Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis May 14 for a special session to vote on a budget that avoids more than $500 million in spending cuts, Gov. Martin O’Malley announced Friday.
The governor came to terms with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and House Speaker Michael Busch on scheduling the session, which Democratic leaders sought after the legislature failed to pass a full budget deal in the final hours of the 90-day General Assembly.
The contingency budget that lawmakers are trying to prevent from kicking in is the most conservative in recent memory — a “doomsday” proposal that would cut millions of dollars from education and law enforcement.
Passing a complete state budget will also help preserve Maryland’s Triple A bond rating, the governor said.
“There is too much at stake not to move forward,” O’Malley said in a statement. “I’m confident that we can come together with the Senate president and House speaker to complete this most important work for the people of our State.”
Details of the special session will be announced next week.
A special session costs about $25,000 a day. Officials expect the session will only take a day or two.
