Restraint In Bleak Times For Md.

On the final day of Maryland's legislative session, House Speaker Michael E. Busch speaks to the media after the afternoon session. Bills with sizable price tags were largely shelved during the 90-day regular session. (By Susan Biddle -- The Washington Post)
Buy Photo

The DNA legislation cleared both chambers by large margins but continued to draw objections from some lawmakers, who questioned why the state would move away from its policy of taking samples at the time of conviction.

"We're taking DNA from people who are innocent under law," said Sen. Alex X. Mooney (R-Frederick).

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said the state's continuing fiscal challenges were in some respects "not really a bad thing."

"Sometimes you need a check on spending," Miller said. "We've kept important policy priorities in place."

Among the priorities he cited were a likely freeze in public university tuition made possible by the operating budget that lawmakers adopted Saturday.

With the budget situation curtailing costly initiatives, other issues sparked the most spirited debate this session, including bills aimed at improving road safety.

Lawmakers passed some tighter restrictions on teen drivers, although some of the more sweeping measures stalled, including one that would have established a 10 p.m. curfew for 16-year-old drivers.

The failure of the speed-camera bill brought a round of post-midnight recriminations, with House leaders pointing the finger at Miller.

"I'm pretty disappointed," said Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore), chairman of the Environmental Matters Committee. "In fact, I'm pretty darn angry."

The bill would have authorized counties to use speed cameras in school zones, residential neighborhoods and work areas. Cameras are now allowed only in Montgomery County.

O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said that "the clock ran out on us" but that the administration might reintroduce the legislation next year.

In another surprise, legislation died that would have awarded liquor licenses to restaurants in the new National Harbor development in Prince George's County.