Ambitious education plan moves forward in Maryland House of Delegates

Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said she hoped the bill would be passed by Saturday at the latest.

During subcommittee and committee votes this week, Republican delegates voted against the bill, leading McIntosh to believe that the full House vote could break down along party lines. Democrats hold more than two-thirds of seats in the House.

“I would anticipate it will be a partisan vote,” McIntosh said.

Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, has repeatedly railed against the Kirwan Commission and Democratic lawmakers’ push for the commission’s plans. He has said some of the education policy ideas may be well-intended, but that it’s fiscally irresponsible to push forward an expensive plan with no means to pay for it.

Hogan also has blasted separate proposals to raise money that lawmakers are considering, such as expanding the state sales tax to include professional services, a notion resisted by many in those businesses.

On his social media accounts Tuesday, Hogan criticized the legislature’s changes to the bill and said lawmakers went “behind closed doors” and “hatched” the adjustments to help Baltimore and Prince George’s.

“Their plan is to force through amendments that require putting state taxpayers on the hook for even more of the Kirwan plan’s massive tax burden,” he wrote.

Those amendments were discussed and voted on during open meetings of the subcommittees and committees.

If the House of Delegates approves the education bill, it also would need approval by the state Senate before being sent to Hogan for his consideration.