WASHINGTON – With the ink barely dry on various 2012 federal budget proposals, the Maryland congressional delegation began working on shaping the final product this week.

President Obama’s compromise on extending “Bush-era” tax cuts is good in the sense that folks finally know what to expect, at least for the next two years. That’s if Congress approves the plan, which appears somewhat likely.

The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives doesn’t want to trim Social Security benefits to ease the federal deficit.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was less celebratory April 1 than he’s been in the nearly two weeks since the passage of historic health care reform, striking a gloomy tone as he spoke about America’s troubled fiscal future.

While racing to the finish line to complete months of health care reform debate, Republicans are urging their Democratic colleagues in the Senate to slow down and allow more transparency in the molding of a final piece of legislation.

UPDATE, NOV 9, 2009: To the surpirse of many, the House did in fact vote on and pass its health care reform legislation on Saturday, Nov. 7. Click here for …  Read →

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a new health care reform bill, backed by most House Democrats, that she said will boost competition by including a public option.

Maryland lawmakers underscored the urgency of equitable health care reform on Capitol Hill Oct. 6, drawing attention to a new report by the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University that highlights the economic burden of discriminatory health care practices.

A deal among fiscally conservative, or “Blue Dog,” Democrats means a full House of Representatives could debate a health reform bill after an August recess, while a similar deal has …  Read →

As the final House vote on a health care reform bill will likely be delayed until the fall, the Senate is pondering its own legislation that may omit key Democratic …  Read →