ANNAPOLIS — The state Senate approved Gov. Martin O’Malley’s nearly $37 billion budget Wednesday, a 5 percent increase in spending from last year, after approving amendments increasing the amount of cash the state would have on hand to deal with federal cuts.

The Senate passed the budget 42-5 after Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Prince George’s and Calvert counties, made it clear he wanted to avoid a situation like last year, when the General Assembly had to come back for a special session after lawmakers failed to pass a budget during the regular 90-day session. Miller used a parliamentary tactic to speed up passage of the budget by one day.

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