Baltimore's Del. Maggie McIntosh will take over the powerful role of chairing of the House Appropriations Committee, House Speaker Michael E. Busch announced Wednesday.
The appointment of McIntosh, a 22-year veteran Democrat, returns the gavel of the House's budget panel to the city for the first time since Del. Howard P. "Pete" Rawlings died in 2003. Since then, the chairman has been Del. Norman Conway of Wicomico County, who lost his seat in the Nov. 4 election.
McIntosh, 66, has chaired the House Environmental Matters Committee since 2003 -- a role in which she has played a lead role in crafting Maryland's anti-pollution laws. Taking over the Appropriations chairmanship can be seen as a promotion because that position is regarded as second only to the speaker in clout in the House.
In a statement, Busch praised McIntosh as "one of the most well-respected leaders in Annapolis." She takes over the chair at a time when the state budget is under the pressure of a $900 million revenue shortfall, with Republican Gov.-elect Larry Hogan vowing to cut the budget and roll back taxes.