Mediaboss Marketing

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland Democrats and Republicans remained mired in political gamesmanship Friday, with the GOP criticizing Democrats for not acting on Gov. Larry Hogans revised budget plans and Democrats saying the Republican governors plans undermine bipartisan budget legislation already approved by the Legislature.

Squabbling in Marylands budget standoff persisted as lawmakers faced a midnight Monday deadline, when the 90 day legislative session is scheduled to end. The session could be extended 10 days to focus exclusively on the budget.

Republicans in the House of Delegates criticized Democrats who control the chamber for not bringing two of Hogans supplemental budgets before lawmakers to consider. One of them adds money for the governors tax-relief measures, which have not been acted on in the House. The other, released Thursday, restores $75 million in an extra payment to shore up the states pension system.

If any of us were to introduce legislation and it not be given the proper due process, hey, thats insulting, said Del. Nic Kipke, a Republican from Anne Arundel County who is the House minority leader. And my concern is that while some may not approve or support entirely aspects of the supplemental, isnt it the right thing to do to allow the process to continue?

But Democrats contend the governors recent proposals undermine budget legislation that was approved 129-10 in the House and 46-0 in the Senate.

Its supplemental budgets No. 2 and 3, that I would suggest, those supplemental budgets actually undermine the process, said Del. Bill Frick, D-Montgomery.

The governor, who has strong budget authority in Maryland, submits supplemental budgets to appropriate new spending. They enabled the governor to correct errors or omissions in his initial budget plan.

But Democrats argued that Hogans supplemental budgets themselves were flawed, technically as well as politically.

Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat who heads the House Appropriations Committee, said a $5 million provision in Hogans second supplemental budget relies on money in the states Cigarette Restitution Fund, but she said there isnt $5 million in the fund to pay for it.

So theres a problem with that supplemental budget, she said.

View post:
Md. Democrats And Republicans Continue Budget Brinksmanship