"We taxed our citizens in November," said Del. Charles E. Barkley, a Democrat from Montgomery County. "I do not believe we come back two months later and say, `Whoops, we didn't do it right; we need to do it again.'"
But the House rejected Barkley's amendment. Other lawmakers said the state needs to maintain sizable reserves because of economic uncertainty.
Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the minority leader from Southern Maryland, proposed replacing the millionaires' tax with savings from elimination of 900 vacant state positions. He also suggested taking $50 million from the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, the state's insurer of last resort.
Del. Michael D. Smigiel Sr., an Eastern Shore Republican, warned that the new tax would cause high earners to leave Maryland.
"They're not just going to take this money and hand it over," Smigiel said. "If you punish those who are out there bringing in money for the state of Maryland ... our problems will be compounded."
But John Eckenrode, head of a Catonsville computer services firm and a co-founder of the Maryland Computer Services Association, called that argument "totally vacuous."
Eckenrode is one of roughly 6,000 Marylanders earning enough to be affected by the millionaires' tax, and he said he hopes his fellow high earners will decide the alternative levy is an "eminently fair trade-off" for eliminating the computer tax.
"How can somebody making a million dollars a year complain in the face of saving an industry that surely would have been incredibly hampered?" he said.
gadi.dechter@baltsun.com bradley.olson@baltsun.com
Sun reporter Laura Smitherman contributed to this article.
WHAT'S LEFT
The 2008 General Assembly session ends tomorrow, but lawmakers still have some major issues to resolve:
Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed settlement with Constellation Energy Group.
Restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.
Maryland Auto Insurance Fund reform.
Ban on electronic bingo machines.
Public safety and DNA samples.
Special congressional election in the 4th District.
