Money troubles wait until 2008

Legislators tackle environment, but don’t address looming deficit

Friday, April 13, 2007

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photos by Charles E. Shoemaker Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary’s), accepts applause from Del. Murray D. Levy (D-Charles) and Del. Peter F. Murphy (D-Charles). E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Sen. Roy Dyson (D-St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles) listens at the end of the session.

They’re all products of the 2007 General Assembly, which is being labeled either a session of progress or inaction, depending on whom you ask.

Democrats celebrated the return of one-party rule to Annapolis by muscling through much of their agenda, while Republicans maintain that even with diminished numbers, they were able to shape the policy debates and tip some legislative outcomes.

Everyone, however, seems to be talking more about what awaits in 2008 than what was accomplished in 2007.

‘‘The main event is the budget and until that’s solved, everything else is secondary, so in that light, we still have our heaviest work ahead of us,” said Del. Murray D. Levy (D-Charles).

Lawmakers met their only constitutional requirement by passing a $30 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, but did not address a looming $1.5 billion deficit next year. In doing so, they honored the request of first-year Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who asked for time to find efficiencies in government before considering spending cuts or new revenues.

Republicans say the rejection of their plan to slow spending in fiscal 2008 leaves lawmakers with few options next year.

‘‘We failed to fix the problems that needed fixing,” said House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary’s). ‘‘What that means next year is an almost certain onslaught of tax increases that is going to put the burden on the working families of Maryland.”

Members of both parties generally agree that cuts, tax hikes and the legalization of slot machines will all be part of plans to fix the budget hole. Republicans said they will vigorously oppose tax hike proposals. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George’s) wants lawmakers to return for a special session this fall to focus solely on the budget issue, rather than wait until next January

Both sides agree that this year did yield some positives for Southern Marylanders: increased funding for school construction, passage of several eco-friendly bills and legislation that will expand the state’s energy portfolio.

‘‘That’s something that will benefit every jurisdiction. Everybody’s going to get more money than they ever had,” said Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary’s) of the extra school construction dollars. ‘‘That’s important whether you’re little Allegany County ... all the way up to the big jurisdictions. Everybody’s getting a lot of school construction money and hopefully that means less portable [classrooms] for kids.”

This year also marked the return of civility to the state capital after four years of political unrest between the Democratic-majority legislature and former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Miller even applauded the GOP’s role in his chamber before the close of session Monday night. ‘‘The minority contributed in many, many ways.”

However, the future budget battles will put the newfound cooperation to the test, O’Donnell said. ‘‘It’s easier to foster a more friendly environment when you don’t take on the tough issues of the day.”

But other lawmakers said the pending budget predicament wasn’t the only game in town this year. Legislators banned the commercial harvesting of diamondback terrapins, outlawed power dredging of clams and oysters in coastal waterways and directed more money toward oyster replenishment programs that aim to restore the Chesapeake Bay.

‘‘A lot of these things were on the back burner for a long time and now we’re moving them forward,” said Sen. Roy Dyson (D-St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles). ‘‘I think it was a very good session, even though times are tight.”

A number of revenue options are on the table for next year. Boosting the sales tax 1 cent, broadening it to apply to a number of services, increasing the gas tax and hiking the alcohol tax are just a few of the possibilities.

‘‘I guess this was what 1940 must have felt like,” Levy said. ‘‘Everyone knew the war was coming.”

‘‘I think we had just a lovely time at the freshman dance and next year, there’s going to be a lot of choke and swallow as we move forward to getting the budget fixed,” said Del. Sally Y. Jameson (D-Charles). ‘‘We are on the precipice and we are getting ready to fall off the cliff.”

Southern Maryland’s only new lawmaker said he used this year to build relationships and to learn about the issues that will likely resurface next year.

‘‘There’s no doubt the decisions are going to be difficult,” said Del. Peter F. Murphy (D-Charles), ‘‘and that’s going to require people really working together and I think we needed this year to set that tone.”

But O’Donnell maintained that lawmakers left too much unfinished business on the table. ‘‘Unfortunately, if I had to give it a grade, it would be incomplete.”

E-mail Alan Brody at abrody@somdnews.com.