Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday he will propose $2 billion in cuts next week when he releases his plan for Maryland’s next state budget and that he continues to have a “very high bar” for tax increases.

The legislative session opened Wednesday with pomp and circumstance, with Moore addressing both chambers and members publicly praising their parties’ leaders. Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones were reinstalled as Senate majority leader and House speaker,

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has warned that massive budget cuts are on the way as state lawmakers try to solve a $3 billion budget gap. He told Maryland residents Wednesday to brace themselves for $2 billion worth of cuts in his soon-to-be-released budget.