Out and About and July Update

​After a virtual July 4th in 2020, it was terrific to see so many of you while I was out and about with the District 16 Team and my family on July 4th.  As we open back up and reconnect in person, it is easy to try and disregard the last year plus as an anomalous time in our lives that we will tell our grand children about.  But I hope we take some lessons from the past year including the mundane—like washing our hands—to the more significant, like the value of government during critical times.  In particular, the federal government stepping up as the economy began to freeze made a huge difference in people's lives.  Whatever the next black swan event is, I hope we remember the lessons from this one.

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

I continue to serve on the Workgroup on the Assessment and Funding of School Facilities, a significant issue for Montgomery County where school construction remains a key priority.  You can see the materials from--and watch--the first 2021 meeting of the work group here.
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Legislation passed during the 2021 legislative session continues to become effective, with the most recent effective date on July 1.  If you are curious about the effective date of a specific law, you can see a complete list here.

Administration News

Last month, I wrote about Governor Hogan's announcement that he would end the state's participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program months before its conclusion. For some, this seemed like a simple way to encourage people to look for work.  But for many, this was a premature reduction--or in the case of gig workers and independent contractors, entire elimination--of an economic lifeline.  The Governor was taken to court and repeatedly lost.  I joined many of my colleagues in the House of Delegates in calling on the Governor to cease his premature cancellation of the program.  After a court issued an injunction preventing the state from withdrawing from the program, Governor Hogan finally gave up his effort.
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The Governor's proposed private toll road widening project is expected to go before the Board of Public Works this summer for approval of a "pre-development agreement."  The State Treasurer recently submitted a report on the agreement which you can review here.  The subcommittee I chair also held a hearing on the proposed agreement, which you can watch here.  Both the Treasurer's Report and legislative hearing were part of the 30 day review provided for under the state's public private partnership law.


Community News

• District 16's Mike Goldman has been a long-serving member of the Metro Board for Maryland.  Last month he stepped down from the role and the Montgomery County Council honored him.  You can watch it here.
• Congratulations to Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Service Director Ken Hartman on his new position in the County Executive's office.
• Congratulations to Carmen Larsen on her reappointment to the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Board.
• District 16's Michael Lemov wrote an op-ed in The Hill newspaper about the anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• Several District 16 residents were accepted into the 2022 Class of Leadership Montgomery.  Congratulations to the following participants:
  • ​Frazier Blaylock, Core Program
  • Jason Loewith, Core Program
  • Amy Schiffman, Core Program
  • Dana Marie Ray, Emerging Class
  • Susan Greif, Senior Class
  • Karen Herron, Senior Class
  • Betty Romero, Senior Class
  • Diana Rubin, Senior Class

​And she is not a constituent, but congratulations to my former intern Jane Lyons, Emerging Class.

• Last month I congratulated Galia Steinbach on her reappointment to the County's Commission on Common Ownership Communities.  There was a typo in her name and I apologize for the error.

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If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email marc@marckorman.com.