Senate Appoints Budget Conferees

The Senate has appointed its conference committee members and advisors on the budget package (see below). Since there are actually three bills with Senate-House differences, there are three conference committees, though there is considerable overlap. Senators Kasemeyer, DeGrange and Madeleno will sit on all three conference committees.

The next step is for the House of Delegates to appoint its conference committee members and advisors.

Advisors participate in the conference committee’s discussions, but do not vote. A majority of members of the whole conference committee – Senate and House members – must approve a conference committee report for it to go back to the Senate and House for final approval.

As we discussed earlier, the Senate’s revenue plan is more sustainable than the House’s. The Senate conference committee members should push to maintain an adequate amount of revenue so that the legislature does not face a big revenue shortfall again next year.

The Senate plan, however, has a big loophole for chewing tobacco and similar  smokeless tobacco products. The Senate conferees should move to the House plan for tobacco taxes, or even better, a uniform 66% tax on all non-cigarette tobacco products.

The state constitution calls for the Senate and House to agree on a final budget by next Monday, April 2. The budget bill will become law immediately upon final passage by the Senate and House. The other bills must be signed by Governor O’Malley to reach the finish line.

Senate Conferees

Budget Bill (SB 150)

Kasemeyer, Madaleno, DeGrange, Robey, Colburn

Senate advisors:

Jones-Rodwell, McFadden

Reconciliation Act (SB 152)

Kasemeyer, Madaleno, DeGrange, Robey, Colburn

Senate advisors:

Jones-Rodwell, McFadden

Revenue Bill (SB 523)

Kasemeyer, Robey, Madaleno, DeGrange, Jones-Rodwell

Senate advisors:

McFadden, Manno