MARC KORMAN
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LATEST NEWS

Vaccinations and Back to the Floor

2/9/2021

 
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On Friday, the Maryland Department of Health and the Montgomery County Department of Health will be before the Montgomery County House Delegation to discuss the vaccine rollout on Friday.  You can watch our meetings on our YouTube channel.
In advance of that meeting, the Montgomery County House and Senate Delegations sent a detailed letter to Governor Hogan with some specific needs for the County.  You can read the letter on the Seventh State blog.

My seatmate, Delegate Ariana Kelly, continues to offer some of the best information about the vaccine situation.  Her latest update is here.

For those who are 65 years old or older (Phases 1B and 1C), you can pre-register with Montgomery County Department of Health for a vaccination appointment here.  Some of the other locations currently offering vaccines in the area are:
  • State Mass Vaccination Site at Six Flags in Prince George's County (search Bowie, Montgomery County residents are eligible for slots at this state run site).
  • Adventist HealthCare
  • Giant Pharmacy
  • Suburban Hospital
  • MedStar Health
  • Kaiser Permanente

There is no good answer why there are so many separate registration systems or why the communication is so poor.  Those problems are unrelated to the also real challenge of inadequate national supply.  For those interested in the data or other information, the state Department of Health maintains this site.

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

On the first day of the legislative session we had a floor session where we adopted modified procedures to allow us to meet less frequently as a full body.  This week, for the first time since January 13th, the full House began meeting again.  We are meeting in a modified format where half of the body is on a separate floor and our floor sessions are relatively short.  Among the orders of business taken up this week are overrides of some of the Governor's 2020 vetoes and a few early floor reports from the various committees.

Among the bills we overrode vetoes of was the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, legislation to reform our public education system.  We also overrode vetoes on legislation to fund aging in place programs, such as the various village programs throughout District 16, and legislation to pilot run-through commuter rail service from Maryland to Virginia.

We also overrode the veto of the 21st Century Economic Fairness Act, to join around 30 other states in taxing digital downloads in the same way we tax physical products.  As the Republican co-sponsor of the legislation explained last year, the legislation essentially replaces tax revenue we used to collect on physical goods (books, CDs, video games) that are now often or always downloaded instead.
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I spend the most time in the newsletters describing the status of my own legislation and bills before the committee I serve on (Appropriations), but of course there is plenty of other important legislation the General Assembly is working on.  Here are some quick updates on a few topics of potential interest, many of which we have received significant volumes of constituent communication about:
  • Unemployment Reforms: A large unemployment insurance (UI) reform package is being worked on. Like others, my office has spent significant time trying to assist constituents with the UI system. The proposed legislation will improve response time, customer service, and will make the process more streamlined and expansive by modernizing the process both on the front and back end. Those seeking UI will be able to access new benefits of the system, such as direct deposits, easier and clearer communication methods, the ability to get their information to the Health Benefit Exchange for health insurance assistance, and a substantial increase to the income disregard, allowing those operating in the gig economy to still receive UI. These changes will not only improve the process through the crisis we have been facing for the past year but will improve the system permanently.
  • Police Reform: Leadership in both the House and Senate have committed the chambers to passing meaningful police reform legislation during the 2021 session. Legislation has been introduced in both houses of the General Assembly and includes the repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, protection of whistleblowers within police departments, requirements for officers to intervene if they notice others using excessive force, and the limiting of “no-knock” warrants. Although I am not on any committees initially hearing these bills, I appreciate all of those who have reached out to my office and offered suggestions on the best methods to achieve reform. I look forward to supporting legislation later this session.
  • Protecting our Environment: The major headlines of the legislative session thus far have related to COVID-19 and police reform, but there are numerous pieces of environmental legislation winding through the legislative process. The Climate Solutions Act (HB 583) requires the state to greatly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and ensures the planting of 5 million new trees in the state. The Maryland Coal Community Transition Act (HB 66) phases out coal generation in the state of Maryland and sets up a transition fund to support workers and communities affected by the transition. The Plastic Bag Reduction Act (HB 314) bans the use of single-use plastic carryout bags, a bill the House also passed last year. 
  • Cannabis Legalization: The Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act (HB 32) would fully decriminalize cannabis for personal use; allow those with prior cannabis charges to have their records expunged; and tax and regulate its use.  The debate over marijuana in Maryland has been going on for years with various proposals to put policies such as this on the ballot or just address them through legislation.  I am of the view that Maryland needs to move towards a system of legalization, regulation, and taxation promptly. 

COVID-19

Montgomery County is decoupled from the statewide changes to what is open and what is not to deal with the public health crisis.  You can track the current rules in Montgomery County here.  The County's COVID-19 data dashboard can be viewed online as well.  There is also a state dashboard online.
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Many of you are trying to navigate the state's unemployment system, which was simply not equipped for the volume or complexity of the current caseload.  The Department of Labor website is your entryway for unemployment benefits.  If you are having trouble with unemployment and live in District 16, you can fill out our District 16 constituent service Google form for assistance here.  The District 16 Team has been in regular contact with the Department of Labor to try and resolve individual cases.

Community News
  • Congratulations to District 16's Robin Barr on her appointment  to the County's Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
  • Marlene Cimons, a District 16 resident, recently published this piece in the Washington Post about the struggles with the vaccine/.

Community Events
  • Councilman Friedson will hold a virtual town hall on Wednsday, February 10th at 7pm.  Visit here for more information.
  • On Saturday, February 20, 2021, Imagination Stage will honor its founder, Bonnie Fogel.
  • On Saturday, February 20th at 1pm, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission will present Josiah Henson Museum & Park: Josiah Henson, The vs. The Myth, which will share the life and legacy of Reverend Josiah Henson and the new Josiah Henson Museum & Park.  Join the event here.
  • A virtual meeting will be held on Monday, February 22nd at 7pm regarding a proposed new residential building on Bethesda Row.  To participate that evening, go to http://global.gotomeeting.com/join/852706005, or call 1-571-317-3112 and enter access code 852-706-005.
  • On February 24th at 7pm, a virtual meeting will be held regarding sidewalk construction along North Chelsea Lane.  To participate, go to https://montgomerycounty.adobeconnect.com/northchelseasidewalks/.
  • On Monday, March 1st, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson.  Email John Keller at [email protected] for further information.
​
​If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email [email protected].

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