Susan L.M. Aumann

Del. Stephen LaffertyDel. Stephen Lafferty (D-Stoneleigh) told PolitickerMD.com that he would look at the prospects of running for state Senate if Sen. James Brochin (D-Towson) declines to seek re-election in 2010. Brochin has expressed interest in running for the position of county executive in Baltimore County, but has yet to announce any formal plans.

"One always has to keep their options open," Lafferty said, adding that the current buzz surrounding a possible Senate run is "speculation" and "premature."

Even as the state is slashing its budget in preparation for an economic downturn, Republican House delegates are pushing for a revocation of the computer services tax and Gov. Martin O’Malley isn’t objecting.

“I was hoping that abolishing the computer services tax would be a component [of the House’s budget bill]” Del. Susan L.M. Aumann (R-Baltimore County) said in reference to the 6 percent sales tax on computer maintenance and services, passed during last fall’s legislative special session.

ANNAPOLIS- A day after the House of Delegates voted 105-34 in favor of a spending plan that reduces Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed 2009 budget by more than $511 million, several Republican House members said that the cuts need to be deeper, arguing that the plan does not go far enough to counter future economic and fiscal slowdowns.