By: Alexander Pyles

Gov. Martin O’Malley is apparently still smarting from the elongated fight over expanded gambling last year.

Responding to questions Wednesday about his commitment to advocating for raising money for transportation projects, O’Malley said he had tried to do just that in 2012, to no avail.

A special session to discuss raising money through a gas tax was on the table midway through the General Assembly session last year. But, O’Malley said, “we decided … to talk about gaming.”

“I say ‘we’ broadly,” the governor added.

The Senate and House of Delegates disagreed over expanding casino gambling in Maryland last year to the point that it derailed budget talks and forced a special session to complete budget negotiations in May. Another session to deal with gambling was held in August.

O’Malley hoped for better luck with raising transportation money this year but admitted he felt like he was in the same position as last year.

“I hope were able to resolve it, and I hope we forge that consensus in my time here,” O’Malley said.

His term expires at the end of 2014.