The Maryland Senate and House of Delegates have less than two weeks to reach a compromise on their differing versions of the state budget, and the biggest battle could be whether to push costly funding of teacher pensions to the counties instead of the state.
The biggest difference between the chambers’ bills relates to the funding of teacher pensions. The Senate wants local governments to gradually take on a portion of teacher pension payments starting by 2012, saving the state $63 million in the first year and $330 million by 2015, according to a legislative fiscal analysis. The state will pay about about $1 billion to the pension in the coming year.
The House rejected the Senate’s measure, saying the funding needs further study before local governments begin taking on a burden that could send them all into the red.
The House also voted to eliminate $11 million in legislative scholarships parceled out by lawmakers each year. Delegates decided to transfer the money to scholarships administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission instead. The measure would take effect immediately.
“We need to take politics out of the scholarship process,” said Richard K. Impallaria, R-Baltimore and Harford counties.
Opponents of the change argue the scholarships get young adults involved in the political process. Several lawmakers said deadlines for their scholarships have already passed and lamented telling applicants they could no longer provide money.
The House opposed another measure from the Senate that would allow the General Assembly to withhold $500,000 from the University of Maryland’s environmental law clinic if it doesn’t produce a report on academic lawsuits. The measure stemmed from a controversial suit the clinic filed against chicken farmers on the Eastern Shore.
But delegates said the measure would give the government too much power.
“We don’t need the legislature coming in … to the heart of an academic program … and slapping people’s hands,” said Del. Doyle Niemann, D-Prince George’s.
Other minor differences include:
The House wants to give $12 million to stem cell research, whereas the Senate would provide half that; and the House wants to give $5 million more to a project improving the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality.
