ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Senate has approved the state's roughly $37 billion budget.
The Senate voted 42-5 on Wednesday for the measure, which includes some changes to the bill already approved by the House of Delegates.
One of those changes reduces the amount of money for the state's rainy day fund. Gov. Martin O'Malley submitted a budget plan with a rainy day fund of 6 percent of the state's $16 billion general fund to provide an extra cushion to prepare for federal budget cuts. The Senate has shaved that down to 5.5 percent.
The Senate debate was far shorter this year than in recent years, when the budget felt extra pressure due to the recession and its aftermath.
The House and Senate will now work out some differences in a conference committee.
