Shortfall Generates Surplus of Md. Bills

Even though Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley called a special session of the legislature to address his plan to close a potential $1.7 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers came to Annapolis this week with more than 50 bills of their own -- some offering alternatives to the governor's proposal but others focusing on completely different issues.

A lawmaker from Prince George's has even revived an effort to save the financially troubled Prince George's Hospital Center.

In one revenue-raising proposal, Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Montgomery) has proposed a bill that would increase the tax on alcoholic beverages from $1.50 to $3.50 a gallon for distilled spirits, from 40 cents to $1 a gallon for wine and from 9 to 25 cents a gallon for beer.

"It seems like we ought to have everything on the table," Forehand said. "This is a luxury item that people don't have to have to live on," she said, laughing. "Well, maybe some do."

Meanwhile, Sen. Alexander X. Mooney (R-Frederick) is pushing to cut state funding of the AIDS prevention needle exchange program in Baltimore. "They say, 'You Republicans should come up with something to cut,' " Mooney said. "Here's something."

O'Malley (D) said yesterday he is interested in hearing lawmakers' alternatives. "Some of these things will bubble up by way of amendments as these measures search for consensus," he said. His own plan includes increasing the sales tax, overhauling the income tax and setting a referendum on legalizing slot machine gambling.

Many of the bills are unrelated to solving the budget dilemma.

Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-Baltimore County) proposed a measure that would reduce state revenue. Cardin's solar energy tax credit would offer an income tax credit of up to $2,000 to Marylanders who use solar energy to generate electricity in their homes.

"I don't intend on having something that is actually going to be a revenue loser in the short term to really get through, but I think it's important to get it out there," Cardin said, adding that he hopes to raise awareness of the national energy crisis.

Cardin's bill will be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee, but many other lawmakers with bills unrelated to the budget shortfall are not as lucky.

To keep lawmakers focused, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) have assigned all unrelated bills to their respective rules committees. The committees are not scheduled to meet during this special session, so bills assigned there are unlikely to be heard.

A bill sponsored by Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Prince George's) falls into that category. It proposes a solution to the troubles of Dimensions Healthcare System, which operates Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Laurel Regional Hospital, Bowie Health Center and two nursing homes.

The measure would allow the governor to set up an authority to devise a long-term plan for the hospital system. The authority would be charged with negotiating with management companies interested in taking over the system. It also would acquire the system's property and assume its bond debt and pension liability.

Niemann floated a similar idea during this year's regular session, but the measure failed because the county did not support it. He has made adjustments to the bill, including eliminating a county tax to help fund the hospital system. Niemann's bill has been assigned to the rules committee.

Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's) has introduced legislation to eliminate state funding for the intercounty connector highway that would link Montgomery and Prince George's counties. She called the road project "a big mistake."

"It's a bad way to spend money, especially at a time when our money is scarce," she said. But her bill has also been referred to the rules committee and is unlikely to be heard.