Maryland lawmakers to follow Virginians back in Special Session to sort out budget

Maryland lawmakers to follow Virginians back in Special Session to sort out budget

[I]MD Special Session starts May 14 [/I]

Gov. Martin OMalley announced today that Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis on May 14 to reevaluate and, the governor hopes, pass a tax package similar to the one that collapsed in the closing hours of the regular session of the General Assembly that ended last month.

A central component of the governors proposal is an income tax increase for individuals making more than $100,000 and married couples making $150,000 or more. The governors plan would also transfer teacher pension costs from the state to localities.

There is too much at stake not to move forward, OMalley said. Im confident that we can come together with the Senate President and House Speaker to complete this most important work for the people of our State.

Though some details remain to be worked out, in what is shaping up as a soak the rich measure, Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate have signed off on the scope of the Special Session. The gambling initiative for Prince Georges County, a big part of the budget wrangling in the Regular Session, wont be taken up in Special Session.

Without a budget agreement, Maryland faces the prospect of more than $500 million in cuts to education and other planned spending beginning July 1.

Republicans have said that there is no need to return to Annapolis for a Special Session, arguing that the state is able to absorb the cuts in planned spending.

As reported here and elsewhere, Virginia legislators concluded their budget work in Special Session week before last, which principally consisted of resolving a wrangle over funding for rail to Dulles Airport, which is now set to come from substantial toll increases to Dulles Toll Road motorists.

Download Bulletin PDF