WASHINGTON – It’s been a rough year for federal labor unions

WASHINGTON – Ron Anderson spent 23 years as a Navy paratrooper before retiring with foot injuries in 1990, but he refuses to apply for disability benefits — doing so would cost him a chunk of his $1,500 monthly retirement check

WASHINGTON – Maryland will “have a seat at the table” in the new Homeland Security Department because of a provision, tucked into the bill, creating a directorate of national security who will work with Washington-area governments

WASHINGTON – Census Bureau employee John Walsh spent the past week wading through federal health insurance plans, trying to figure out which was the best for him before today’s open season deadline

WASHINGTON – Maryland food banks said they are having to push for donations this year, at a time of year when giving used to be second nature

WASHINGTON – Apparently, the families who donate food to the South County Assistance Network do not enjoy the taste of hot peppers

WASHINGTON – When Congress passed “landmark” port security legislation this month, it left out an important detail — the money

WASHINGTON – The Senate gave overwhelming final approval Tuesday to the Homeland Security Act, ending five months of debate on the largest government overhaul in more than 50 years

WASHINGTON – The House voted Wednesday to transfer 170,000 employees from 22 agencies into a new Department of Homeland Security, brushing aside charges that the shift would make a “farce” of federal workers’ union rights

WASHINGTON – Dutch Ruppersberger’s comfortable victory in a 2nd District race that was supposed to be a dead heat is being attributed to the Democrat’s energetic blitz in the last few weeks — and a lack of same by Republican Helen Bentley