Md. House Passes $42B Budget

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland House of Delegates has passed the state's $42 billion budget.

The House passed the bill on a 133-5 vote on Wednesday. The next step is for the House and Senate, which are both controlled by Democrats, to work out differences in the two versions of the budget measure they have approved.

The differences are minor compared to ones the two chambers have had to reconcile in recent years. After a panel of negotiators iron out their differences, the two chambers will vote again on the final bill.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan thanked the House for its hard work in passing the budget. However, the governor noted some concerns with reductions that were made to the state's Rainy Day Fund, compared to the governor's initial proposal.

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