Happy Holidays: December Update

Next month, the 2020 legislative session will begin and these emails will be coming out weekly.  If you have any questions during the session or views you would like to share, just clicking reply to this email will deliver a message directly to me.  If you would like to see dates of interest during the legislative session, click here.

As always, you can keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter or by clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook.

Legislative News

The Department of Legislative Services publishes issue papers each December that set the stage for the upcoming legislative session.  You can read this year's issue papers here.
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As chair of the 24-member Montgomery County House Delegation, I pay particular attention to the local legislation--bills affecting only Montgomery County.  Such local legislation was subject to an initial public hearing in December in Rockville and will now go to our local committees for consideration.  You can see all of the local bills here.
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Part of my interim--the time between legislative sessions--was spent serving on a legislatively mandated task force to study the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).  Montgomery County has no four year University System of Maryland institution, but it does have USG which offers programs from different schools around the state.  You can read the task force report here.
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Maryland PIRG gave me a 100% score for my 2019 voting record.  You can see what consumer rights and public interest legislation was scored here.

Administration News

The latest estimates of the state's revenue picture have been released.  The estimates show steady to positive news as the revenue projections for the current year and next year have been increased.
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The big news out of the Hogan Administration during the past few weeks is the departure of Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn.  You can read about his departure here.

On a related note, the Hogan Administration proposed some changes to its I-495/I-270 widening plans the Friday before Thanksgiving and requested a vote by the Board of Public Works on the proposal the following Wednesday.  I joined with numerous colleagues to request that the vote be delayed so there would be adequate time for review of the changes.  The Administration has delayed the vote as they look for the necessary support from another member of the Board.

Community News

• The Bethesda Urban Partnership has a useful website that shows all of the current development projects in downtown Bethesda.  It also has a map of sidewalk closures with pedestrian detour options.  Check it out here.
• State legislators from District 16 and District 18, along with Councilman Friedson, were pleased to join the State Highway Administration (SHA) to announce pedestrian improvements at three intersections on Wisconsin Avenue: Middleton Lane; Avondale Street/Commerce Lane; and Chase Avenue.  All three intersections have pedestrian safety issues that SHA is now planning to address with a full stop light and beacons.
• WTOP profiled work I am doing on sidewalk closures in District 16.  You can read the story here.
• Congratulations to Elliott Brown and Jessica Kronstadt on their appointment and re-appointment to the County's Commission on Health.  And congratulations to Timothy Tuff and Rob McGarrah on their appointments to the County's Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission.

Community Events

• The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will next meet on Monday, January 6th at 7:30am to hear from the Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent, Jack Smith.  The meetings are held at the Original Pancake House in downtown Bethesda.
• On Tuesday, January 7th, Montgomery County Public Schools will host a Districtwide Boundary Analysis Public Meeting.  The meeting is at 7pm at Walter Johnson High School.
• The 2020 legislative session commences on Wednesday, January 8th.
• On Sunday, January 12th, the District 16 Democratic Club will host a "send-off" for the District 16 Team as we commence the annual legislative session.  The meeting will be held at 3:30pm at the Bannockburn Community Clubhouse.

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