Federal legislators are expected to finish their work on health care legislation this week, but for Maryland officials, the work is just beginning.

Gov. Martin O’Malley said Jan. 19 that the state should continue furloughs, lay off several dozen employees, raise college tuition and transfer nearly a billion dollars from sources that include its capital fund in order to close a projected $2 billion budget shortfall.

President Obama “fired up” a largely student audience at the University of Maryland Comcast Center Thursday, trying to induce them to support his embattled health care reform plan.