Sarbanes calls insulin-pricing system “hocus pocus”

WASHINGTON – Maryland Democratic Rep. John Sarbanes on Wednesday criticized insulin producers for their lack of transparency in setting prices. “I do not buy the argument that the patient is going to be worse off, the consumer is going to…

In tribute to Henrietta Lacks, Maryland Democrats ask study on cancer trials access

WASHINGTON — Maryland Democrats have introduced legislation honoring Henrietta Lacks’ legacy by examining the access underrepresented groups have to government-funded cancer clinical trials. The Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act directs the Government Accountability Office to publish a report scrutinizing…

Critics hit Trump administration over information backlog, delays

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration came under fire Wednesday from congressional critics who said agencies were unnecessarily delaying or blocking release of public information about the government. “The Trump administration should be operating with a presumption of openness — as…

Maryland lawmakers push bill to simplify financial aid for independent students

WASHINGTON – Maryland lawmakers are proposing a bill to simplify the process of applying for federal aid for students who have no contact with their parents. Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Timonium, and John Sarbanes, D-Towson, introduced the FAFSA…

Maryland legislators disappointed with Trump’s State of the Union address

WASHINGTON – Maryland’s Democratic lawmakers were cold to President Donald Trump’s call for unity in Tuesday’s State of the Union, saying it failed to break any new ground. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, said he didn’t want to call…

House Democrats seek sweeping reforms on ethics, campaigns

After Democrats seized a majority in the House with a 40-seat swing in the 2018 midterm elections, Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes said the results were a call for election and ethics reform. The “For the People Act of 2019” is the House Democrats’ bid to enact those reforms.

Unions, Maryland Food Bank partner to help federal workers

BALTIMORE – At lunchtime Wednesday, underneath a dim overcast sky, 77 families of furloughed federal workers showed up to a union parking lot for food. In the crowd was Donna, a Baltimore employee of the Treasury Department. Having fallen on…

Trone wins, will join Maryland’s mostly Democratic House delegation

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland — Voters across Maryland braved rainy weather and, in some cases, long lines to cast ballots that appeared to heavily favor incumbent Democrats to represent the state in the U.S. House. Based on slow returns late Tuesday night,…

Maryland Democrats: Trump health care curbs could affect 260,000 in state

BALTIMORE – As many as 260,000 Maryland residents could see higher premiums or lose their health care coverage altogether because of pre-existing medical conditions, age or gender under a new Trump administration legal strategy, state Democrats warned on Tuesday. Rep.…

Maryland Democratic lawmakers press oversight of Trump administration

Since Donald Trump’s first week as president, Maryland Democratic lawmakers have been at the forefront of a widespread effort to hold the administration accountable for potentially illegal or unethical behavior, possible conflicts of interest, questionable travel practices, and contacts with Russians during and since last year’s presidential election.