Higher Stakes for Legislative Session

Ehrlich, Assembly Face Election Year, Surplus

Maryland legislators will descend on Annapolis next week for a General Assembly session sure to be steeped in election-year politics. The Democrats, who dominate both chambers, will try to pass their proposals while working to prevent the reelection of the state's first Republican governor in a generation.

For the first time since Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was elected governor in 2002, he is working with a budget cushion of more than $1 billion. That surplus gives him flexibility to create a blueprint for fiscal 2007 that probably will include property tax relief and increased funding for popular projects such as school construction.

But budget analysts have warned that the windfall is only short-term and that the state's persistent gap between spending and revenue will return in the budget year that begins in July 2008. Ehrlich's budget secretary, Cecilia Januszkiewicz, has sought to temper expectations.

"There are a lot of people -- both inside and outside the government -- who believe we can fulfill everyone's wish. We can't," she said, stressing that the administration is taking a long view of the state's finances. "People will be unhappy because all of their wishes haven't come true."

Democrats plan to open the annual 90-day session with attempts to overturn Ehrlich's vetoes of several measures, including a bill to raise the minimum wage and another to effectively require Wal-Mart to contribute more to employee health care.

Democrats also are expected to try to force the governor to take a position on a controversial proposal for $23 million in state funds for stem cell research.

The issue that has dominated the past three legislative sessions -- slot machine gambling -- is likely to return this year. But House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) has said he will continue to oppose a gambling expansion. He says he has yet to hear of a plan, other than the one that passed his chamber last year, which would have permitted 9,500 machines in four counties, that puts slots in places where House members want them.

When Ehrlich took office, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) told him they would have three years to work together. In the fourth year, an election year, Miller told Ehrlich, he would be on his own. Last week, Miller amended that pledge.

"I know the best politics for the people is good government and to continue trying to make government work for them," Miller said. "If Bob Ehrlich has a good bill, it will pass the Senate. I intend to continue to work with Republican leaders."

But, he said, that effort has to work both ways. He said he has not seen the same interest on the part of the Ehrlich administration.

"Basically, they're not communicating at all right now, for whatever reason," Miller said.

Spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver said the governor met with Busch in November to discuss the session and would again "attempt to strike a collaborative and conciliatory tone, hopefully free from partisan posturing and politics."