US Senate

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.”

Republican Richard Matthews, who is currently challenging U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Baltimore) in MD-2, reported raising $5,310 in the second quarter and has $2527.41 cash on hand according to Federal Election Commission reports. 

Matthews has received $6,265 in total contributions to date for this election.

Matthews, a computer systems engineer, is competing for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District seat, which Ruppersberger has held since 2002. 

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): Getty ImagesThe Maryland Republican Party welcomed John McCain to the Free State on Tuesday as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee heads to town for a fundraiser in Baltimore on Tuesday evening. Prior to praising McCain, the MDGOP took the opportunity to take a crack at some of its Democratic rivals.

“Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Attorney General Doug Gansler were among the politicians present at a ‘Bash McCain’ press conference,” said MDGOP Chairman Jim Pelura in a statement. The three lawmakers attended a “McSame as Bush” news conference in Baltimore on Monday, in light of McCain’s visit to the state.

Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin and Doug Ganlser speak at a "McSame as Bush" press conferance in Baltimore: Politicker Photo

BALTIMORE – In advance of a visit from John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, three prominent Maryland Democrats spoke at a “McSame as Bush” press conference on Monday. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore), U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) and Maryland Attorney Gen. Doug Ganlser (D-Montgomery County) stood with members of the 1199SEIU and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

McCain (R-Ariz.) is set to attend a fundraiser in Baltimore tomorrow.

Cardin, who spoke first, asked McCain to listen to Marylander’s during his visit, and suggested McCain would only be in the state to fundraise.

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.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen addresses reporters: Progressive Maryland PhotoWASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) and U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) joined USAction, a non-for profit organization, and other members of Congress on Thursday, to show their support for the organization’s “Invest in America’s Future” proposal.

The plan is designed to target what USAction calls America’s “economic crisis,” with health care, energy and education being the center pieces. Marvin Silver, USAction’s campaign manager, described the plan as “long-term investments for our future.”

'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.

Gov. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia): NGA PhotoVirginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has been added to the Maryland Democratic Party’s Victory ’08 Unity Fundraiser guest list.

“We’re very excited that Gov. Tim Kaine will be joining the fun at our Victory ’08 Unity Fundraiser on July 30th. This is exactly the kind of history-making energy and enthusiasm for change we’ve seen for many months in Maryland and across America,” said state Democartic Party Chair Michael Cryor in a statement.

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.