House To Take Final Vote On Budget Bills

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland House of Delegates is scheduled to take a final vote on the state's $34 billion budget.

The House is set to begin debating the budget Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.

The legislation raises more than $70 million worth of fees. It also makes a variety of cuts to Gov. Martin O'Malley's budget proposals and includes changes to O'Malley's pension reform plan.

Democrats say the measures balance the state's books and address about 40 percent of a projected budget deficit in future years. But Republicans say the Democrat-controlled House of Delegates failed to make enough cuts.

The Senate will work on the budget next week.

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