Senate limits debate on tax package

After less than 90 minutes of debate in a planned Republican filibuster, the Maryland Senate voted at noon on Friday to limit debate to only two more hours on a $1.5 billion package of tax hikes, including $1 billion in higher sales taxes and more services.

At the same time, the House Ways and Means Committee was taking up its own revamped version of Gov. Martin O?Malley?s deficit-busting tax increases. A Ways and Means subcommittee recommended eliminating some of the new taxes on computer services the Senate had tacked on, but suggested adding the sales tax to car repairs, roadside services and parking, in addition to doubling the tax on hotel rooms.