The proposal passed after a long debate between the National Rifle Association and gun-control advocates over the scope and content of the classes. The final version would allow local school boards the option of using courses designed by the NRA but would prohibit the use of guns and ammunition in classrooms. What we really have is a new development, one that I believe will ultimately lead to a more educated population. Some legislative budget leaders complained that the governor was building expensive monuments to his legacy at the expense of state health-care programs, which are showing signs of financial neglect. Republican leaders also complained that the budget is growing too fast when the economic outlook is uncertain.
Lawmakers are concerned because state budget officials project a revenue slowdown late next year.
In the end, Glendening accepted small cuts in his own programs and agreed to provide more money for health care, prompting the General Assembly to approve his budget with few substantial trims. One major source of new health care funds will be a tax-amnesty measure for those who have not paid their state taxes. In general, Glendening's agenda sailed through the legislature this year with occasional moments of drama but few major glitches. The governor added drunken driving to his list of priorities for the first time, and lawmakers adopted major revisions to the state's drunken driving laws. Lawmakers also closed a legal loophole that prevents prosecutors from telling judges and juries that a driver refused to submit to a breath test.