By: Nicholas Sohr

Welcome to Week 2 of the Eye on Annapolis Podcast where we look back at the week that was and preview the week that will be in the State House.

The 2012 General Assembly session got off to a more contentious start than most expected.

Gov. Martin O’Malley floated the idea of raising the state sales tax a penny as he and lawmakers face a $1.1 billion budget deficit and calls to invest more in transportation, schools, water treatment plants and other infrastructure.

Senate President Mike Miller put an arrow through that trial balloon almost as soon as it launched.

With the governor’s budget on tap this week and much of his legislative package expected, we will soon see how he intends to close the budget gap, spur development of an offshore wind farm and raise money to spend more on roads, trains and other transportation projects.

Listen up.

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