Oct 29, 2007 9:47 pm US/Eastern
Special Session Hearings Continue In Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―
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The special session began Monday evening.
CBS
A possible gasoline tax was on the agenda Wednesday in Annapolis as lawmakers try to figure out ways to solve the nearly $2 billion budget deficit.
Pat Warren reports committees heard testimony on proposals that will have you paying more when you buy a car, paying more when you fill up your gas tank, corporate income taxes and corporate loopholes.
Governor O'Malley championed his total package by rallying students and wrapping them all in the flag of affordable tuition.
"This flag, it is the black and the white--the shades that distinguish us. It is the red blood that all of us share, and it is the gold of opportunity that we pursue together as a free people that recognize the dignity of every individual. That we understand that we have a responsibility to advance the common good," said O'Malley.
Republican Senator Andrew Harris criticizes the show and accuses the administration of an unethical use of its power to promote its plan.
"We actually have a rally behind us where we have state subsidized students coming out on a school day to rally and state subsidized college presidents and all to come out and rally, so apparently this is part of a larger effort. I don't know if it's working, we'll know next Friday," said Harris.
The governor made no comment about the special session at Wednesday's Board Of Public Works meeting, but Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat, lined up with those who say this special session is a bad idea.
"Well at least with 90 days you have checks and balances, you have the budget in front of you, you've got a more orderly process. The train's leaving the station and we don't care whether there are tracks or not," said Franchot.
Franchot is a strong opponent of slots. Those bills come up on Friday.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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