Democratic reversal delays House debate on Baltimore school construction bill

With an updated fiscal analysis of a revised plan to overhaul Baltimore schools unavailable, Republican lawmakers in the House of Delegates pressed proponents Wednesday night to delay debate on House Bill 860 for another day.

But when Democrats — led by Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore Democrat who is a member of the Appropriations Committee — resisted that request, it appeared as if the motion by Del. Susan W. Krebs, R-Carroll, to delay debate for a day would be defeated on an easy, party-line vote. Ordinarily, revised fiscal analyses of legislation are not printed until after final passage of a bill.

“I don’t understand the need that you have to ram this through,” said Del. Michael A. McDermott, R-Lower Shore. “What’s the hurry? Why are you in such a rush?”

With the votes on the board and Republican delegates pleading to delay debate, an aide to House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel, approached Del. Curt Anderson, chairman of Baltimore’s delegation. Moments later, Anderson stood and changed his vote — urging other members of the House to vote with him to delay debate.

As votes furiously flicked from red to green on the electronic boards that reside on two walls of the House chamber, Del. Norman H. Conway, a Lower Eastern Shore Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said the panel did good work on the Baltimore school construction bill.

“I don’t want that to be overshadowed,” he said.

The House then voted 123-11 to delay debate — and the offering of amendments to the bill — until Thursday.

It’s unclear what Wednesday night’s win for Republican lawmakers will actually yield; a revised fiscal analysis would still not ordinarily be available until all potential amendments were adopted and the House gave final approval to a bill.