The Alternative Fact of the Week: Whatever Donald Trump last said about his position on the Alexander/Murray ACA fix.

• Politics

Trump to end ACA subsidies, signs order to expand insurance plans outside of Obamacare

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to let more people buy coverage outside of the marketplaces set up under Obamacare.

• Opinion

Does Trump have a chance to be a two-term president? Bigly.

It's not hard to imagine how Donald Trump could win a second term. Sorry, liberals.

• Opinion

GOP repeal and replace: There they go again

Jules Witcover: Republicans just can't give up on trying to repeal Obamacare, no matter how much it hurts them.

By Jules Witcover

Sep 22, 2017

• Opinion

An alternative to impeachment? Not likely

Mr. Trump's latest party break, in striking a deal with the Democrats on extending the nation's fiscal debt limit, has roiled the most conservative GOP faithful on Capitol Hill.

By Jules Witcover

Sep 18, 2017

• Opinion

Witcover: Fracturing the GOP: Trump continues a tradition

The Trump agenda and presidency are at stake, along with the future of the Grand Old Party, says Jules Witcover.

By Jules Witcover

Sep 15, 2017

• Opinion

Trump and his supporters care about 'wins,' not ideology

Mr. Trump's real mandate was to be "not Hillary Clinton" — and he fulfilled it on Day 1.

• Opinion

How about Trump-Schumer-Pelosi tax reform?

Delivering a "yuge" tax cut without Democrats will be all but impossible. How about some Trump-Schumer-Pelosi dealmaking?

• Opinion

When will we start investing in the future of our planet?

We’ve seen intensifying climate disasters this summer, from hurricanes to wildfires, all of which threaten the the basic necessities of life: access to food, water, and shelter.

• News

Amendment to EPA funding bill would strip agency of power to enforce Chesapeake cleanup plan

A bill to fund the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal programs from December through September 2018 would strip the agency of its power to enforce a Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan.

• Opinion

Witcover: Trump's party apostasy

All through Donald Trump's hostile takeover of the Republican Party last year, his masquerading as a loyal foot soldier in the ranks was transparently shallow.

By Jules Witcover

Sep 11, 2017

• Opinion

Goldberg: Desperate for a win, Trump shafts his party

The president's recent Democrat-friendly actions aren't a pivot, says Jonah Goldberg. He doesn't know enough to pivot.

• Opinion

Real reform:  Raise taxes and cut spending

With President Trump weighing in and the return of the Congress, can we now expect a serious fix for the nation’s tax system and our irresponsible federal budget?  Apparently not.

• Opinion

Trump cuts a deal

Trump's debt ceiling deal with Democrats sends a message.

• Maryland

Pyatt: Congress' return will provide comedy and tragedy

Pyatt: congress' return will provide comedy and tragedy

• Politics

Cummings set to return to Washington next week

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who has been recovering from a heart procedure, expects to return to Capitol Hill next week.

By John Fritze

Sep 4, 2017

• Maryland

Edelman: Congress has work cut out for it

Edelman: Congress has work cut out for it

• Opinion

Hogan's ho-hum cuts

It's amazing, as we head into an election year, how much political posturing can attach itself to something as minor as a 0.14 percent cut in the state budget.

• Politics

Congress returns to work, with crushing deadlines on debt ceiling, Harvey funding

Congress returns to Washington on Tuesday facing a full plate of muss-past measures.

By John Fritze

Sep 2, 2017

• Opinion

Learning Harvey's lessons

Harvey, Donald Trump, flood insurance, zoning

• Maryland

Edelman: Trump continues driving wedge between himself, most of America

Edelman: Trump continues driving wedge between himself, most of America

• Opinion

The debt ceiling train wreck

With a Republican president and a Republican Congress, raising the debt ceiling should be no big deal. But what about this Republican president and this Republican Congress?

• Opinion

The deficit on the horizon

Projected deficit growth should be alarming but Washington appears wholly unprepared for its fiscal realities

• Opinion

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Godspeed, Mr. President

Barack Obama faced nonstop disrespect from the GOP with unshakable class and urbane cool, says Leonard Pitts Jr.

• Opinion

The Trump doctrine: Speak loudly and keep 'em guessing about the stick

The Trump doctrine: Speak loudly and keep 'em guessing about the stick.

• Politics

Andy Harris poised for bigger House role after election

Rep. Andy Harris wants House Republicans to use an upcoming debt ceiling deadline to force more fiscal restraint. And for the first time in his congressional career, the Baltimore County lawmaker could have considerable influence to make it happen.

By John Fritze

Oct 31, 2016

• Opinion

Trump's strategy is to win by destroying

If there's one idea that summarizes Donald Trump -- his character, temperament, career, business strategy, politics and worldview -- it's winning at any cost.

• Politics

Edwards, Van Hollen clash in first Senate debates

WASHINGTON -- The two leading Democratic candidates for Maryland's open Senate seat, meeting for their first debate on Friday, clashed over their records and their vision for what kind of lawmaker would be best to replace Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski -- an outsider offering new perspective, or a veteran with experience getting legislation approved.

By John Fritze

Mar 18, 2016

• Opinion

Hogan's budget and Baltimore

The governor's ballyhooed $700 million plan to revitalize the city turns out to be much less than meets the eye.

• Opinion

Another budget deadline

Capitol Hill is back on the budgetary brink thanks to the usual suspect — a bunch of highly partisan, deal-breaking riders

• Opinion

Does experience matter in the White House?

Last week, after the media hammered away at his lack of foreign policy expertise, Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson's soaring ratings finally fell from frontrunner status. And this week, businessman Donald Trump's poll numbers took a dive for similar reasons. But should a foreign policy resume matter for a politician? Or even political experience?

• Business

With budget deal, Maryland businesses breathe sigh of relief

It wasn't until the wee hours of Friday morning that Congress finally passed a two-year deal that staves off harsh spending reductions and averts a credit default, setting aside most of the big fights over the federal budget for the remainder of President Obama's term.

• Opinion

Budget agreement: A small victory

Bipartisan budget deal could end the threat of a government shutdown but don't expect Congress to make rational behavior a regular thing

• Opinion

Hogan and job creation

Gov. Larry Hogan's mere presence hasn't changed the trajectory of Maryland's economy, but his policies could help in the long run — so long as Republicans in Congress don't trip him up.

• Opinion

The reluctant Mr. Ryan

Ways and Means chairman offers House Republicans their best chance to bring order out of chaos

• Opinion

Can Harris be held accountable?

Maryland congressman seems to believe himself untouchable and unaccountable

• Opinion

Next House speaker must prioritize, govern

The turmoil over who will be the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is only the latest sign of an institution noted for arguing instead of governing. But the political fights that are becoming a regular occurrence in Congress in recent years, most notably whether to shut down the government, are because of process, not personalities.

• Opinion

Biggest economic threat: Congress

Republican struggles to find a House speaker could raise odds of an eventual government shutdown

• Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Rawlings-Blake touts plan for cities, preparations for police trials

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday the city was not as prepared as it should have been for the April riots and said her administration is taking additional steps to ready itself ahead of the trials of the six police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray.

• Opinion

After John Boehner, whither the GOP?

The GOP is a headless horseman devoid of direction, tradition and a responsible leader, says Jules Witcover.

• Opinion

Boehner's departure doesn't help

John Boehner's sin is that he was a grown-up in a Congress of petulant tea party children, says Leonard Pitts Jr.

• Maryland

Congress likely to avoid a shutdown — for now

Congress is expected to narrowly avoid a shutdown of the federal government on Wednesday — hours before the deadline — as lawmakers set up an even more intractable fight over spending at the end of the year.

By John Fritze

Sep 29, 2015

• Maryland

Editorial: We need more than business as usual from Congress

Congress ended its summer vacation Tuesday and the greatest decision it faces may also be its most anti-climactic. But this is far from the entire workload on their plates for this session.