Mikulski

A proposal to expand equal-pay protections for women, long championed by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, was thrust into the national political spotlight Wednesday in a Democratic effort to court female voters — a crucial demographic in this year's election. The Paycheck Fairness Act has languished for years and faces tough odds again this year. But Democrats hope that by advancing the bill now they can send a compelling message to women weighing presidential and congressional candidates in the fall.

A proposal to expand equal-pay protections for women, long championed by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, was thrust into the national political spotlight Wednesday in a Democratic effort to court female voters — a crucial demographic in this year's election. The Paycheck Fairness Act has languished for years and faces tough odds again this year. But Democrats hope that by advancing the bill now they can send a compelling message to women weighing presidential and congressional candidates in the fall.

Dangerous RockfishRockfish possess a strange and mystical power. They make normal, courteous, thoughtful and God-fearing individuals into psychotic, unthinking, uncaring fish worshipers.In their quest for a fish, they will endanger themselves and others. I saw three heavyweights in a 14-foot john boat, which is a shallow aluminum boat, in a 30-miles-per-hour wind, five miles from shore.The preacher-type person in a 40-foot boat that followed me closely became incensed when the anglers in my charter boat caught six fish at one time.

The Chesapeake Bay and our coastal areas have always been a staple of Maryland. Throughout the years, I've witnessed the literal and figurative ebb and flow of the tides in hopes that someone would take the initiative to protect the future of our state's abundant fishing and recreational opportunities. I believe that the recently introduced Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act of 2012 (FIRRA) would provide the funding needed to ensure that our rich Maryland fishing traditions remain strong and our coastal communities continue to be a place for Maryland residents and visitors to enjoy.

Sen. Barbara Mikulskiwas recently honored as the longest-serving woman in Congress. I do not find this cause for celebration. Congress was not meant to be a life-long job. Career politicians like Ms. Mikulski, on both sides of the aisle, are a large part of the problem in Washington. Term limits need to be imposed. Patricia Turlington, Cockeysville

Sen. Barbara Mikulski formally threatened to filibuster a bill to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service because of concerns she has about the proposed closing of Easton's mail processing center, the Maryland Democrat's office said Thursday. The bipartisan bill would allow the Postal Service to end Saturday delivery and offer buyouts to employees. It would not affect the Easton plant directly, but because the U.S. Postal Service supports the measure, Mikulski is hoping to use it as leverage.

Maryland's senators continue to show they follow in lockstep with the Obama administration and not with the majority of the populace's views. The latest evidence comes from their votes against Arizona's right to enforce immigration laws by allowing Justice Department funds to be used in the lawsuit against the state. The vote prevented a floor vote on Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment to the unemployment extension bill making its way through Congress. The amendment would have blocked funding to the Justice Department from being used in its lawsuit against Arizona.

Updated with comments from Harris and Bartlett. In a rare intra-delegation, across-the-aisle nudge, Sen.Barbara A. Mikulskion Tuesday called on the state's two Republican lawmakers in Washington to support a Senate version of an overhaul of theU.S. Postal Servicethat would save a pair of mail sorting facilities that just happen to be located in the lawmakers' districts. The move instantly put Republican Reps. Andy Harris and Roscoe Bartlett on defense, forcing them to either support the bipartisan Senate version of the postal legislation -- which is not popular with Republican House leaders -- or acknowledge that the Postal Service must be allowed to trim costs and close plants, even if the cuts are made in their own districts.

The Chesapeake Bay and our coastal areas have always been a staple of Maryland. Throughout the years, I've witnessed the literal and figurative ebb and flow of the tides in hopes that someone would take the initiative to protect the future of our state's abundant fishing and recreational opportunities. I believe that the recently introduced Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act of 2012 (FIRRA) would provide the funding needed to ensure that our rich Maryland fishing traditions remain strong and our coastal communities continue to be a place for Maryland residents and visitors to enjoy.

Eric Wargotz, a Republican commissioner from one of Maryland's least populated counties, has earned the unenviable task of challenging Democratic incumbent Barbara A. Mikulski in the U.S. Senate election this fall. Wargotz, a genial physician from Queen Anne's County, spent hundreds of thousands of his own dollars in outpacing tea-party favorite Jim Rutledge in the 11-way contest for the Republican nomination. According to unofficial results early Wednesday from the Maryland Board of Elections, Wargotz received 38.7 percent of the statewide primary vote to 31.4 percent for Rutledge, a lawyer from Harford County.

Updated with comments from Harris and Bartlett. In a rare intra-delegation, across-the-aisle nudge, Sen.Barbara A. Mikulskion Tuesday called on the state's two Republican lawmakers in Washington to support a Senate version of an overhaul of theU.S. Postal Servicethat would save a pair of mail sorting facilities that just happen to be located in the lawmakers' districts. The move instantly put Republican Reps. Andy Harris and Roscoe Bartlett on defense, forcing them to either support the bipartisan Senate version of the postal legislation -- which is not popular with Republican House leaders -- or acknowledge that the Postal Service must be allowed to trim costs and close plants, even if the cuts are made in their own districts.

Sen. Barbara Mikulskiwas recently honored as the longest-serving woman in Congress. I do not find this cause for celebration. Congress was not meant to be a life-long job. Career politicians like Ms. Mikulski, on both sides of the aisle, are a large part of the problem in Washington. Term limits need to be imposed. Patricia Turlington, Cockeysville

WEATHER Today's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature near 72 degrees. It is expected to be partly cloudy tonight with a low temperature around 57 degrees. TRAFFIC Check our traffic updates for this morning's issues as you plan your commute. FROM LAST NIGHT... Angry residents testify about water bill woes : Some City Council members, led by Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young, want to halt the process of sending homes to tax sale over the bills after a scathing audit exposed tens of thousands of billing errors.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski formally threatened to filibuster a bill to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service because of concerns she has about the proposed closing of Easton's mail processing center, the Maryland Democrat's office said Thursday. The bipartisan bill would allow the Postal Service to end Saturday delivery and offer buyouts to employees. It would not affect the Easton plant directly, but because the U.S. Postal Service supports the measure, Mikulski is hoping to use it as leverage.

Call her Maryland's Iron Lady. U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski was lauded Wednesday on the floor of the Senate for setting the record as the longest-serving woman in Congress, a streak that her colleague, Sen. Ben Cardin, likened to that of another Marylander: baseball's Iron Man. "Marylanders understand longevity records. We're very proud of our Cal Ripken," Maryland's junior senator said of the holder of baseball's consecutive-games streak. "Senator Mikulski's, like Cal Ripken's, legacy is what she has done in office, not the length of it. " For several hours, fellow senators from both parties rose to pay tribute to Mikulski, who joined the House of Representatives in 1976 and the Senate in 1986.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski for "opening wide the doors of opportunity for the next generation of women leaders" in a statement Friday to honor the senator's latest milestone: Mikulski will become the longest-serving female in Congress on Saturday. Pelosi, a Baltimore native who attended the same high school as Mikulski -- the institute of Notre Dame -- credited with the Maryland Democrat with leading "the way for the many of us who came to public service after her. " Mikulski will reach 12,858 days of service in Congress on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set by Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers, a Massachusetts Republican.

YVETTE MIKULSKI 39, passed away Friday, Dec 12, 2008, at 1:42 A.M. at Union Memorial Hospital . Yvette was born on July 13, 1969. In her final moments Yvette was surrounded by the people who loved her. She was raised in Hampden and spent all of her life amongst her many friends. Here she also took care of her mom Yvonne Mikulski and grandmom Sarah Solomon until they both passed away. Yvette was a great person with a heart of gold. Yvette was loved by many friends and family. She is survived by her brother Tim Mikulski of Arizona , her Uncle Albert Solomon of Florida , her cousins Nina Friel of New Jersey , David Solomon of Florida , and Laura Dieter of Pennsylvania . Yvette was a great sister and friend and will be missed by all. Any condolences can be sent to: tim.mikulski yahoo.

The Senate took the first tangible step Thursday in what will likely be weeks of wrangling over health care, approving a measure by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski designed to enhance insurance coverage of mammograms and other screening tests for women by making them free of charge. Later, the Senate defeated a Republican effort that would have effectively killed the $848 billion health legislation. It rejected a motion by Arizona Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, that would have stripped nearly $500 billion in Medicare savings that Democrats are counting on to finance their plan.

Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski urged President Barack Obama on Wednesday to speed the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan. The Maryland Democrats joined a group of 24 senators in declaring the mission in Afghanistan largely accomplished. “It is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan,” the group, which included 21 Democrats, two Republicans and an independent, wrote in a letter to Obama. “The United States intervened in Afghanistan to destroy al Qaeda's safe haven, remove the Taliban government that sheltered al Qaeda, and pursue those who planned the September 11th attacks on the United States.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski on Wednesday likened the loss of the USNS Comfort to the departure of the Baltimore Colts - and asked Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to reconsider. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command announced last month that it was moving the white-hulled hospital ship, a fixture of the Baltimore waterfront for a quarter century, to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. “We love the Comfort,” Mikulski, chairing a subcommittee hearing Wednesday morning on the Navy's 2013 budget request, told Mabus.