Maryland's top legislative leaders are due to give their take on taxes, a jobs bill and other potential big-ticket items this morning at annual pre-session retreat in Cambridge.

 Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has been outspoken in his belief that the state needs to increase taxes to fund transportation projects and the construction jobs that would accompany such an effort. He has pledged to pass some type of revenue package through his chamber. 

House Speaker Michael E. Busch is often more circumspect on the topic, and typically stresses his desire for a robust jobs package without expressing exactly how it would be funded. A number of urban Democrats in his caucus have flat out said they won't support more taxes, which could make rounding up the needed votes a challenge. 

Missing from the action this year is Gov. Martin O'Malley. He sent Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown to address the conference Thursday night. Brown talked about the potential for teacher pensions to be shifted to the locals and unspecified revenue enhancements, but stayed away from the details.