Maryland’s Republican lawmakers refused Democrats’ invitation to propose budget cuts in a letter sent Tuesday to Sen. Ulysses S. Currie, chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

“We respectfully decline your invitation and will not participate in the proposed election year antics that would only serve as a sideshow to the real battle of this session,” read the letter signed by Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman and Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs.