** UPDATE: Part 1 of alcohol tax bill passed the House (78 to 62). The bill must go to the Senate, it hikes the sales tax on alcohol from 6 to 9 percent and allocates about $50 million in revenues for school construction in the largest counties. A second measure is still on the table. It increases the sales tax too, and allocates a different portion of the money for school operations in Baltimore and Prince George's counties.  

** Original Post
GOP members of the House of Delegates are trying their best to gum up the passage of a 50 percent hike in the sales tax on beer, wine and liquor.

The caucus members are all taking advantage of a rule that enables each member to explain their vote for two minutes ... and they are doing so on the procedural and the substantive votes. The body had been debating the tax increase since noon.

Republican members jumped to their feet and hollered with outrage when the vote was called at 12:30 p.m. They are still explaining their votes.

Some Democrats appear to be joining the GOP in opposition. (But aren't tying up floor time by explaining their votes.) We caught up with Democrat Del. John Bohanan, is the vice-chairman on the Appropriations Committee, and said he does not support the tax hike because the budget was balanced without it.

Republicans have been complaining about the way the revenues from the taxes will be distributed to counties. The large counties get tens of millions. The smaller counties split a couple million.

Bohanan concurred with the concern. He explained the distribution thusly: "It gives you the votes you need to pass the bill."