Posted on 04/26/2012 7:20:51 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
With the Maryland General Assembly looking toward two possible special sessions this year, some lawmakers are calling for an expanded agenda to address long-term transportation funding.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and House leaders have made clear that they want to devote a May special session exclusively to passing new revenue and income-tax increases to supplement a $35.4-billion budget that currently includes more than $500 million in cuts because of the assembly’s failure to pass a revenue package during the regular session. Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, said Tuesday that is his only priority for a May special session.
Other proposals would have to wait for a possible August special session, he said, including a bill to let voters decide whether to build a casino in Prince George’s County and allow the state’s current slots casinos to add table games.
Splitting the issues, the governor said, would help avoid a repeat of the regular session’s final days, when the governor and House leaders accused the Senate of holding up the budget to try to force House passage of the gambling bill.
The governor can state his preferences, but the course for both special sessions would be decided largely by legislative leaders, ranging from the House speaker and Senate president down to committee and county-delegation chairs.
Mr. O'Malley’s representatives say he has given little thought to whether a second session could include issues beyond gambling — including his failed proposals to implement offshore wind energy and increase the gas or sales tax to fund transportation projects.
Some Democratic lawmakers say they want to explore adding hundreds of millions in new revenues to the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which relies heavily on gas-tax revenue and is the sole funding source for most road and transit projects.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Interesting...
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
To all pinheaded liberal asshat fools in Maryland (aka: delegates): Stop spending!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.