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Prior to the pandemic, every February, members of the Legislative Black Caucus would share short Maryland historical speeches during Black History Month. As we are in Black History Month, I thought I would share a little bit of Black History in the Maryland General Assembly. 1954 was the breakthrough year for African Americans, as three were elected to the General Assembly for the first time. In the House, Emory Cole and Truly Hatchett were elected. In the Senate, Harry Cole was elected. In 1958, Verda Welcome was elected the first female African American Delegate and then the first female African American State Senator four years later. Senator Welcome's portrait now hangs in the Senate chamber.  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.
Pension Update The state pension is a niche issue I am sometimes asked about, often as a proxy for the state's overall fiscal health and responsibility. A recent update from the Joint Committee on Pensions and the annual budget analysis of the State Retirement Agency provide a good and current lay of the land. The pension is 76.2% funded and projected to reach 80% funding (a strong benchmark the rating agencies look at) in fiscal year 2025. That is after many years of difficult decisions around the pension including changing impacts on employees, shifting some burdens to the counties, and increasing the state taxpayer contribution. The state tax dollar contribution to the pension fund for fiscal year 23 is $1.8b, with $373m from local school boards. You can read a lot more in the annual budget analysis and Joint Pensions Committee Report. Legislative Update Since my last newsletter, I had a hearing on my bill related to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF). The legislation (HB 377) will allow the state's auto-insurer of last result to offer more flexible and affordable installment plans instead of forcing drivers to choose between paying interest rates for insurance premiums or driving without insurance. You can watch the hearing here. The bill has since been voted favorably out of the Economic Matters Committee. I also had the bill hearing on the Green School Construction Act (HB 365), legislation to encourage more environmentally responsible school construction projects in the state. You can watch that hearing here. ----- Last week, the Maryland Transit Caucus heard from the Department of Legislative Services and the American Public Transportation Association about the federal infrastructure bill. You can watch the briefing here, on the Transit Caucus's YouTube page. ----- A few years ago, I worked with several colleagues to create a state matching funds program for local government to establish summer Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) programs. The latest report on the program recently arrived. Six jurisdictions (including Montgomery County) have been awarded state taxpayer funds to match their own local taxpayer funds to feed 3,996 students during the summer months. But there is still unbelievable need. Governor Hogan included over $4 million in his budget request to radically increase the size of the program--which began with a $200,000 mandated appropriation. You can read the report here. Community News Condolences to the family of Carl Leventhal. Dr. Leventhal was an active District 16 constituent and father of former Councilmember George Leventhal. ----- Congratulations to two Bethesda residents on their nominations to the Montgomery County Library Board: James Montgomery and Marilyn Schiff ----- Congratulations to District 16's Leni Preston, who was appointed to the Policy Committee for the Maryland Commission on Health Equity. Community Events
I often get caught up in these emails discussing the legislation I introduce or the work of my committee (Appropriations) and subcommittee (Transportation & Environment). This week I want to step back and discuss some of the broader agenda items the House of Delegates will be taking up during the legislative session.  In no particular order, some of the issues are: Climate Solutions: We have made a lot of incremental progress on climate policy in the state of Maryland but this year we are poised for major legislative gains with an increased greenhouse gas reduction goal, regulation of methane emissions from landfills, promotion of just transition for workers in the fossil fuel economy, and much more. Expanding Family and Medical Leave: The House of Delegates is poised to pass this expanded leave program for workers this year. I want to give particular credit to my seatmate, Delegate Ariana Kelly, for leading the way on this issue. Helping Families Afford Basic Needs: The House Ways & Means Committee will promote legislation to expand the categories of goods that are not subject to the sales tax, such as diapers. Banning Ghost Guns: Under the leadership of Attorney General Brian Frosh and District 16's own Senator Susan Lee, the legislature will take on the growing threat of self-assembling and untraceable ghost guns. Greater Judicial Transparency: There will be a robust discussion over what visibility there is into the judicial system and judicial decision-making, as the General Assembly seeks to strike the right balance between judicial independence and adequate oversight by the legislature and the public of the judicial system. Legalizing Cannabis: The General Assembly plans to send to the voters a ballot question regarding whether or not the state should legalize recreational cannabis. It will likely be up for a vote this November. Expanding Women's Reproductive Health: Regardless of Supreme Court politics or decisions, Maryland has codified the right for a woman to choose an abortion into law. Legislation this year will work to ensure that right has practical meaning by clarifying who can perform procedures and their costs. Expanding Childcare: Even prior to the pandemic there was a shortage of childcare providers and the costs were too high, challenges only heightened by COVID-19. A legislative package this year will work to expand the provider base and cost assistance. Improving Infrastructure: The federal infrastructure bill has created a once in a generation opportunity to invest in our infrastructure and the House of Delegates will provide necessary oversight of this process. Of course, there will be over 3000 bills introduced during the legislative session and many other issues to tackle. But these represent some significant priorities. 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. Administration Update Sticking with my theme, a few people wrote back last week to note that my discussion of the Governor's budget did not include his tax proposals. As I serve on the Appropriations Committee, and not the Ways & Means Committee that deals with taxes, I sometimes gloss over that side of the ledger but it is important.  The Governor has proposed three basic tax changes: (1) Phase out of income taxes on all retiree income; (2) Elimination of the business filing fee for online filers; and (3) Extension of the Earned Income Tax Credit the General Assembly passed--and the Governor signed--last year. There are a few things to keep in mind about these proposals, which will be considered as part of budget negotiations. Regarding retiree income, the annual cost of the Governor's proposal rises to $730 million a year by 2027 and there are no restrictions based on the amount of income or tax bracket of the beneficiary. As to the Earned Income Tax Credit, it does not need to be extended until next year and the Governor excluded certain taxpayers the General Assembly previously included. Finally, tax reductions are not "free" but represent foregone revenue. Unlike the federal government, the state has to have a balanced budget each year. We are in a moment of budget surplus, but a lot of it represents "one time" money which will be spent over time and we will end up with projected deficits again.
Legislative Update I have introduced several more bills since my last newsletter that will soon be assigned for hearings:
The General Assembly has adopted the constitutionally required maps for state legislative district redistricting, something we must do every decade in response to the new census. For District 16, the only change is shifting precinct 04-32--the neighborhoods around Cabin John Mall and the Ivymount School--to District 15, which was their district before the 2010 census redistricting. You can browse the new map--which is subject to litigation--here. Community News District 16's Lily Freeman was front-and-center last week as Moms Demand Action came to Annapolis to advocate against ghost guns. You can watch her speak here. Lily was one of my high school interns last year! ----- Congratulations to another student in District 16, Zayn Bandukwalia, on being appointed to the Montgomery County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Advisory Council. Community Events
As I noted last week, the Governor's budget proposal has been released. The budget is the one bill the Maryland General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass each year and it has two major components:
On Monday, the General Assembly received the annual overview of the budget known as the fiscal briefing. You can watch the full briefing here. Or read the presentation 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 Update Last week, my first bill hearing took place on the Zero Emission Bus Transition Revision Act (HB 10), legislation that modifies the zero emissions bus transition bill from last year to assist the workforce. You can watch the hearing online. I have introduced several more bills since my last newsletter that will soon be assigned for hearings:
Metro's General Manager, Paul Wiedefeld, has announced his departure later this year. Mr. Wiedefeld has a history of service in the transportation sector in Maryland, having run both the Maryland Transit Administration and BWI Airport before leading Metro. Running Metro is a difficult job and I think Mr. Wiedefeld brought needed credibility to the role when he began and helped secure dedicated funding for the system which is critical to maintaining its capital. Unfortunately, two events have clouded the end of Mr. Wiedefeld's tenure: COVID-19, which is obviously beyond Metro's control, and the issues with the 7000 series of railcars that are not currently running. ----- The Governor's final six year Consolidated Transportation Program was released with the budget last week. There is a lot to digest and, as noted above, the budget includes dedicated funding for Metro and a projected extension of Highway User Revenue. But one area of interest is how the budget deals with the proposed expansion of I-270 and I-495. Last year, the Governor's political action committee ran attack ads against me and others, claiming that five specific transportation projects (four roads and one transit line) would be cancelled unless the Governor's road expansion plans advanced. The plan have advanced, yet in this final budget of Governor Hogan's tenure, four of the five projects (three roads and one transit line) still receive zero funding. Moreover, the Governor's draft transportation budget had no funds set aside for the project Montgomery County Councilmembers said they had secured last summer. After the Department of Transportation was asked about this at multiple meetings and hearings, Page MTA-54 of the final budget sets aside $400,000 to begin developing a project. Community News Montgomery County is beginning to plan the North Bethesda Bus Rapid Transit line, a proposed connection from Montgomery Mall to either Grosvenor or White Flint Metro Stations. Click here to apply for the corridor advisory committee. Click here to sign-up for updates. ----- The Comptroller has announced a three month extension of the state income tax due date. The filing and payment deadline will be Friday, July 15, 2022.----- Shout-out to District 16's Zoe Weiss, who testified in support of HB 49, Public Health - Emergency and Allergy Treatment - Nurse Practitioners legislation last week. You can watch Zoe's testimony starting at about nine minutes in of this video. ----- Congratulations to Bethesda's Laura Coyle on her reappointment to the Citizens Review Panel for Children. ----- Congratulations to Joan Kleinman, the long-serving District Director for Senator Van Hollen recently announced her retirement. Joan has been an incredible bridge between state officials and Senator Van Hollen. Speaking of which, Senator Van Hollen spoke at the Montgomery County Delegation last week, including about Joan. You can watch his remarks here, starting about 29 minutes into the meeting. Community Events
If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email marc@marckorman.com. The legislative session is off to a fast start in committees. In a normal legislative year we begin with short floor sessions--because no legislation has been passed by committees at this early date--and committee briefings. This year, because of COVID, we are skipping the short, largely ceremonial floor sessions and also quickly commencing bill hearings. The Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Transportation and the Environment that I chair is in the process of holding a series of relevant early briefings. And more are in planning on the Maryland Transportation Authority--the agency that handles EZPass--and its recent troubles as well as the Purple Line. You can view the first oversight briefing on Maryland's commuter rail system here. It was also covered in a media story.  You can view the first oversight briefing on Maryland's commuter rail system here. It was also covered in a media story.
The first hearing on one of my bills is also scheduled for tomorrow. The Zero-Emission Bus Transition Act Revisions (HB 10) will be heard by the Environment and Transportation Committee. 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. The Budget By the time you read this, the Governor's fiscal year 2023 budget proposal will be made publicly available. The budget will be available here and I will have more to say about it next week. But for those interested, the non-partisan Department of Legislative Services will hold its annual fiscal briefing on January 24 at 3pm to provide insight into the budget request. TransportationOne of my great frustrations with state government is the mismanagement of the Purple Line construction. I support the project and believe a suburb to suburb transit connection running from Bethesda through Silver Spring and College Park to New Carrollton will, in the long term, be beneficial to the region. But the path to getting there has been disappointing. I have been concerned about the Public Private Partnership (P3) used for the Purple Line from the time it was entered into. As a rank-and-file member five years ago, I joined with colleagues from Montgomery and Prince George's County to question the then-Transportation Secretary on some of the provisions. When I became chair of the Transportation & Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I requested that the P3 vendor attend the Maryland Transit Administration's budget hearing in 2020, which the Administration rejected. I have been in close contact with Department of Transportation officials since the construction contractor walked away and was pleased that the P3 vendor finally attended the Maryland Transit Administration budget hearing in 2021, where I had the opportunity to question them on the progress of the project. The budget last year included language I drafted requiring status reports from the Maryland Transit Administration on the progress of replacing the construction contractor and the most recent submission is informative. As you can read in the submission, the good news is the new construction contractor has been identified, the Board of Public Works will consider the award at its next meeting--the documentation for which is here--and the construction contractor will ramp up their work in the spring . But the awful news is that the total cost of the P3 has seen 66% growth since 2016 including almost 75% growth in the construction phase. The Administration tries to place the blame for this on inflation and COVID, but the truth is they accepted an unreasonably low bid in what looks like an effort to hide costs and we are paying for it. First with a departed construction contractor who has delayed the project and now with these increased costs and other changes to the project that increase the risk to the state. My subcommittee plans to hold a briefing on the project soon. ---- Maryland has a series of alternative fuel corridors that have been federally designed and, thus, eligible for federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations under the new federal infrastructure law. The entire Montgomery County House Delegation sent a letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation seeking the designation of additional corridors in the County. Read the letter here. You can read the response from the Department here. Community News
If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email marc@marckorman.com. The Maryland General Assembly convenes for its 90 day session today. Once again, we will be operating in a challenging public health environment and you can read about some of the protocols impacting the public here. The one silver lining is all of our floor sessions, committee meetings, and committee voting sessions now stream online and are accessible. You can visit the Maryland General Assembly website to keep track of all of our meetings or just reply to this email with any questions.  The office staff for the 2022 legislative session. 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. 2022 Legislative Session Agenda I am currently sponsoring nine pieces of legislation and the possibility of a few more still under development. That said, there are some significant issues the General Assembly will address that I may not be the sponsor of, but will take up significant time. This includes the annual budget which goes through the committee I serve on (Appropriations); further relief related to the continuing public health crisis; oversight of the public health response; legislation related to the potential legalization of recreational cannabis; and more. Although I am not the primary author of these bills, their development and advancement will be a part of my work these next 90 days. Moreover, there are numerous other issues in which we will be engaged including a comprehensive bill related to climate change and assisting renters facing eviction; the local legislation I help oversee as chair of the 24 member Montgomery County House Delegation; and my work in overseeing the state's transportation and environmental agencies' budgets as the Chair of the Transportation & Environment Subcommittee of Appropriations. It will be a busy legislative session. The legislation I am sponsoring includes: Young Readers Program Expansion Act: As a bibliophile, I may be most excited about this legislation that would support Imagination Library chapters in our state. Imagination Library programs sends a book a month to children under five and the Montgomery County chapter focuses on impoverished communities. The bill would set up a state matching program for local jurisdictions to support Imagination Library chapters. Green School Construction Act of 2022: For schools transitioning the fuel supply for their boilers, transitioning to a fossil fuel would become an ineligible cost for purposes of state matching dollars. There is no reason for state tax dollars to make long-term investments in fossil fuel infrastructure when schools can instead upgrade to greener options. Maryland Rail Investment Act of 2022: Maryland has an independent transportation authority for the construction, maintenance, and management of roads but not for transit. This legislation would create that by establishing a rail authority to support transit projects and funding it with toll revenue in excess of road maintenance needs, an approach also followed in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. WMATA Dedicated Funding Amendment Act of 2022: In 2018, Maryland was part of an historic success that established regional, dedicated funding for the Metro system. Although I continue to have significant concerns about the oversight and management of the system, there is no question that this funding has helped with Metro's capital needs. The legislation makes something of a technical change to the dedicated funding formula, contingent on parallel action in DC and Virginia, to apply a growth formula to the dedicated funding account instead of another capital fund. Senator Brian Feldman is working on the bill with me. Zero-Emission Bus Transition Act Revisions (HB 10): Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed my legislation with Senator Craig Zucker to transition the state's 800 bus fleet to zero emission. The new bill ensures that the bus workers are treated fairly during the transition. Motor Vehicle Registration Clarification Act: The bill came from a constituent complaint where the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) was issuing penalties for non-insured cars (which they track by license plates) when the plates have already been turned in. The bill will require the MVA to pause a little longer before assessing the penalties. Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act: The proposed constitutional amendment would alter the system of government employee negotiations in Maryland to binding arbitration, allowing a neutral third party to settle contract disputes between the Governor and state workforce. Senator Ben Kramer is working on the proposed constitutional amendment with me. Maryland State Transparency Act: This legislation builds on prior work I have done with Senator Cheryl Kagan to make various agencies' governing boards more transparent. It applies the same web streaming and agenda posting requirements to all of the state's quasi-governmental agencies, which was the recommendation of a Gubernatorial Commission I served on over the interim. Independent Agency Health Insurance Option Act: This bill allows a few quasi governmental agencies not already covered to buy-in to the state's health insurance program. There is no net cost to the state because the quasi governmental agencies pay for the state's share of the cost, just as they do for their usually more expensive independent health insurance plans today. Senator Brian Feldman is working on the proposed legislation with me. The Maryland General Assembly website has many great resources if you are interested in following our work over the next 90 days. I will highlight just a few:
I also recommend a few different news resources for those of you interested in the legislature. In addition to the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun, there are three websites that specialize in coverage of Annapolis:
Community News
 If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email marc@marckorman.com.
Happy holidays from my family to yours. It's been another strange year but I hope you and your loved ones can enjoy the holiday season. As you do so, please continue to be safe and stay healthy. Scroll down for a big event announcement and my usual monthly update.  On January 5 at 7:30pm, the District 16 Team will hold its annual legislative send-off virtually. Go to bit.ly/d16-01-05 to register.  Special Session Wrap-up
As I previewed last month, the Maryland General Assembly met in special session earlier this month and took up three items of business. Veto Overrides: During the special session, the General Assembly voted to override numerous gubernatorial vetoes from the spring. Some of the most significant pieces of legislation removed the Governor from the parole approval process--as most states have done; increased safety investment for the Maryland Transit Administration, set limits on how local law enforcement can interact with federal immigration officials, and my legislation on transparency in the budget reduction process. The complete list is here. Treasurer: The General Assembly had the task of appointing a replacement to our long-time State Treasurer, District 16's own Nancy Kopp. The new Treasurer is long-time delegate Dereck E. Davis. You can watch his swearing-in online. Redistricting: The General Assembly also passed the new Congressional district lines, as required after the decennial census. The new map can be viewed here and will go into effect for the 2022 election. Legislative News I have spent a big part of the last year serving as a Speaker Adrienne Jones appointee to Governor Hogan's State Transparency and Accountability Reform (STAR) Commission, chaired by former State Senator (and Delegate) Andrew Serafini. The final report is here. The STAR Commission was set up to address "quasi-governmental" MD agencies that stand somewhat apart from the normal executive branch, such as the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the Maryland, Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, Maryland Environmental Service, and Bainbridge Development Corporation. On the surface, many of these organizations are doing great work under the oversight of their boards of directors. But too often problems emerge in the governance and ethics at these organizations, significantly with the Maryland Environmental Service. The purpose of the Commission and report is to avoid the ongoing whack-a-mole each time a problem crops up and, instead, propose broader and systematic changes to all of these organizations. It is hard to legislate good behavior but many of these recommendations should increase the likelihood that any bad behavior is identified, exposed, and rectified sooner. ----- Each year, the non-partisan Department of Legislative Services releases issue papers that preview the upcoming legislative session. You can read the latest issue papers here. Budget One of my responsibilities is to serve as the House Chair of the Spending Affordability Committee, which meets each year to set the basic guidelines for our upcoming budget process. The Committee met last week and you can read the adopted report. You can also watch the meeting online. We are in a moment of unexpected cash surplus and the Committee recommends bringing the state's Rainy Day Fund up to 9% of revenue, repaying some other unfunded liabilities, and prioritizing some one time construction costs. That leaves what they call the "structural surplus" for ongoing programs or other incurred costs. We also follow the Governor's recommended capital (construction) debt limit while specifying certain funding priorities. ----- The Spending Affordability Committee described above was in the context of the latest Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) projections, which were recently released. The projection tells us what our state government is capable of doing in the near term regarding services, construction, and so on. The fiscal picture is currently bright. In sum, around a half a billion increase in revenue is expected in both the current and next budget years. The corporate income tax "declines" are from September's estimated increases, not a true decline. Sales tax growth is even stronger than the major increases expected from 2020/COVID. Tobacco tax revenue was surprisingly high, because less were deterred than expected from the tax. The BRE economist emphasized that this is very much a story of federal aide bolstering our economy and working its way through the system. It is positive, but may not be long-lasting. Maryland is also down 90k jobs from pre-COVID (although we were down 400k at the low). You can see his summary in the links below as well: revenue looks strong, federal stimulus helps a lot, inflation is positive for revenue but will also impact expenditures, and this is a good report but likely not sustainable. The video of the meeting is here and the slide deck from the meeting is here. Transportation During the last legislative session, a deal was negotiated with the Governor that included state grants for businesses directly impacted by Purple Line construction. The Department of Commerce has partnered with Montgomery County to facilitate the grants and you can read more about the Council's work with the state grant here. Unfortunately, there is a gap in funding because of a bill vetoed by Governor Hogan (but since overridden). We are working with Prince George's County to fill that gap. Read our letter to the Governor and his team here. Community News
On December 6, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for a Special Session, outside of our annual 90 day January-April meeting. There are three orders of business we expect to take up. First, as required by the Maryland Constitution, the General Assembly will undertake any overrides of the Governor's vetoes from the 2021 legislative session. Second, we will appoint a new Treasurer to replace our own Nancy Kopp. Third, as also required by the Constitution, we will pass a redistricting plan for the Congressional district lines. I discuss each of these in more detail below.  Chairing the recent Montgomery County Joint Priorities Hearing
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 Vetoes: Section 17(d) of Article II of the Maryland Constitution requires the General Assembly to take up veto overrides during the forthcoming special session. A list of the bills the Governor vetoed is available here and includes legislation regarding collective bargaining at community colleges, progressive taxation for the local "piggyback" income tax, investment in the state transit system, marketing for the Purple Line, and my legislation on transparency in the budget cutting process. Treasurer: As I shared in a prior email, after almost 20 years as State Treasurer, Nancy Kopp is stepping down. The General Assembly will appoint her successor. Each Delegate and Senator gets one vote and can cast it as they wish, although a special committee is appointed by the legislature to review candidates for Treasurer. Redistricting: The action that will undoubtedly receive the most attention during the special session is redistricting. Every ten years, following the census, any population-based districts need to change in order to ensure an even distribution of people among districts. In our area, that includes everything from school board and county council districts, to state legislative districts, and up to Congress, the most high profile. Congressional districts will be taken up during the special session and are treated like any other bill: the lines are introduced, voted on, and then subject to Gubernatorial veto. The Maryland General Assembly leadership appointed a Legislative Redistricting Advisory Committee made up of members of the legislature, including a few Republicans, and chaired by the former Executive Director of the Department of Legislative Services. You can review the Committee's work, including its public meetings and proposed map, online. The Governor also appointed a redistricting commission and you can look at their work here. Vaccines We have come a long way from the painfully slow and hectic early days of vaccine distribution. Booster shots are now available and you can learn more here. For those of you with young children, like me, the vaccine is now available for those ages 5 to 11. Further information can be found online.Transportation The Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the Governor's proposal to widen part of I-495 and I-270 with private toll lanes has been issued. The comment period was recently extended and runs until November 30 at 11:59pm. You can review the document and learn how to provide feedback on the project's website. ----- Each year, the Maryland Department of Transportation visits each county in Maryland to discuss their proposed Consolidated Transportation Program. You can view the Montgomery County meeting on the Delegation's YouTube page. And the budget being discussed is available here on the Department's website. ----- The Hogan Administration recently announced that after almost a year of delays, a new construction contractor has been selected for the Purple Line. Important details about the accompanying costs and delays are still unavailable but at least this is some sign of progress with the project, which has limped along with work overseen directly by the state. You can read about the announcement here. ----- Nationally, an infrastructure bill has finally passed Congress and been signed into law. Here is a preview at some of the direct benefits expected for Maryland. ----- In a prior newsletter, I shared my correspondence with the Maryland Department of Transportation regarding our infrastructure's ability to handle current flooding conditions. The Department of Transportation recently sent a response which is really just a start of the discussion as the Department adjusts to the new normal of more constant flooding in places where it used to be rare. Budget Last year, I was appointed co-chair of the Spending Affordability Committee, which helps set the framework for our annual budget. The first meeting of each fall is an overview of the state's budget and economic conditions. The meeting's briefing materials are here and you can watch the meeting here. Local Bills and Hearings As Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation to Annapolis, one of my roles is to help shepherd through local legislation that only impacts Montgomery County. Thus far, there are 26 pieces of legislation working through that process and you can review each bill here. There are three upcoming dates for public hearings on these bills, via zoom: November 23 at 7pm: Virtual bill hearing on proposed Montgomery County Board of Education Redistricting legislation to update the electoral lines for Board of Education members in line with the current census. December 13 at 7pm: Bill hearings on MC 1-22, MC 4-22, MC 5-22, MC 13-22, MC 16-22, MC 20-22, PG/MC 100-22, PG/MC 101-22, PG/MC 103-22, PG/MC 105-22, PG/MC 106-22, PG/MC 109-22. Check what these bills are here. December 15 at 7pm: Bill hearings on MC 2-22, MC 3-22, MC 6-22, MC 7-22, MC 8-22, MC 12-22, MC 15-22, MC 18-22, MC 21-22, MC 22-22, MC 23-22, PG/MC 107-22, PG/MC 111-22. Check what these bills are here. To find out how to testify or submit testimony, visit the Delegation's website. ----- The County Delegation recently held its Joint Priorities Hearing, where we hear from members of the public about your priorities. You can watch the meeting here. Community News
-Interagency Coordinating Board for Community Use of Public Facilities: Derek Ross -Domestic Violence Coordinating Council: Lavontte Chatmon -Commission on Child Care: Allison Fialkov -Bethesda Urban Partnership: Jane Fairweather -Commission on Health: Brent Berger -Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee: Thomas Bridle, John Kellenberg, and Fabiola Yurcisin
Just after I sent my last newsletter, the news began rolling in that two District 16 residents were concluding their long tenured public service. I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank these two true public servants: State Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Attorney General Brian Frosh.  Nancy Kopp was first elected as a Delegate in District 16 in the 1974 election. Nancy served as Speaker Pro Tem and was on the Appropriations Committee, with a particular focus on education funding issues. In 2002, the General Assembly appointed her Treasurer, a position she has held ever since. In that role, she is a steward of our state's fiscal resources, serves on the Maryland Board of Public Works, chairs the Maryland 529 Board, chairs the Board of Trustees of our state pension, and more. She has also been an environmental advocate. Earlier this week, Nancy announced that she would step down as Treasurer at the end of the year.
I did not know Nancy well before I started running for Delegate in 2014, but she has been extremely generous with her time and knowledge since then and I have learned a lot from following her approach to public service. The day after she announced her retirement, we spoke to prepare for a school construction work group we both serve on. Even as Nancy prepares to cede her position, she is as diligent and hard working as ever. Brian Frosh also began his elected career as a District 16 Delegate, in 1987. He moved to the State Senate in 1995 and quickly rose to chair the Judicial Proceedings Committee. In addition to the complicated work there on criminal justice, he was also a trailblazer on environmental policy. In 2014 he was elected Maryland's Attorney General where he has been the people's lawyer as a fierce consumer advocate. He was also on the front lines during the major legal battles with the federal government over the past few years. Yesterday, Brian announced that he would not seek a third term as Attorney General (he was eligible for re-election in 2022). Even before I started running for Delegate, Brian was always generous with his time and insights and has kindly maintained that as I entered public office. Few people can combine his intelligence, humor, and decency into one effective package. Nancy and Brian--who overlapped representing District 16 in the legislature for 15 years--are shining beacons for our state. Their public service and commitment should be lauded and never forgotten. Most of us can only aspire not just to their achievements, but to the high standard they have set. Thank you Nancy and Brian. When selling his library to Congress to replace the books torched by the British during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson wrote that there "is, in fact, no subject to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer." While the range of topics I deal with is slightly narrower than a federal legislator--I never have to vote on war resolutions--I think it is generally true that we deal with a wide range of issues and topics. As I think back over the work I have done the past month, I am reminded of the discussions I have had about abortion, healthcare, sustainable food, flooding and draining, Eastern Shore economic development, and a lot more. To be sure, the legislature is also a place that rewards specialization and I certainly go more in depth on topics such as the state budget, transportation, and the environment--topics regular readers see me mention in almost every newsletter. But one of the great pleasures of this job is to learn a little about quite a lot. Read on for some of that information.
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. New Laws October 1 is the implementation date for a number of new laws in MD. Here is the complete list. Some of the highlights include expanding the number of early voting centers; removing life without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders; improving access to law enforcement records, and creating a new office of immigrant affairs. Three pieces of environmental legislation I sponsored became effective today: Reforming the Office of People's Counsel (our consumer advocate on utilities issues) to advocate on environmental issues; making it easier for homeowner and condo owner association members to get access to charging equipment; and electrifying our state bus fleet. ----- Regarding the reform to the Office of People's Counsel, I published an op-ed with David Lapp, the People's Counsel, about the transformative changes of the changes. You can read it here. Transportation The major accomplishment of my first term was helping to pass the regional and bipartisan dedicated funding for the area Metro system. I ride Metro less often in the age of COVID but as a semi-regular rider, I know it has a long way to go. But there are greenshoots of progress and Governing Magazine wrote about the success. ----- I get a lot of questions about the Purple Line and the lack of progress has been disappointing, at best, given the construction contract issues I have previously written about. One piece of unreported good news, however, is that when the Purple Line is complete the Capital Crescent Trail will reopen alongside it. The County Planning Board reviewed plans for the trail last week, including the tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue. You can read a lot more detail here. ----- The Hogan Administration has released the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding the I-270/I-495 private toll road expansion project. The deadline to file comments is November 15, 2021. Among other changes, the SEIS delays further action on 495 east. You can read it here. Budget The Comptroller released the "close-out" report on the last fiscal year which ended over the summer. Even while many of our friends and neighbors struggle, the state's finances appear relatively healthy with a $2.5 billion fund balance (dollars remaining after all expenditures and obligations) and tax revenue around $1.7 billion more than projected driven by income, sales, and corporate taxes. A major reason for this relative stability is the federal government's direct state support and indirect support which kept the economy afloat. You can read a lot more detail here. ----- The Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates has just released it latest estimates. You can watch the meeting here. The overall story is that revenue was higher than expected last year and this carries through to the current and next fiscal year. Estimates are up for most components, although corporate income tax expects a one year decline driven by last year's unusually high growth and the hope that corporations will divert more revenue to payroll. The complete presentation from the staff is here. Overall, the recovery is broad-based but those in the upper income brackets have done much better than others. That is where having a progressive income tax can help stabilize the budget, and allow services for those who need them to be funded. The importance of the federal stimulus cannot be overstated. The presentation credits it as what "Saved the country from deep recession." Schools Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is asking all families to consent for their children to receive free COVID-19 testing at their school. Testing helps to keep schools open and students and staff safe. Two types of tests are available and the one given to students depends on the situation. The tests are fast, safe, and painless. A cotton swab is used on the front part of the nose. Students say it feels like a tickle! The tests are: ● Screening tests for students with no COVID-19 symptoms ● Rapid tests for students with COVID-19 symptoms Parents/guardians must consent for their children to participate in the COVID-19 screening and rapid tests. They only need to fill out one form to give their permission. The consent form is available in multiple languages and can be filled out online (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/random-testing.aspx) or schools can provide paper copies for families. The weekly screening tests for a random sample of students with no symptoms can limit the spread of the virus. These tests are especially important for younger students because they are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. The rapid tests for students with COVID-19 symptoms will help keep students in the classroom. Results are available in 20 minutes and if a student tests negative, classmates can remain in school and will not have to quarantine. The tests are an important part of MCPS' plan to keep students learning in school, five days a week, and to keep our community safe. ----- Given the unfortunate passing of our local, long-time School Board Member, Pat O'Neill, the Montgomery County School Board is beginning the process of appointing a replacement (who will hold the seat until the next election). Learn more about the process and how to apply here. Community Events On Thursday, October 21 at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Gubernatorial candidates Peter Franchot and John King. Email keller.johnw@gmail.com for more information. On Thursday, October 21 at 7pm, Montgomery County Planning and the Friends of White Flint will host a community meeting on the Pike District Streetscape Design Guidelines. RSVP here: https://montgomeryplanning.org/events/pike-district-streetscape-design-guidelines-community-meeting/ On Thursday, October 28 at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Gubernatorial candidates Rushern Baker and Ashwani Jain. Email keller.johnw@gmail.com for more information. Community News
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