The Budget is Here

I hope everyone has stayed safe in the weather and is digging out, and hopefully having a little fun too. With more winter weather possible, below is a reminder of handy numbers and contacts during storms.

​BUDGET UPDATE 
The Governor's budget proposal has been released. As constitutionally, it is balanced--addressing a projected $1.4 billion deficit--and reaches that with no tax or fee increases. It achieves that in three major ways: (1) Ongoing spending cuts of approximately $600 million; (2) One time transfers from certain special funds to the general fund, with some back-filled by the capital budget of nearly $800 million; and (3) Revenue adjustments--but not tax increases--including decoupling state taxes from certain federal deductions and adjusting certain special fund programs valued at around $200 million. And it will do all of this while retaining an 8% Rainy Day Fund.
Of course, that quick summary does not capture all of the issues. I have heard from many of you already about the proposed $150 million reduction for supports for the developmentally disabled and a reduction to the projected increase in mental health services for schools. In addition, although we balance the budget every year, there are still long-term deficits to address. And other issues will arise as we analyze the proposal.
The Department of Legislative Services presented their fiscal briefing on the Governor' budget earlier this week. You can watch the meeting here and review the presentation and supporting material here.
Although there will be a lot of work to do on the Governor's budget, I do want to acknowledge some important capital projects in District 16 that the Governor has requested funding for including Suburban Hospital's emergency department expansion, renovations of the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, a water main replacement in Carderock Springs, and funds for art around downtown Bethesda.

​COMMITTEE UPDATE 
The House Environment and Transportation Committee continues a rigorous briefing schedule with further briefings on energy, as well as the state of agriculture in Maryland, the state of the Chesapeake Bay, and a broader update from the Maryland Department of the Environment. We also had our first bill hearing yesterday. Each briefing, hearing or other committee meeting is available on the committee's YouTube page. 

LEGISLATION UPDATE
Last week, I introduced the Metro Funding Modification Act with Senator Malcolm Augustine from Prince George's County. The bill would increase Maryland's contribution for Metro capital funding in coordination with Virginia and D.C. I provided a short video update on the bill (and the budget) here.
 
DELEGATION UPDATE 
On most Fridays of the legislative session, the Montgomery County House Delegation meets. Last week, we heard from Montgomery County Park & Planning and voted on a few pieces of local legislation (bills that only affect Montgomery County). You can watch the meeting here.
 
REDISTRICTING NEWS
The Governor's redistricting commission recommended a proposed plan for new Congressional district lines in Maryland. The proposal has been introduced in the House and the bill can be reviewed here. Under the bill, new lines would be set for the 2026 general election in Maryland but whether those lines would be used in subsequent elections--until the next census--would be decided by the voters. The House Rules Committee, on which I serve, had a virtual hearing on the bill earlier this week and voted to pass the map, which is now pending on the House floor.
As I have written about partisan mid-decade redistricting previously, "I support Maryland moving ahead absent some halt in the nationwide redistricting wars sparked by the President and a rollback by the states who followed his partisan wishes."

POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
Part of the Potomac Interceptor--a DC Water sewer line along the C&O Canal and Potomac River--suffered a break/collapse on January 19th. DC Water has now installed a bypass pump to divert sewage around the break. There is no impact to drinking water because of the placement of the line, but there is contamination of sewage into the Potomac River. District 16 legislators have been in touch with the Maryland Department of the Environment, which has been coordinating with DC Water, WSSC, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Here is the latest update from DC Water.

CAMPAIGN NEWS 
Senator Sara Love and I have announced a series of meet-and-greets around the district. The next one is in the Town of Somerset on January 31st. Please join us if you are in the area (and the weather allows it). Email [email protected] for further information.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
​This year, I am profiling a different non-Montgomery County legislator in my newsletter. This week, I want to introduce you to my friend, colleague, and committee vice chair, Delegate Michele Guyton. Michele represents a district in Baltimore County and is the leading voice in our state legislature for those with special needs differences, something important to me personally. Michele has a Ph.D. in developmental and social psychology, served on the state school board, and established the Maryland state Autism coordinator. She is also an actress and scuba diver (fun facts she wanted me to tell you). Maryland's new House Speaker has organized our House floor seats so that committee chairs and vice chairs sit next to each other, so Michele and I will be spending a lot of time together!