Maryland House approves budget package, ends special session

The Maryland House of Delegates gave their final approval to a budget package on Thursday that raises income taxes for some and divides teacher pension costs with local governments. The House passed the budget with a 77-60 vote on the measure raising taxes on single filers who make more than $100,000 and joint filers who make more than $150,000. The sanction ended a special session, which was needed because the General Assembly failed to pass the package during its regular 90-day session, called by Governor Martin O’Malley to avoid about $500 million in budget cuts.

House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, said, “Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done in a 90-day period of time, but I think everybody understood that we had to come back and do what we believed was in the best interest of the citizens of Maryland _ something that we worked on for a 90-day period of time.” House delegates also voted 86-51 on a separate bill to split teacher pension costs over four years and raise taxes on tobacco other than cigarettes. The new package was needed to avoid painful cuts to education, health, and public safety, Democrats say.