Md. House Member: Message Received on Pri. Geo. HQ

Del. Tawanna P. Gaines (D-Prince George's), named this morning to the conference committee charged with working out differences between the House and Senate budgets, said she thinks it's highly likely the conference will drop a senate proposal to make $36 million in Prince George's school funds contingent on the school system dropping its new headquarters.

Gaines said she and others will need to read the amendment and have further conversations before any decisions are made. But she said she thought the Senate was likely trying to make a point that the new offices are a waste of money amid an economic recession. With the message sent, she said the item may not survive to become part of the compromise budget adopted by the full general Assembly.

"We're usually not punitive--this was to get the school system's attention," she said.

The school system has already signed a contract to lease the Washington Plaza complex. She said if it would cost school officials more to break their contract than to stick with it, the state would likely not reduce school funding if they moved ahead.

But, she said, senators were sending a message she believes is important: "You can't ask for money...and then turn around and buy what some would consider to be a luxury."