Pages and Scholarships

Each week, a few high school seniors from around the state come to Annapolis to serve as House Pages.  In addition to learning the inner workings of the legislative branch, these Pages help run the House floor.  Last week we were joined by Michael Blakeslee from Walter Johnson High School.

This week we have been joined by Joy London, a senior at Whitman High School.  If you or a student you know is interested in the Page program, more information can be found here.

As a reminder, state legislators can also award scholarship funds to students pursuing higher education opportunities in Maryland.  More information about my office's scholarship program is on my website.

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

Legislative News

Since my last update, I have filed two ambitious pieces of legislation.

• The Energy Storage Study Act: I have been working to expand energy storage in Maryland since being elected.  Energy storage devices include batteries, which can be paired with renewable generation to allow us to deploy more renewables in an efficient manner.  For example, storage paired with solar allows for the use of solar power in the evenings.  The legislation  will convene all of the stakeholders to consider what rules and regulations need to be updated to allow for the deployment of energy storage devices and what, if any, market incentives would be useful to expand the use of storage devices. 
• The Smoke-Free Multifamily Housing Promotion Act: The bill uses tobacco settlement funds to establish a grant program to incentivize apartment and condo buildings to go smoke-free. We know that secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by 25-30% and stroke risk by 20-30%. The Surgeon General has stated that the only effective method of eliminating secondhand smoke in a building is to entirely eliminate smoking. This legislation would create an incentive for doing so from a fund that is supposed to go towards anti-smoking efforts.

Both of these bills will be subject to hearings later in the legislative session.
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I am proud to support a legislative agenda rolled out by the General Assembly leadership to try and address the impact of Donald Trump on the state:

• Maryland Defense Act of 2017: Would empower Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh to sue the federal government when appropriate and additional budget funds to support those efforts.
• Affordable Care Act Resolution: Would call on Maryland's Congressional Delegation and Governor to oppose and resist repeal of the health care reform law which has provided coverage to hundreds of thousands of Marylanders.
• Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission: Establishes a new commission to monitor federal healthcare law changes and to prepare a response for the state should coverage or funding changes be made.
• Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Task Force: Monitors federal financial consumer protection law changes and keep the legislature and Governor updated on potential impacts to the state.
• Constitutional Convention Withdrawal: A resolution that withdraws Maryland's existing calls for Constitutional Conventions in order to prevent a new convention from undermining the Constitution.

Each of these proposals will be subject to a hearing in the days ahead.

Administration News

Last week, Governor Hogan came to the House chamber to deliver the State of the State address.  It is always exciting to be in the chamber packed with both the House and the Senate, the Governor's Cabinet, local leaders, statewide officials such as Attorney General Frosh and Treasurer Kopp (two former District 16 legislators!) and former officials such as former Governors Glendening and Hughes.  You can read the Governor's remarks on his website.

Many of us were surprised that Governor Hogan made no mention of recent events at the federal level, from healthcare to immigration.  These events will impact Maryland and many other governors—including Republicans—have been speaking up on them.

Metro

Interested legislators have continued to meet as the WMATA-Metro Work Group in Annapolis this session.  Thus far, the group has heard from Malcolm Augustine, who sits on the Metro Board of Directors as an alternate from Prince George's County, and the Maryland Department of Transportation regarding the new independent rail safety oversight commission for Metro the federal government has mandated.  You can see the full schedule of meetings here.

Community News

• Condolences to Simon Atlas on the passing of his sister, Rita Wolfson.
• District 16's Jillian Copeland has created a T-Shirt in honor of the Women's March.  Proceeds go to charitable causes.  Learn more here on her website.
• Congratulations to District 16 resident Norm Augustine, recipient of this year's Speaker's Medallion in the House of Delegates.

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

Community Events

• On Monday, February 13, the Montgomery County Civic Federation will hold the fifth annual Budgetpalooza, exploring the Montgomery County budget.  The event is at 7:15pm in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Executive Office Building at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.
• Bethesda Urban Partnership's "Play In A Day" Event will return on Saturday, February 18 at 8pm at Imagination Stage.  Learn more here.
• On Sunday, February 19, the Montgomery County Democratic Party will be holding its annual brunch.  More information is available on the Party's website.
• The Flying V Theater, which performs at the Writer's Center in Bethesda, is premiering a new show, Brother Mario, on Saturday, February 25 and running until Sunday, March 12.​  In this existential mashup of the worlds of Anton Chekhov and The Super Mario Brothers, Mario begins to wonder if there is more to life than jumping, go-karts, and princesses in other castles. Come visit the Mushroom Kingdom to battle Bowser and mid-life ennui in equal measure.  Tickets start at $20 and may be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door.
• The Bernard Ebb Songwriting Awards, presented by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will occur on March 3 at 7:30pm at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.  More information is available on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website.
• The Fifth Annual Bethesda Film Fest, hosted by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will take place on March 17 and 18 at Imagination Stage.  Visit here for more information.

If you know of an upcoming community event, please email [email protected].