AUGUSTA – The Maine House and Senate briefly reconvened Monday morning in a special session after adjourning last week upon passing a $5.8 billion budget.

Last week’s adjournment was a strategic move by majority Democrats designed to allow the budget, passed mainly along party lines, to take effect before July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

Gov. John Baldacci directed the Legislature to reconvene in a March 31 proclamation. The session is scheduled to end June 15.