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I hope you and your family are remaining safe and healthy. As much of the media and national conversation has shifted to reopening--and with Governor Hogan announcing a partial reopening in parts of Maryland as soon as today--it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of the shutdowns was to slow the spread of COVID-19 so that hospitals and medical professionals would be more able to deal with the volume of cases that will be with us for some time. That means that even as some of the restrictions are loosened, we cannot expect to immediately revert back to old habits and patterns. It is frustrating for many and deeply impactful on the economic well-being of many more, but it is our current reality until therapeutic or preventative treatments for COVID-19 are developed. 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.
COVID-19 COVID-19 and the impacts it is having on all our sectors of our society is the most important issue my office and the state legislature is working on. For the latest statistics and data on COVID-19, visit the state's portal: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/. I also post District 16 zip code COVID-19 statistics on Facebook and Twitter daily, as well as statistics regarding congregate facilities such as nursing homes weekly. The Governor's orders can all be found on his website. If you have a question about their meaning or how they are enforced, reach out to me anytime as we have been able to clarify many provisions for constituents. Many of you are trying to navigate the state's unemployment system, which was simply not equipped for the volume or complexity of the current caseload. The Department of Labor website is your entryway for unemployment benefits: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/uibenefits.shtml. If you are having trouble with unemployment and live in District 16, you can fill out our District 16 constituent service Google form for assistance here. The legislature's primary means of providing comprehensive oversight of the COVID-19 response is a Joint Legislative Workgroup. You can read about their work and watch/listen to their meetings here. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation & the Environment, which I chair, is holding a briefing on Wednesday, May 20th with the Department of Transportation to better understand COVID-19's impact on our transportation sector. More information will be available here prior to the briefing. Legislative News The Governor recently vetoed numerous pieces of legislation and let others become law without his signature. Of the bills I authored, Governor Hogan allowed three to become law without his signature:
The Governor also vetoed two bills I authored:
The Governor also vetoed numerous other, significant pieces of legislation including the Blueprint for Maryland's future; a major package for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to settle litigation; background checks on firearms transfers; a study of expanded commuter rail; funding for anti-violence programs and coordination; and more. The Governor's press release links to the vetoed bills lists and letters. One bill the Governor allowed to become law but will not go into effect is the Built to Learn Act, bipartisan legislation to invest more in school construction. The legislation was tied to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. The legislature will have the option to try and override these vetoes when it next convenes. ----- The Department of Legislative Services recently released the 2020 Session Major Issues Review, which highlights some of the legislature's work on major priorities in 2020. You can read the report here. ----- If you are starting or continuing your higher education next year, you may be eligible to apply for my office scholarship. More information is online. Election 2020 The 2020 primary is on June 2nd. The primary will largely be conducted by mail. You can return your ballot postage paid through the mail or at dropbox locations. If you have to vote in person, a few polling sites will be open on Election Day but do not just go to your typical, neighborhood polling site. You can learn more about local voting options here. You can check your voting and ballot status here to make sure a ballot is on the way online. And be sure to click here to watch this Public Service Announcement from the Montgomery County House and Senate Delegation regarding the election. See if you can spot your District 16 legislators. Administration News Last year the Maryland Department of Transportation released a Context Guide, finally recognizing that a road in downtown Bethesda is not the same as a road in rural Garrett County. You can view the guide here. I wrote the State Highway Administration with questions and comments about the guide and the State Highway Administration recently responded. The short version of the response is that the document will continue to evolve, so we can and will continue to send suggestions. Community News
If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences or an upcoming event, please email [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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