The Budget is Coming

Dear Friend:
Later today, the Governor will introduce his proposed budget. This is the one item we need to address each legislative session and we are constitutionally required to have a balanced budget. That will be no easy task, as a projected structural deficit is anticipated. Some have asked me why there is a projected deficit--especially after last year's budget cuts and tax/fee increases. While there are several causes, a significant one is the changes wrought by federal reconciliation legislation, which has wonky impacts on our state tax collections. In any event, I will have more to say on the budget in future emails as it winds its way through the legislative process.

​COMMITTEE UPDATE
Each year, the committees commence the session with legislative briefings. The Environment & Transportation Committee has numerous briefings scheduled, including multiple briefings on Maryland's energy landscape. Energy is a new policy area for the committee. Our first briefing was yesterday and you can watch it here. A list of other January briefings is here.
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The committee held its organizational meeting last week, which you can watch here.

DELEGATION UPDATE
On most Fridays of the legislative session, the Montgomery County House Delegation meets. Last week, we heard from County Executive Elrich and County Council President Gonzalez. You can watch the discussion here.
 
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
 Last week, Governor Moore met with the United States Transportation Secretary to discuss, among other issues, the American Legion Bridge. Following the meeting, a Joint Statement was issued raising the prospect of a public private partnership (P3) for bridge reconstruction. Read the statement here.

 COMMUNITY NEWS
Last week, Whitman High School was vandalized with hateful anti-Muslim graffiti. This is unacceptable and should be condemned across the board, just as the anti-Semitic graffiti at Whitman High School a few years ago was. We live in a diverse area and need to be welcoming to our neighbors.
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A District 16 resident, Sosena Audain, is currently serving as the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate. You can learn about her work here.
 
CAMPAIGN NEWS
 Senator Sara Love and I have announced a series of meet-and-greets around the district. Please join us. Email [email protected] for further information.

​MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 
Over the last few years, I have tried to include something fun at the bottom of each of these weekly emails. Two years ago it was a discussion of a Maryland politics or history book. Last year it was a look at some of the items in my office. This year, I plan to spotlight a member of the Maryland General Assembly. As many of my readers know other Montgomery County Delegates, my goal is to talk about a non-Montgomery County legislator each week.
This week, I am starting on a bipartisan basis and profiling Delegate Jay Jacobs. Jay was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2006 from a district on the Eastern Shore (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties). Prior to that, he had a career in local government in the town of Rock Hall. He is an avid fisherman and has served on the Environment & Transportation Committee during his entire tenure (I am his third chair). He is the senior Republican on the committee--the equivalent of a Ranking Member on Capitol Hill--and included in our leadership meetings,. Of course, we do not always agree, but have found common ground on many issues including cycling safety.