u s debt ceiling

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Pyatt: congress' return will provide comedy and tragedy

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

Edelman: Congress has work cut out for it

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.

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

By John Fritze

Sep 2, 2017

Harvey, Donald Trump, flood insurance, zoning

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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

Maryland congressman seems to believe himself untouchable and unaccountable

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.