End of Year Update

I hope you and your family are having an enjoyable holiday season.  Since being elected to represent District 16 in the Maryland House of Delegates in November, I have been busy studying up for the 2015 legislative session, attending new legislator orientation, and participating in a bus tour of the state with other new members of the Maryland House and Senate.

Recently, I was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee.  Unlike Capitol Hill, Delegates serve on only one committee and I look forward to helping to address our budgetary challenges and funding priorites over the next four years.

I am also pleased to announce that I have hired my legislative aide, Brian Kemmet.  Brian has substantial legislative experience in Annapolis, including working on the Appropriations Committee, and is poised to be a great asset both to me, as well as District 16.  Brian will be joined by a session secretary, Noah Patton, and terrific team of interns from local high schools and the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.

Legislative News
The District 16 Democratic Club is holding a wine and cheese reception to send off the District 16 legislators to Annapolis.  Please attend and learn about the legislative outlook for 2015.
District 16 Democratic Club Wine and Cheese Reception
Sunday, January 4, 2015 from 3:30pm-5:30pm
Home of Lucy Freeman
4708 Dorset Street
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Eliot Greenwald 301-320-5750 or [email protected].

Agency News
As you may have heard, there is now a projected deficit for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year in Maryland.  Two excellent sources that provide information about the budgetary challenges are the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates December 2014 revision and the Maryland Spending Affordability Committee 2014 Interim Report.  Due largely to revenues being less than expected because of the federal government pulling back on spending and hiring--something that has an economic effect on Maryland regardless of your views on federal spending--a $414 million budget deficit has opened up this year and a $760 million deficit is projected for next year.  The major, constitutionally required task of the General Assembly in 2015 will be to address this shortfall.

The Maryland Department of the Environment recently released a zero waste plan for the state.  The purpose of the plan is to eliminate trash through reducing, reusing, and recycling by 2040.  This is an ambitious goal that will require multiple policy (and, perhaps, behavioral) changes over the next few years.  Montgomery County already has a recycling rate in excess of 50%, far above the state's current 35% goal.

Community News

• On Monday, January 5th the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from State Senator Richard Madaleno (D18).  The group meets at the Original Pancake House, 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, at 7:30am.  For more information please email [email protected].  
• On Monday, January 26th the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board will host an operating budget forum with County Executive Ike Leggett.  The event will be held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane) at 7pm.

If you know of a District 16 event that should be advertisted, please email [email protected].

District 16 Notes

• Condolences to the family of Helen Goldberg.  Helen was a long-serving District 16 Democratic precinct official who passed away in November.
• Condolences to the family of Darlene "Deedee" Montgomery.  Deedee is a former President of the Woman's Democratic Club.
• Congratulations to District 16 resident Blair Levin on being named a non-resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
• Congratulations to District 16 resident Len Simon on his appointmen to the Board of Directors of the Bethesda Urban Partnership.
• Congratulations to District 16 resident Javier Martinez on being named one of the 40 Under 40: Latino in American Politics.
• Congratulations to former District 16 resident and Delegate candidate Scott Goldberg and his wife Dara on the birth of his son, Reid.
• Congratulations to District 16 residents Tom and Dana Manatos on the birth of their son, George.

If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email [email protected].

Sincerely,
Marc Korman

​P.S. Click here to help me start my term in Annapolis by contributing to the campaign.