ANNAPOLIS – Other than to say a special legislative session would be held later next month, Maryland lawmakers had few details to offer on the results of an early morning breakfast of the state’s Democratic leadership, as time runs out before “doomsday” budget cuts drastically reduce funding to education and law enforcement.
Gov. Martin O’Malley met Tuesday with his fellow Democrat leaders, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. House Speaker Michael Busch, and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown to discuss calling a special session to pass a revenue package that would complete the budget lawmakers failed to pass during the 90-day legislature.
Other than say the special session would occur mid-to-late May, Miller and Busch made no mention of the terms of a budget deal O’Malley has said must be in place before he calls lawmakers back to Annapolis.
“Right now the important thing, for me anyway as the speaker of the House, is to bring back leadership and find out basically where their sediments lie,” Busch said.
There was no talk of gambling’s role in the special session, according to Busch, nor any discussion of tax increases Miller proposed prior to the meeting that would raise income taxes on all Marylanders earning more than $75,000 annually.
When asked of his tax proposal, Miller shushed reporters and closed his office door.
“Everything went well,” Miller said. “Everybody was smiling and everybody agreed that we were going to come to an accord and have a special session.”
Rick Abbruzzese, O’Malley’s director of communications, said now is the time for Miller and Busch to huddle with their respective budget leaders and find common ground.
“We’re moving toward a consensus,” he said.
