Mikulski

WASHINGTON -The $789.5 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama is expected to sign next week will contain a slimmed-down version of a new- car tax break proposed by Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland. Under the stimulus deal that Congress is likely to approve over the next few days, buyers of new cars, light trucks, recreational vehicles and motorcycles will be able to deduct the state sales and excise taxes from the purchase on their federal returns next year.

WASHINGTON -- For five years, the National Rifle Association and its allies have successfully lobbied Congress to limit the ability of local police to access federal gun trace data. Now, by moving to remove those limits and increase the ability of local officers to track so-called crime guns, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is venturing into what is rapidly emerging as the latest battlefield in the war over gun rights. A provision first approved in 2003, when Republicans controlled Congress, sets tight controls on how the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives may share its gun data with local police departments.

WASHINGTON -- On his visit to Capitol Hill yesterday to meet with Maryland's congressional delegation, Gov. Martin O'Malley brought with him a red binder fat with requests: 148 priorities worth more than $200 million. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin asked him to consider adding one more: global warming. "Maryland the state is particularly vulnerable," the Democratic senator said. "Sea level change is clearly a matter that is of direct interest." Maryland's representatives in Washington - who include the House Democratic leader, and members of the Appropriations committees - were generally receptive to a wish list that included funding requests for transportation, children's health insurance and the Chesapeake Bay. Several members acknowledged fiscal challenges in Washington.

U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski has pledged to aid three young Estonian immigrants after they helped federal authorities build a case against leaders of a Woodbine church who forced the Estonians to clean apartments and a bookstore.Mikulski said in a statement, "I will continue to work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to encourage them to do everything in their power to bring about a fair solution."Three church organizers were sentenced to jail terms in U.S. District Court this week after pleading guilty to charges they conspired to commit visa and immigration fraud.

WASHINGTON -- For all that has changed in the Capitol in recent years, seniority still has its privileges. Last week, for example, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski decided she wanted to switch seats with freshman Sen. Evan Bayh, so she could sit next to her Democratic colleague from Maryland, Paul S. Sarbanes.And so, Mikulski pulled rank, unceremoniously dumping the new Indiana senator from the desk once held by his father.Bayh, the son of former Sen. Birch Bayh, said yesterday that a Senate Democratic aide "informed me when I came to Washington that I was sitting in my father's seat.

WASHINGTON -- Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski missed a trio of votes yesterday at President Clinton's impeachment trial, deciding to skip them so she could rest before gall bladder surgery this morning.Although she participated earlier in the day in Capitol Hill discussions involving the trial, Mikulski decided later to return to her North Baltimore apartment to prepare for the surgery, an aide said last night.Mikulski spokeswoman Mona Miller said the senator consulted with her physician about her ailment -- an infected gall bladder -- and with Minority Leader Tom Daschle before deciding to have the surgery done today.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland is recovering in a Baltimore hospital after surgery yesterday morning to remove her inflamed gallbladder. She is expected to be released sometime today."She is doing fine, resting comfortably," said Mona Miller, Mikulski's spokeswoman. "Her doctors recommended that she stay in the hospital overnight for rest and observation."Mikulski, a 62-year-old Democrat who won her third term in November, checked herself into Mercy Medical Center on Tuesday, complaining of severe flu-like symptoms.

WASHINGTON -- "Not guilty," Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski said, rising to her feet, her fingers pressed against her desk, as the Senate clerk called out her name. "Not guilty," Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes answered a few minutes later, his hands clasped in front of him.With their votes at President Clinton's impeachment trial yesterday, Maryland's senators helped a fellow Democrat whom they have loyally supported to escape eviction from office with a comfortable margin.In explaining why they voted to acquit Clinton on both charges, they agreed that the alleged offenses were not serious enough to require Clinton's removal.

In the first major fund-raiser of her campaign for governor in 2002, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend attracted about 130 people paying $1,000 each for dinner at a Little Italy restaurant last night.The event was billed as a joint salute to Townsend by business and labor and drew leaders of several private- and public-sector unions, as well as prominent Baltimore business people."It's wonderful to have all these friends come together," Townsend said, taking a break from shaking hands and posing for pictures.

U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski cannot promise federal money for every local project, but she came to Carroll County yesterday ready to listen to requests and advise on options.In her annual meeting with county officials, the Democrat from Baltimore heard about agriculture, education, programs for the elderly, railroads, community development and sophisticated airport equipment, all of them in need of federal dollars.Her aides took notes, and she promised answers."I can't guarantee an outcome, but I can guarantee an effort," Mikulski said.

Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski has added tens of millions of dollars to a defense spending measure in earmarked grants for her top campaign donors, according to a Baltimore Sun analysis. All but one of Mikulski's 16 funding requests were approved, making her the champion defense earmarker for the state. Final numbers won't be available until Congress completes action on the spending legislation later this fall. Included in the senator's $42.1 million total is a combined $10.5 million for three companies, Northrop Grumman, Thales Communications and L-3 Communications, whose executives and political action committees have been among her most generous contributors.

WASHINGTON - -A game of musical committee chairs in the U.S. Senate ended Wednesday and left Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland right where she is: as the most senior senator without a committee chairmanship. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin is taking over as head of the Senate health committee, succeeding Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who died last month at the age of 77. Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, who took charge of health legislation while Kennedy struggled with brain cancer, was first in line to chair the committee, formally known as Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski described Edward M. Kennedy as her "Sir Galahad," a friend and mentor who took her under his wing when she joined the Senate. Now, in what would be a unique parting gift, there is a chance that Kennedy's death could elevate Mikulski to the chairmanship of a major committee for the first time in her 23-year Senate career. For her to inherit his job, though, Kennedy's closest friend in the Senate would have to turn it down first. The odds of that happening are difficult to gauge.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski took off for the Senate on Thursday afternoon to cast her vote for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, after leaving Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, where she had undergone ankle surgery July 27 and what she called rehabilitation "boot camp." From a wheelchair, she said, "My vote will be cast for her" and called the Supreme Court nominee "my fellow Nancy Drew reader." The senator described how she fell on steps after leaving a July 19 afternoon Mass at the Basilica of the Assumption.

Pedestrian struck, killed by truck in Glen Burnie 3 A pedestrian was struck and killed by a pickup truck in Glen Burnie on Monday, Anne Arundel County police said. Kevin Maurice Fluker, 20, of the 100 block of Warwickshire Lane in Glen Burnie was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:51 p.m. crash. He had been trying to cross the southbound lanes of Ritchie Highway near Ordnance Road when he was struck by a Dodge Dakota, police said. The driver, Joseph Lanier Brunner Jr., 42, of the 900 block of First St. in Brooklyn Park, was southbound on Ritchie Highway, police said.

152,000 trees planted; goal of 1 million by 2011 Maryland officials are making progress toward their goal of planting 1 million new trees across the state by 2011. As of May 30, agencies including the State Highway Administration and the Department of Natural Resources had completed the plantings of about 152,000 trees. The trees, which were planted by inmates, comprise nearly 250 acres at eight state parks across Maryland. Funds for the trees' purchase come from the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Enhancement Program.

Washington -Members of Congress from Maryland and other states protested President Barack Obama's budget cuts Thursday, even as critics dismissed them as trivial savings in a $3.55 trillion spending plan. Projects in Maryland that received budget increases included the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay program, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and medical research programs at the National Institutes of Health. Obama, criticized by Republicans and some conservative Democrats for spending too freely, tried to focus attention on the nearly $17 billion he'd like to save.

Fraud confirms fears of protesters The worst fears of all the citizens who supported the "tea parties" last week have now been realized. We were against the uncontrolled spending and waste of taxpayer dollars by the government. And now the article "Bailout fraud cases emerge" (April 21) describes at least 20 investigations into possible fraud in the use of bailout funds, cases that could cost taxpayers "tens of billions of dollars." We can expect the same waste and fraud if government takes more control over health care, energy policy, etc. Is it any wonder why American taxpayers are rebelling?

GRANTSVILLE - As she quietly begins another re-election run, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski has a $1.2 million campaign account and no challenger anywhere in sight. "How 'bout that?" she exclaims. Election Day is still a year and a half off, but the biggest event in the campaign might have taken place already: Mikulski's decision to seek a history-making fifth term. Her move, yet to be formally announced, disappointed would-be successors in both parties who spent the past few years fanning rumors that she would retire.

WASHINGTON -The $789.5 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama is expected to sign next week will contain a slimmed-down version of a new- car tax break proposed by Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland. Under the stimulus deal that Congress is likely to approve over the next few days, buyers of new cars, light trucks, recreational vehicles and motorcycles will be able to deduct the state sales and excise taxes from the purchase on their federal returns next year.