ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The first day back in Annapolis is like a school reunion, with lawmakers on opposite sides of the political aisle greeting each other warmly, asking about kids and family.
And on Wednesday, that bipartisan backslapping was on full display as Republican Governor-elect Larry Hogan greeted returning lawmakers with the man he beat in the race for the governor鈥檚 office, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. The two chatted up familiar faces and the many freshmen lawmakers who filed into the State House for the first day of the 90-day session.
But now, it鈥檚 down to work, and lawmakers, local leaders and lobbyists are getting set to push their agendas.
For Sen. Ron Young, a Democrat from Frederick County, there鈥檚 a concern that fiscal restraint could affect education and the environment.
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly going to see a governor that鈥檚 going to be cutting, and we need to protect the important things,鈥� Young says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to see them take major hits, we can鈥檛 afford to do that.鈥�
Montgomery County School Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr said he wanted to protect the Geographic Cost of Education Index, a funding formula that gives counties such as his additional money because of their higher cost of living.
鈥淢ontgomery County is dealing with an explosion in the number of students; we need help from the state,鈥� Starr says.
Cutting the GCEI would cost the county $34 million, Starr says.
But others, including Democrats such as Sen. James Brochin, of Baltimore County, say they look forward to easing the burden on taxpayers. Tops on Brochin鈥檚 agenda: 鈥淭ax relief for my constituents, lower tolls on the bridges, a lower threshold for where the highest income-tax bracket starts 鈥� and I鈥檓 a Democrat telling you those things.鈥�
Brochin says when it came to taxes, outgoing Gov. Martin O鈥橫alley 鈥渞eally piled it on good and I think we need to start facing reality and start serving the people.鈥�
Brochin said O鈥橫alley made strides on the environment and education, but said there had been a 鈥渃allous disregard鈥� when it came to the tax burden on families.
鈥淧eople want to keep some of the money they earn,鈥� Brochin says.
Senate President Mike Miller — like Brochin, a Democrat — said lawmakers will have to deal with the state鈥檚 $750 million shortfall and work with Hogan. The Republican governor-elect deserved his victory, Miller told reporters, because 鈥渢he Democratic party did not deliver for working men and women. It鈥檚 as simple as that.鈥�
Hogan will be sworn in Jan. 21 and will deliver his budget proposals by the end of that week.
草莓传媒’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter and .
