Maryland lawmakers back sweeping education overhaul plan

WASHINGTON – Maryland’s congressional delegation has voiced strong support for a sweeping plan to reform the state’s educational system. The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education has been investigating how to improve Maryland’s public schools for more than two…

House Democrats introduce bill to combat voter suppression

On the eve of the 54th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches for civil rights, House Democrats introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at returning to the federal government the authority to protect voting rights in states with histories of discriminatory practices.

Hoyer slams Trump’s border emergency claims, says there’s no border crisis

WASHINGTON — With the threat of another government shutdown looming, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, took aim Wednesday at President Donald Trump’s claims of a border emergency, saying “there is no crisis.” “The bottom line he found is (the…

Hoyer says House will continue Trump investigations, ask for tax returns

WASHINGTON – Following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday in which he called for an end to “ridiculous, partisan investigations,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Wednesday the House will continue its probes and increase oversight…

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 launch effort to strengthen equal pay law

WASHINGTON – House Democrats on Wednesday introduced legislation to strengthen a decade-old equal pay law to ensure women are paid the same as men for the same jobs. The bill has the support of every Democrat in the House, according…

Maryland’s Hoyer says another shutdown is “off the table”

WASHINGTON – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said Tuesday that a bipartisan group of lawmakers is working on a bill that would prevent the federal government from shutting down again. President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats decided on…

Maryland legislators pleased with shutdown deal, but Democrats hit Trump

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has come to an agreement with Democrats to reopen the government for three weeks. Several Maryland lawmakers quickly responded that they hoped to find a path to avoiding another shutdown. Minutes…

Maryland’s Hoyer calls shutdown a “hostage” situation

WASHINGTON – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Wednesday called the federal government shutdown a “hostage” situation and said reopening the government is the Democrats’ “first responsibility.” “The American (people) ought to be extraordinarily disappointed and angry,” the Maryland Democrat…

Chesapeake farmers target runoff reduction, lawmakers seek conservation funds

MIDDLETOWN, Maryland — A gaggle of excitable white turkeys gobbled and clucked in their pen at Open Book Farm on a chilly afternoon in late October. Most days, the birds roamed free in one of the farm’s pastures, scratching and…