image description

Controversial bills move toward House approval

March 23rd, 2012 by WCBC Radio

After a marathon session in the House of Delegates, the state budget and a package of related bills moved toward a final vote Friday after supporters beat back amendments by margins that indicate the legislation will pass easily.

Besides the budget, the measures that received preliminary approval included a companion bill that shifts much of the responsibility for funding teacher pensions to the counties; a measure increasing income taxes for affluent Marylanders and legislation requring counties to keep up a minimum level of education funding or face a diversion of tax revenue to local school boards.

Also moving to a final vote were two high-profile environmental measures — one increasing the so-called "flush tax" to upgrade the state's water and sewer facilities and another measure requiring counties and municipalities to institute stormwater management plans to to adopt the fees necessary to pay for them.

Leave a Reply