Republicans argued the Democratic-controlled chamber didn't cut deeply enough and that billions of dollars from a federal stimulus package masks long-term deficits.
Another potential big-ticket conflict could arise over the state's medevac fleet. Expanding on O'Malley's proposal, the House has proposed spending about $55 million to buy three new helicopters next year.
But in a 9-2 vote late Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee endorsed delaying the procurement until 2011 and conducting a formal study of the matter. Sponsored by Sen. Robert J. Garagiola, a Montgomery County Democrat, the measure is a potential setback for the state police department, which wants to start overhauling its 12-helicopter fleet as soon as possible.
"If they wanted to conduct their study, they should have done that years ago, when this whole helicopter replacement program" was first proposed, said Maj. A.J. McAndrew, commander of the State Police Aviation Command. Further delay would jeopardize the readiness of the fleet, McAndrew said.
Proponents of reforming or privatizing Maryland's embattled medevac system have been pushing the Garagiola bill as their best hope this session to delay a fleet overhaul that would effectively cement state police control over medevac functions for the foreseeable future.
Though the Garagiola bill is unlikely to pass the House, it could persuade the Senate's appropriations committee to cut helicopter money from its version of the budget. Maryland's vaunted EMS system has been under scrutiny since a fatal crash in September and a critical legislative audit last year.
Byson F. Popham, a lobbyist for Air Methods Corp, which wants to take over the system, said "impromevements can be made after an appropriate study."
