Supporters Of Maryland House Budget Rally Changes
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Leaders of a Maryland Senate panel that steers state spending say recent changes to the state budget are something the whole General Assembly can support.
Sen. Richard Madaleno, the panel's vice chairman, told a cheering crowd in Annapolis Monday that he expected unanimous votes in both chambers for changes to add more funding to education and to restore a 2-percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees.
Teachers and state employees wearing green rallied outside the state house, cheering for a better budget.
Panel chairman Sen. Edward Kasemeyer said he felt confident Republican Gov. Larry Hogan would also support the changes.
Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said Monday night that the governor believes a pay raise is deserved, but is concerned with moving contributions from the pension system to help restore funding.
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