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One week to go: Policing reform, sports betting top agenda for closing days of the Maryland General Assembly

Only in 2021, perhaps, could approval of a massive state budget fattened by federal aid to help struggling businesses and families go by with barely a remark in the Maryland General Assembly.

“It’s been like ‘small ball’ this year to pass the budget,” Senate President Bill Ferguson said as his chamber voted Friday to put the finishing touches on the $52 billion spending plan, up from a $49 billion proposal made in January.

Small ball, as baseball fans know, is the strategy of stringing together less-glamorous actions — bunts, walks, stolen bases — to score runs and win a game.