Special Session Roundup

On Saturday, the Baltimore Sun ran the obligatory slots story, detailing rallies by supporters and opponents. The Gazette covered rallies against both slots and taxes (additional rally coverage here) saying that O'Malley's plan may threaten Democrats in conservative districts. The Gazette reports that gambling firms are growing weary of Maryland's endless battle on slots and gambling.

Del. Luiz Simmons used O'Malley's own anti-slots words to fight slots. Buried in the Sun story on slots was Speaker Busch's comment that the House was looking for additional budget cuts--perhaps as much as $500 million. The Washington Post reports today that the Senate may be thinking along similar lines though the figure mentioned in that story was $100 million.

Meanwhile, County Executive Ike Leggett has teed off the Montgomery state legislative delegation by presenting his own alternative to O'Malley's tax plan after urging them "keep their powder dry." Meanwhile, utility firms are fighting to keep their property tax exemption.