The Maryland General Assembly is set to finish its 90-day session tonight at midnight, but in the unlikely event lawmakers can?t come to final agreement on the state budget today, Gov. Martin O?Malley has already extended the session to work on the spending plan if they need to.
Final action is still pending on dozens of other issues. Major ones include a statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants, but differences have been worked out on that issue. The Senate approved the compromise Friday that removed the exemption for private clubs and fraternal organizations, and the House is expected to act on it this morning.
Other issues still awaiting action include the “living wage” bill increasing the minimum wage on state contracts and another measure granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. A Senate committee approved the living wage Saturday, after making some changes, but the immigrant tuition legislation may never emerge from committee because Republicans have threatened to filibuster it.
The five delegates and five senators negotiating on the budget have apparently reached agreement, with give and take from both sides. The major sticking points included delay on a $53 million payment for the Intercounty Connector highway from Rockville to Beltsville and a $10 million cut in spending for stem cell research that O?Malley had proposed.
Negotiations lasted for days and the House apparently gave in on its insistence that the highway repayment be delayed, as O?Malley and the Senate wanted, and the Senate gave way on the stem cell research funding.
