u s house of representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to increase federal funding for multistate Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts from $73 million to $85 million.

By Scott Dance

Jun 25, 2019

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation to guarantee back pay for federal employees affected by a partial government shutdown. The measure has already cleared the U.S. Senate, where it was sponsored by Maryland Democrats Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen.

By Jeff Barker

Jan 11, 2019

Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer will seek majority leader spot — not speaker, sources say. Elijah Cummings, who won his 13th term, was expected to become chairman of Oversight and Government Reform

By Jeff Barker

Nov 7, 2018

If Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November, Elijah Cummings is in line to ascend to the chairmanship of a committee with the authority — so far untapped — to demand documents related to Donald Trump’s personal finances and policies, as well as possible agency abuses.

By Jeff Barker

Oct 15, 2018

The Maryland congressman voted for the GOP tax overhaul, which is expected to increase the federal budget deficit, while supporting a balanced-budget amendment.

It's not helpful if Maryland Democrats don't gerrymander while all the GOP states continue to do so

Republicans in Congress have decided that state's rights don't apply to retiree savings

Few are satisfied with the present state of American politics: a polarized House of Representatives, and state legislatures, a presidential race in which vast sums from unidentified sources are being spent, candidates distinguished by inexperience and extreme views, and a politicized judiciary. Some blame this state of affairs on the Citizens United decision and on Republican gerrymandering of legislatures, but the situation is largely the work of "reformers."

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

Kathy Szeliga, the minority whip of the House of Delegates, jumped into the race for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski Tuesday.

By Michael Dresser

Nov 10, 2015

Kathy Szeliga, the minority whip of the House of Delegates, jumped into the race for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski Tuesday.

By Michael Dresser

Nov 10, 2015

Friday, the Labor Department will issue another mediocre jobs report, and the White House will spin it into a sign that the economy is doing quite well with a Democrat in the White House. But is it? A comparison of Obama's results and Reagan's.

Rep. Paul Ryan should seize this opportunity as speaker to clean the slate by shutting down the wasteful Benghazi Committee, eliminating the indefensible Planned Parenthood panel and sending the ridiculous IRS impeachment resolution to the dustbin of history. These are all remnants of Speaker Boehner's legacy — not Speaker Ryan's.

John Boehner once again outsmarted conservative politicians convinced government is Public Enemy No. 1.

President Barack Obama toured a drug rehab and met with former inmates Monday in the rough-and-tumble city of Newark, N.J., calling on the nation to ensure those regaining their freedom get a second chance instead of a return ticket to prison. Although his visit boosted his campaign for a criminal justice overhaul, it also pulled the president into a war of words with presidential candidate and GOP Gov. Chris Christie.

Don't lambaste Paul Ryan for failing to support paid family leave, use him as an example of how work-family balance is changing

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

Republicans overplayed their hand on Benghazi.

Meet Sidney Blumenthal, Hillary Clinton's indispensable man.

Franchot praises Clinton, condemns House Republicans

By Michael Dresser

Oct 23, 2015

WASHINGTON — Republicans on the House Benghazi committee put Hillary Rodham Clinton through an all-day test of political skill and physical endurance Thursday, but ultimately struggled to define a coherent case for their long-running inquiry.

Raise the federal gas tax or face the even more costly alternative of bad roads and worsening traffic congestion

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

Laying blame for 9/11 on George W. Bush is misguided — and much like blaming Hillary Clinton for Benghazi attacks

If Paul Ryan took one for the team and became House speaker, he would be the party hero, says Jules Witcover.

A look at the third quarter campaign finance reports from Maryland candidates for Congress.

By John Fritze

Oct 14, 2015

The hip-hop mogul Kanye West has recently expressed his admiration for Republican presidential contender Ben Carson, and the two men have reportedly had several telephone conversations in which they have discussed America's political culture. Set against Mr. West's own presidential aspirations, a relationship between Mr. West and Dr. Carson has tantalizing prospects for a political realignment between African-Americans and the GOP.

Effective parents understand that when you give in to temper tantrums you ensure that your children will continue to have more temper tantrums. House Republican leaders have reinforced temper tantrums from a small minority of its members, known as the Freedom Caucus, since the election of President Barack Obama. But now these unruly members are not just disrespectful to our president, but of their own House leadership.

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.

Nnothing could be more damaging to Paul Ryan's White House aspirations than being House speaker at this point in his party's history, says David Horsey.

First John Boehner shocked his colleagues by announcing his retirement from the Speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives, effective at the end of October.

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

While Congress is keen on the idea of ignoring spending limits for the benefit of the Pentagon, it can't seem to find a way to fund domestic spending on such items as roads, bridges, education and health care. Any extra spending in those areas require cuts in other areas according to Republicans; a rule they ignored for defense spending.

Like Benghazi, the GOP's Planned Parenthood hearings are just another political gambit, says David Horsey.

As Sen. Angus King pressed national security officials to open up about their ability to wage war over the Internet, he turned not to some think tank white paper to make his point, but a 5-decade-old film about the dangers of nuclear brinkmanship.

By Ian Duncan

Oct 3, 2015

There is nothing in the Constitution that says the speaker must be an elected member of the House. The House could pick anyone from Carrot Top to Oprah as speaker. Those options don't make any sense (though Oprah would probably place some wonderful gifts under members' seats). But there is one nonmember who might bring the skills the moment requires: Newt Gingrich.

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

Latest attacks on Planned Parenthood are false, highly partisan and hypocritical — and unworthy of serious discussion

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

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger said Tuesday he will run for reelection rather than seek the Democratic nomination for Senate in Maryland, all but assuring his party will not have a Baltimore-based candidate in the race for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski¿s seat next year.

By John Fritze

Sep 29, 2015

Pope Francis may not have had American politics in mind, but a passage in his address spoke directly to the dangers of extreme political division, says David Horsey.

The right wing crazies will have finally run House Speaker John Boehner out of office, but he has more than a month to operate free of the Hastert rule, free of blind party loyalty, and free of concerns about his own re-election as speaker.

Rep. Donna Edwards' campaign for Senate is launching a web video Monday that chastises Congress for its latest budget brinksmanship, and also criticizes her opponent for "gaming out a partisan advantage" on the issue.

By John Fritze

Sep 28, 2015

House speaker's surprise resignation in the midst of Planned Parenthood dispute underscores GOP-controlled chamber's chaotic, self-destructive nature

Pope Francis may speak to the political issues of the day, but his conclusions of faith cannot be substituted for secular conclusions of law.

The political gridlock in the House and Senate means Congress may end up not voting at all on Obama administration's most important foreign policy initiative

The Rev. Jamal H. Bryant, an influential pastor of a Baltimore mega-church, said Monday he will run for the House seat currently held by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, arguing that the city needs new leadership in Washington.

By John Fritze

Sep 14, 2015

Rep. John Delaney, the last member of Maryland's congressional delegation to offer a position on the Iran deal, voted for the measure on Friday.

By John Fritze

Sep 11, 2015