Barbara Mikulski

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) joined the Korean War Veterans Association on Thursday to celebrate the enactment of legislation that grants the group a Federal Charter.

The trio was also joined by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas).

“The Korean War is often referred to as the ‘forgotten’ war, and recognition of our veterans from this war is long overdue,” said Cardin in a statement. “This Federal Charter lets the nearly 1.2 million American veterans of the Korean War who are still alive know that we have not forgotten them, and we honor the sacrifice they made for our nation.”

Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore), the female dean of the U.S. Senate and one of the longest serving women in American history, turns 72 years old today.

'2010, here I come!'In another clear sign she will seek re-election in 2010, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) took in $154,600 in campaign contributions in the second financial quarter.

The senator's July quarterly filed with the Federal Elections Commission on Friday reported about $658,00 in cash on hand, up from last quarter's finish of $585,500.

In July 2002 -- the same point before her 2004 run -- Mikulski had roughly $366,000 in cash on hand.

Mikulski's committee made no donations to other candidate committees this quarter.

More from PolitickerMD.com: Cardin, Mikulski split over immunity in FISA bill

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski: Getty Images PhotoU.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) may split on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act of 2008, which is scheduled to be voted on later this the week.

“Tomorrow, I will vote for the amendments that strike or amend the provision granting retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies in the FISA Amendments Act. Many of these companies cooperated with the government in good faith, and they deserve some relief, but it should be up to the Courts and not the President or the Congress to decide whether the law was broken,” said Cardin in a statement. “If these amendments do not pass, I intend to cast my vote against the final bill.”

Sen. Mikulski said Tuesday she would support the FISA legislation: “As a United States Senator, I have two responsibilities: to protect the American people and to protect the privacy and civil liberties of American citizens. This bill, which modernizes and reforms the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), accomplishes both. It gives our intelligence community the tools it needs to disrupt terrorist plots while safeguarding the civil liberties of American citizens.”

Where Mikulski and Cardin split is their stance regarding the granting of retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies which may have violated laws by helping the government eavesdrop on Americans.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski will turn 72 years old on July 20. If -- more like when, as her aides will point out -- she seeks re-election in 2010, she will be 80 years old at the end of that term.

Congressional candidate Frank KratovilState's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) will be fundraising in Washington this afternoon for his campaign for the 1st Congressional District with the help of the state's Democratic congressional delegation. Guests include U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) and Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore), U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Cockeysville) and John Sarbanes (D-Towson) plus U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), the House majority leader, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) called on his colleagues to immediately act to lower gas prices during a speech on the Senate floor today.

"Americans are frustrated about the high cost of energy," Cardin said. "They remember that, when President Bush took office nearly eight years ago, a gallon of regular gas cost less than $1.50; today it's at an all-time high of $4.02 per gallon."

"Rising costs at the pump are having a direct, negative impact on families and particularly small businesses that rely on their cars and delivery trucks for their livelihood," he added. "Many are on the brink of going out of business because they cannot absorb the price hikes. I join with the majority of the American public and say the status quo is not acceptable."

Barack Obama's folks are asking Majority Leader Steny Hoyer what he'd like to see in a vice presidential candidate, among other things, but will any other elected officials from Maryland have their say heard by Obama's vetting team? Or John McCain's?

Chris Van Hollen will likely get a word in. Gov. Bob Ehrlich could talk a bit about Rudy Giuliani's performance on the trail or, better yet, Michael Steele's. No doubt Obama's people will want to hear from Barbara Mikulski on winning with women and ethnic whites.

What other Marylanders will have their opinions heard at the highest echelon of vice presidential vetting?