Blog | Reznik For Maryland

Reznik Report from Annapolis Week 7

Posted Mar 01 at 3 PM
Welcome to Week 7's Update from here in Annapolis.

I apologize for the delay in sending this out, but we experienced some technical difficulties on Friday.

Below is the link to my weekly "Reznik Report" video blog posted on my website, as well as some other links that you may find useful.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 7 Reznik Report

As many of you may have already heard, this week Attorney General Doug Gansler provided the State with his legal opinion that the State of Maryland should recognize all marriage licenses from other states, including same sex marriage licenses. CLICK HERE to read his legal opinion in entirety.

ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK? CLICK HERE to friend me and stay update on everything that is happening in Annapolis, Montgomery County, and throughout District 39.
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 6

Posted Feb 19 at 2 PM
Welcome to Week 6’s Update from here in Annapolis. Below is the link to my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog posted on my website. Also below is information on how to keep monitor legislation in the 2010 General Assembly Legislative Session and a link to a news report focusing on Angel’s Law.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 6 Reznik Report

I have finally submitted all of my proposed legislation for this year. CLICK HERE to review all of the bills I am sponsoring and co-sponsoring and to monitor their status as they move through the legislative process here in Annapolis. You may also CLICK HERE to find all legislation that has been introduced. Please feel free to contact my office regarding any of the bills I have introduced or any of the bills introduced by my colleagues should you have any thoughts or questions.

CLICK HERE to watch a news report by CBS’s WJZ News affiliate in Baltimore regarding my bill called Angel’s Law, House Bill 646, and it’s hearing yesterday.

*Please note that Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s Town Hall Meeting on Monday, February 22, 2010 will be postponed to a date yet to be determined. When a new time and date are confirmed it will be posted it in my Weekly Update.
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 5

Posted Feb 12 at 1 PM
Welcome to Week 5’s Update from here in Annapolis. Because of the snowstorm this week, the weekly email is a bit shorter. However, below is the link to my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog posted on my website, as well as the link to the video’s transcript. Also below is information that you may find useful in dealing with the storms’ aftermath.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 5 Reznik Report

• For snow removal, sanding or salting issues outside of the Montgomery Village Foundation area please call 240-777-6000

• For snow removal, sanding or salting issues inside the Montgomery Village Foundation area call 301-948-0110 ext. 2.

• To report a power outage in the Pepco service territory, call 1-877-737-2662

• To report downed power lines to Pepco, call 1-877-737-2662

• CLICK HERE to find information from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency on the State’s post-storm efforts

• CLICK HERE to find information on Montgomery County’s post-storm efforts

• CLICK HERE for information on school closings. Montgomery County schools are closed for the rest of the week.
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 4

Posted Feb 05 at 10 AM
Welcome to Week 4’s Update from here in Annapolis. Below is the link to my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog posted on my website. Also below is information I would like to share with you including Governor O’Malley’s State of the State address, invitation to District 39 night in Annapolis, transparency initiatives here in Annapolis, Maryland’s Federal Stimulus spending, and information about a town hall meeting with Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 4 Reznik Report

For a transcript of the Week 4 Reznik Report - CLICK HERE

State of the State – Here is the link to the Governor’s State of the State Speech which was delivered before the full General Assembly on February 2, 2010.

District 39 Night in Annapolis – The annual District 39 Night in Annapolis will take place on Monday, February 22, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Miller Senate Office Building, Conference Center West I. Dinner will be provided and the event is absolutely free.

This is a great opportunity to meet with the members of the District 39 Delegation, discussion issues of concern, and hear about what is going on in Annapolis. After the dinner, everyone can head over to the State Capitol Building to observe either a House or Senate session in action.

Since space is limited so please RSVP by Feb. 18th by calling (800) 492-7122 x. 3001 or emailing to evening_with_district39@yahoo.com.

Online Committee Votes - Last week, the House of Delegates began the process of putting all Standing Committee votes online when a bill comes to the floor of the House. These votes have always been available to the public upon request, but will now be available online. Committee votes will be posted on a bill’s information page on the Maryland General Assembly website.

Federal Stimulus Spending - For the second year in a row, Maryland was ranked number one in transparency regarding spending Federal stimulus dollars. To see for yourself how Maryland is spending federal stimulus dollars please CLICK HERE.

Congressman Chris Van Hollen will convene a town hall meeting for residents of the Eighth Congressional District. Congressman Van Hollen will report to residents about the activities of the 111th Congress and the important issues facing the nation and will answer questions and respond to comments from the audience. All residents of the 8th Congressional District are invited to participate. On hand will be certified housing counselors if constituents needs to discuss housing related issues with them.

When: Monday, February 22, 2010 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm

Where: Montgomery College – Germantown Campus, Globe Hall – High Technology & Science Center, 20200 Observation Drive – Germantown, MD
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 3

Posted Jan 29 at 4 PM
Welcome to Week 3's Update from here in Annapolis. Below is the link to my weekly "Reznik Report" video blog posted on my website and information about two press conferences I participated in this week along with some recent press my bill setting limits on credit checks in the work place. In this week's Reznik Report I will discuss two pieces of legislation I introduced this week, some encouraging news for the state economy, and a note about donating towards relief efforts in Haiti.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 3 Reznik Report

This week I took part in two press conferences dealing with issues that are priorities of mine.

The first was a press conference of the Senate leadership's priority pieces of legislation and included in that list is my credit history in employment bill. CLICK HERE to watch the part of the press conference where I and my Senate colleagues who are sponsoring the bill in the Senate discuss the importance of the legislation. The legislation also received some media coverage this week. CLICK HERE to read an article in AOLNews about the bill.

The second press conference dealt with open government legislation sponsored by District 39's Senator Nancy King, and in the House by District 20's Delegate Heather Mizeur. CLICK HERE to watch a news report of the press conference and talks about the legislation being introduced. The bill would provide a great deal more access to average citizens about government processes.
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 2

Posted Jan 22 at 1 PM
Welcome to Week 2's update from here in Annapolis. Below is the link to my weekly "Reznik Report" video blog that I have now begun posting on my website and some information I think everyone should be aware of. In this week's Reznik Report I will discuss the budget proposed by the Governor and the 2 pieces of legislation I introduced in the last few days.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 1 Reznik Report

This week I would like to make you aware of the following programs in our area:

FREE Rx CARD - I have found that many of my constituents are not aware of the FREE Rx card being offered by Montgomery County to anyone who requests one to help families and individuals with the high cost of prescription drugs.

Even if you have prescription drug insurance coverage, you may still benefit from the Montgomery Rx card, since it may save you money on drugs your existing plan does not cover. There are no claim forms to fill out and no annual fees to pay. Any member of your family can use the card. There are no limits on how many times you may use your card. You can pick up a card at all Montgomery County libraries, regional service centers, or by calling 240-777-1245.

CLICK HERE to go to the Montgomery County website page where the above information can all be found along with informative links.

WSSC INFORMATION - Many people are not aware of how to stay informed and contact Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) regarding sewage and water systems in the county.

WSSC operates a 24/7 rapid response center for emergency calls at 800-828-6439 or (301) 206-4002. They also provide alerts to customers through WSSC's Customer Notification System (CNS) when breaks affect service and daily routines. Customers must register for CNS. CLICK HERE to register.
Limitations on Employers’ Use of Credit History and Credit Reports When Evaluating Job Applicants and Employees

Posted Jan 22 at 1 PM
Annapolis, MD: January 21, 2010 – Delegate Kirill Reznik (D-39) has introduced a bill in the House, HB 175, which will prohibit employers in the state of Maryland, with exceptions, from using a person’s credit history or credit report when making hiring and retention decisions. Similar legislation has already been passed in Hawaii and Washington.

Studies have shown that employers are increasingly using credit histories as part of a screening process before hiring. Other studies show that employers are as likely to find “responsible” employees by randomly choosing applicants as using someone’s credit report as a determining factor when hiring. Credit scores have also traditionally been lower amongst minority communities and younger people, who have less of a history of obtaining and using credit, and therefore, create indirect discriminatory practices in the hiring process.

"In these difficult economic times job-seekers are behind on their bills because they don’t have a job, but they can’t get a job because they’re behind on their bills. Passing this legislation will stop a vicious cycle by allowing Marylanders the chance to obtain a job and begin rebuilding their credit. People shouldn't be passed over for jobs just because they're behind on a bill," says Melissa Broome, Senior Policy Advocate of the Job Opportunities Task Force.

According to Delegate Reznik, “Having bad credit does not make someone a bad person. Costly medical problems, divorce, and many other understandable reasons to have poor credit have nothing to do with one’s ability to do a good job.”

The bill is supported by a variety of organizations including the Job Opportunities Task Force, Unite Here!, Progressive Maryland, NAACP, Case de Maryland, Equality Maryland, ACLU, Maryland PIRG and other organizations. In addition, fourteen Delegates have signed on to co-sponsor this bill.
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 1

Posted Jan 18 at 5 PM
The Maryland General Assembly is back in session, and I want to welcome you to the first of what will be a weekly update. These will be a little different than they have been in the past. I will now use these blogs as a forum to notify you of events and information I think everyone should be made aware of. I will also attach a link to my weekly "Reznik Report" video blog where I will discuss, each week, what is going on here in Annapolis and specifically the issues and legislation that I am working on.

Note: Moving forward I will send these weekly e-mails on Fridays but due to some technical difficulties we had to wait until today to send this first update.

CLICK HERE to watch the Week 1 Reznik Report

This week I would like to make you aware of the following programs in our area:

1) Free H1N1 clinics for ALL Montgomery County residents

Free H1N1 clinics will be offered to all Montgomery County residents by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services during the month of January. Both nasal spray and injectable vaccines will be available for free. You can make appointments on Monday Jan. 25 from 1 to 4 P.M. by calling the flu appointment line at 240-777-4040. You can also make appointments online at
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/h1n1flu. Clinics may be cancelled based on inclement weather. If schools are cancelled due to inclement weather, clinics will also be cancelled that day. The following are the free clinic times and locations:

Tuesday, Jan. 26
Germantown Library
19840 Century Boulevard, Germantown
1 - 4 P.M.

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Wheaton Library
11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
11 A.M. - 2 P.M.

Thursday, Jan. 28
Rockville Library
5 - 8 P.M.
21 Maryland Ave., Rockville

2) You Can Afford College 2010

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Maryland Public Television are co-producing an informative program called You Can Afford College 2010. The program will feature actual college students describing the different ways they paid for college. Its purpose is to allow current students or parents to email their own questions which will be answered on the air.

The program will air on the following times and channels:

Airs on MPT and MPT HD
· Saturday February 6, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. - Email questions to
outreach@mpt.org

Airs on MPT 2
· Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - Email questions to outreach@mpt.org

3) The Distinguished Flying Cross Society are searching for veterans in Maryland who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society is a non-profit organization whose members have been awarded the DFC as a result of deeds accomplished during aerial flight. The society's aim is to publicize the meaning of the award and further the history and traditions of those awarded the decoration. The local Wilbur Wright Nation's Capital Region Chapter meets at the College Park airport and is looking for other DFC recipients in the area. Contact Roy Hodges at royhodges@comcast.net.
The 2010 Maryland Legislative Session is about to begin

Posted Jan 05 at 12 PM
Next week begins the 427th session of the Maryland General Assembly. As we work to bring Maryland out of this recession and into better economic times, we will be considering a number of issues during the legislative session.

Throughout the session, you can count on me to keep you updated as to all of the legislative happenings through my weekly "Reznik Report from Annapolis" and my weekly video blog. Always feel free to email, call, or write me about your thoughts, concerns, and questions regarding pending legislation. You can contract me HERE.

The start of the legislative session also means the temporary suspension of fundraising activities. With 2010 looming as an election year, I need your help to reach my fundraising goals before the start of the session, so that I can successfully defend my seat and continue to serve as your Delegate in District 39.

No matter how much you contribute, it will help me to reach my goals. Please go to MY WEBSITE and contribute $25, $50, $100, or more. The deadline for contributions is at midnight, January 12, 2010. Thank you for your help, as we continue to move Maryland forward.
The Legacy of Thomas Kennedy and the Current Battle for Health Insurance Reform

Posted Sep 07 at 11 AM
Most people will not recognize the name Thomas Kennedy. He is not of the famed Joe Kennedy clan. He is not related to Teddy and Jack and Bobby. He was born in Scotland in 1776 and immigrated to the Unites States, settling in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1802 where he later ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. In the early 1800s, only 150 Jews resided in Maryland and Kennedy had never met one. Nevertheless, he, a Scottish Presbyterian, took up the cause of amending the Maryland Constitution to allow “Jewish inhabitants” to run for public office; something that was explicitly forbidden at the time.

The bill he wrote was defeated several times, and in 1823, having been labeled “an enemy of Christianity” and a “Judas” by his political opponents, he lost his seat. Kennedy was eventually elected back to the legislature as an independent, and with time and a change in public sentiment, the “Jew bill,” as it came to be known, passed.

It is as a direct result of Kennedy’s efforts that 21 Jewish members currently serve in the Maryland General Assembly, including myself, the second largest number in any state legislature in the country. Kennedy’s efforts were also the start to a greater expansion of the right to serve in public office, and today I serve with members from a variety of races, religions, gender, and sexual orientation. Because we have this diversity we are better off as a State. We are better off because of the sacrifice of Thomas Kennedy.

So, what does this have to do with health care reform?

I have to assume that Thomas Kennedy enjoyed serving in the Maryland House of Delegates as much as I do. I find public service through elected office to be one of the greatest callings one could have. Yes, I am still in my first term, but I hope that I never lose that feeling. My former State Senator once told me that if you ever get to a point where you do not pinch yourself every time you walk through the Chamber doors, you should find something else to do.

I suspect that it is no less rewarding to be a member of the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Senate; In fact, I bet it is more. The opportunity to help constituents on a daily basis, whether through day-to-day constituent services or through meaningful legislation, is a great reason to get up in the morning.

Well, one of those meaningful pieces of legislation is before us today in the form of health insurance reform. In fact, it is more than just meaningful; it is watershed legislation that will affect generations of Americans for decades to come. And just like other watershed legislation, it has its detractors. People who will lose money, power, and influence. People who fear change. People who are fine with the status quo because it does not affect them. They have always been here, whether it is with women’s suffrage, civil rights, Social Security and Medicare, or one of hundreds of other bills that at the time were described by those detractors as the possible end of the world. But, when that legislation was up for consideration, regardless of who screamed and yelled, the powers that be did the right thing, and today, we couldn’t imagine what life would be like otherwise.

I have the pleasure of serving on the Health and Government Operations Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates. This committee assignment gives me a very clear window into the problems of our existing health care system, which I find to be unsustainable. Even in this horrible economy, we in Maryland have been working around the edges and trying to expand health care to as many people as possible. Even facing perpetual projected deficits we have expanded Medicaid to 116% of poverty (it was 46%), provided subsides to small businesses to purchase insurance for their employees, enrolled thousands of children on SCHIP who were already eligible but didn’t know it, and helped fill the Part D Prescription donut hole for many seniors. We do it because it is the right and moral thing to do, and in the long run it is for our own fiscal health. But we can’t do this alone. We cannot print Maryland dollars and go into debt, and with the Governor announcing another $450 million in out-of-session cuts to the budget, we simply can’t afford much more.

We need federal reform, and we need it now.

So, this brings me back to my point. The current health reform debate that you are watching is not a question of what is wrong and what is right; rather it is a question of a legislator’s ability to be re-elected. This is a reality that exists for many of us. The notion that “I can’t do anyone any good if I am not here” has forced many in elected office to make decisions that they later come to regret or support positions that they don’t truly hold. It works in both ways. I’ve spoken to a number of my Republican colleagues who have admitted to me in private that they would support repeal of the death penalty, marriage equality, and yes, health insurance reform, if they didn’t think that it would hurt their chances for re-election. It seems now that the most vocal members for reform are the ones in the safest seats. The ones talking about removal of the public option, implementing co-ops, or doing nothing at all are the ones most worried about coming back.

At the end of the day, even if we pass health insurance reform, I believe most of the Democrats in Congress will get re-elected and we will maintain our majority. It is true that some will not and will be sacrificed on the altar of current public hysteria. In the end, thought history will show that they did the right thing, they might lose their seat. Well, so be it. 186 years after his political sacrifice, Thomas Kennedy is regarded by many as a champion of causes greater than himself. The Delegates who voted against his bill, though they might have been re-elected for a term or two, are now lost to history.

Thomas Kennedy was brave enough to do what was right. I am hopeful that the men and women in the U.S. Congress are made of the same mettle.

Crossposted - www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/7/778214/-The-Legacy-of-Thomas-Kennedy-and-the-Current-Battle-for-Health-Insurance-Reform
2nd Annual Grill with Kirill a huge success

Posted Jul 23 at 10 AM
This past Sunday, we held the 2nd Annual Grill with Kirill, my annual fundraising event.

We had a great turnout, with over 100 constituents and supporters joining me at Stewartown Park in Gaithersburg.

I would like to thank everyone how came out to join us and contributed to my re-election campaign. It could not have been such a success without you.

Also, I am working on gathering photos and will upload them on my website and facebook pages soon. So, look out for those, as there were a number of great pictures taken.

Remember, even if you weren't able to come to the event, it is not too to contribute. Just follow the link below:

CONTRIBUTE HERE
Whetstone Elementary celebrating 40 years of excellence

Posted May 15 at 12 PM
This morning, my District 39 legislative colleagues and I, had the pleasure of taking part in the 40th Anniversary celebration of Whetstone Elementary.

Opened for the 1968-1969 school year, Whetstone Elementary was one of several schools built to serve the new Montgomery Village community, located right off of Centerway Road, one of the main arteries of Montgomery Village.

Prior to the ceremony, each of the guests was given a great tour of the school by some of the members of the Student Government, who showed off their new art mural, as well as some of the history assignments that the students were doing all week to chronicle life through the 4 decades that Whetstone has been operating, which was prominently displayed along all of the school's hallways.

The ceremony itself featured the school's wonderful principal, Mrs. Victoria Casey, brief remarks from myself and Senator Nancy King, and Delegates Saqib Ali and Charles Barkley, several dance performances by the students lead by the school's "Artist in Residence" Slim Harrison, and a speech by Mr. Chris Moon, a Montgomery Village resident of over 40 years and a member of Whetstone Elementary's first class of 1969.

It was a great time and I really enjoyed being part of the celebration. Once again, I would like to congratulate Mrs. Casey and all of the teachers, staff, parents, and students of Whetstone Elementary on a great 40 years, and wish you many, many more.
Tour of the Germantown Innovation Center

Posted May 13 at 1 PM
This morning, I had the pleasure of touring the new Germantown Innovation Center, the 5th of Montgomery County's network of business incubation centers located in District 39 on the campus of Montgomery College Germantown.

I was joined by the Secretary of DBED (Business & Economic Development) Christian Johannson, as well as half a dozen other Montgomery County Senators and Delegates.

The Montgomery County business incubator program has had a tremendous amount of success helping new start up companies in the fields of information technology, bio-science, life sciences, and advanced technology. To date, 88 companies have graduated from the Innovation Center program now employing over 1,500 people in the county.

The Germantown Innovation Center, the latest addition to this stable of centers, opened its doors in October 2008 and features 32,000 sq. ft. of space, including 45 offices, 11 wet labs, and 2 clean rooms that can accomodate up to 30 businesses.

Everyone agreed that the program has been a tremendous success, and well worth the investment from the State of Maryland and Montgomery County, where we hope to see a return on this investment multi-fold over the coming years. For more information about the Germantown Innovation Center or the entire Montgomery County Business Innovation program, click here.
Reznik Report from Annapolis Week 10

Posted Mar 20 at 1 PM
Dear Friends,

As session heads to the finish and we spend more time on the floor of the House passing bills, I want to make you aware of some bills which I was proud to co-sponsor and see passage of this week.

Specifically, there are two bills which I would like to share with you concerning increasing healthcare coverage in our State. The first, HB 580 the Foster Kids Coverage Act which will undergo its final floor vote on Tuesday It will require the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide coverage for anybody under 21 who was under the responsibility of the state at 18 years old as a foster child. These adolescents will be provided with medical care and health care services if they are not eligible for Medicaid benefits and have annual household income up to 300% of federal poverty. This population is often a neglected portion of our society who is in dire need of health insurance and unlike children with parents; they do not have a readily available structure to help them gain access to needed medical care. I look forward to fixing this problem in our State.

I am equally excited about HB 4, the Small Business Health Insurance Stimulus Act. As you may remember, during the 2007 Special Session, we passed a bill creating a Small Business Health Insurance subsidy program. HB 4 raises the cap on businesses eligible for this subsidy from 9 employees to 19 employees. Expanding the number of employees will allow for more small businesses to be included in this program and give more businesses the necessary resources to help their employees gain health insurance coverage for their employees.

For more updates on this busy week and bills we are considering and have debated, please check out my weekly video log by clicking HERE. This week I talk about:
- Rising Energy Costs and what we are doing about it
- My bill, HB 1198 concerning patient safety
- Information on the Delegate Reznik Scholarship
- Financial Aid Links
- And More!
As always, I urge you to contact me regarding any issues which may concern you. To see my weekly video update, please click HERE.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report from Annapolis Week 9

Posted Mar 13 at 12 PM
Dear Friends,

There are some other exciting bills coming to the House floor in the upcoming weeks for a vote that I would like to share with you. Two of these bills HB 16 and HB 1249 are bills which will support our workers and businesses,. HB 16 would require an employer to provide a nonworking shift break to any employee who works four consecutive hours. The bill contains an exemption for businesses which have less than 50 employees. In many businesses, workers will work for longer periods which reduces productivity, increases worker ill health effects as well as increases general worker dissatisfaction. For the same reasons I am eager for the opportunity to vote on HB 1249, which would require that overtime pay be calculated after a worker has worked 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week again with an exemption for small business. In these economic times we must make sure to protect our employees and see that they get the proper compensation they deserve.

As you may know, this year we may finally get an opportunity to pass some campaign finance reform legislation. SB 663, which is expected to pass the Senate and cross into the House, will provide a voluntary opt-in system for campaign financing. A person will be able to voluntarily donate money on their tax forms to a campaign finance fund and will allow candidates who meet the requisite requirements, to obtain money for their race. Requirements include candidates for the House of Delegates and State Senate getting 350 constituents from their district to donate five dollars to their campaign. This bill is an important step to ensure that people who can donate large amounts of funds to candidates will not have any more access than the average citizen.

For more updates on this busy week and bills we are considering and have debated, please check out my weekly video log by clicking HERE. This week I talk about:

* Domestic Violence Legislation
* New Hospital Certificate of Need Fairness Bill that affects the Upcounty area of Montgomery County
* And More!!!

As always, I urge you to contact me regarding any issues which may concern you. To see my weekly video update, please click HERE.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 8

Posted Mar 06 at 1 PM
Dear Friends,

As we get closer to the end of session, the time spent in committee and on the House floor grows longer as we attend more hearings, debate more bills and pass more worthwhile pieces of legislation. I wanted to update you on some local and Statewide legislation which I was glad to vote for and help pass this week.

One bill in particular that I have received many constituent emails about is HB 831 or local bill MC 922-09. This bill will prohibit the use of leg hold traps in Montgomery County. As I have mentioned before, these traps are an inhumane way to trap animals and I am glad to report that after some strong deabte and a contentious hearing, we voted the bill out of local Delegtion with no amendments. I appreciate the heavy constituent input to vote the bill out with no amendments and I am glad that we were able to do so.

Earlier this week, we had a voting session of the Government Operations subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee. While we passed many bills out of subcommittee, the bill I was most excited to help pass is HB 288 the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009 and I have every expectation that we will pass it out of committee next week. As most people have heard, Lily Ledbetter was a Goodyear employee who discovered that she was paid less then her male coworkers soely based on her gender. While she was awarded restitution by the jury, the Supreme Court ruled that the statute of limitations expired and she was unable to collect. While President Obama passed a federal version of this bill earlier this year, a state-level version is needed to make sure that even if the federal law were to be abolished, our state would make sure to uphold the rule of equal pay.

For more updates on this busy week and bills we are considering, please check out my weekly video log by clicking HERE. This week I talk about:

* The death penalty debate in the State Senate
* Universal Health Care
* Energy Reregulation
* And More!!!

As always, I urge you to contact me regarding any issues which may concern you. To see my weekly video update please click HERE.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Week 6

Posted Feb 24 at 10 AM
Dear Friends,

As you may know, President Obama signed the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as the Federal Stimulus bill, into law. The bill is estimated to create 3.5 billion jobs across the country including 66,000 here in Maryland. The state of Maryland is set to receive $4 billion and the money will be put towards two major areas: major investment in infrastructure, healthcare, energy and education and also tax relief for individuals and small businesses. I wanted to showcase some of the highlights of this bill today.

The recovery package provides $907.3 million for infrastructure projects in Maryland. This includes spending almost $450 million on Highways in Maryland, half of all projects to start in 120 days and the rest within the year. In addition, infrastructure money includes money for our water and sewer systems to ensure we have clean water right here in our State. Moreover, the State will receive $1.6 billion for Medicaid as well as help for those who use COBRA, as now is not the time to reduce providing healthcare for those who need it the most. In addition, this package has money set aside to help people with energy costs, both in the areas of energy efficiency as well as money for the State Energy Program.

The other two areas of big investment here in our State from the stimulus package are in the arenas of law enforcement and education. Money for law enforcement will make sure that we can track and stop child predators on the internet as well as provide victim service grants for women who are victims of domestic violence. I am particularly pleased with the money we are getting for Education. For K-12, the bill provides money for school construction and enhancement, Head Start, Early Head Start, as well as direct state aid to avoid cuts in our system. In the arena of higher education, I am especially excited that this bill will increase spending on Pell Grants among other items to ensure that more people can afford to go to college.

The Relief for Individuals and Small Business will provide many tax credits for working families, parents, and first time home buyers. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will provide a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for individual and $800 for working families. Parents with be able to earn a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child up to age 17, as long as the parent has at least $3,000 in earnings. The First Time Homebuyer tax credit gives a tax credit up to 10% of the purchase of the house, with a cap of $8,000. In addition, there is an education tax credit that will provide a credit up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition and related expenses.

I am also excited to say that we were notified yesterday by Nancy Kopp, our State Treasurer that our state has retained our AAA bond rating. This is a testament to our Governor and State Legislature's ability to keep our fiscal house in order. That being said, this stimulus package is at best a stopgap measure which the State must use to best prepare for the future, not an excuse to spend freely.

I hope this breakdown of the Stimulus Package helps you understand the disbursement of money throughout Maryland. A more thorough breakdown from the offices of Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Senator Ben Cardin are available on my website. Click HERE to read these documents.

For more updates of this busy week check out my weekly VLOG. This week I talk about:

* Election Day Registration bill hearing
* Animal Rights
* Puppy Mills
* Fur Labeling
* Two new additions to the Reznik family!

As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and watch my video. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions and concerns you may have concerning anything before the General Assembly.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report from Annapolis Week 5

Posted Feb 13 at 2 PM
Dear Friends,

This week session was in full swing and I have been kept very busy with hearings and meetings. Yesterday was the bill drop deadline in the House and over 1300 bills have been submitted, a number of which will be heard by my committee. I am eager for these hearings, the testimony and debates which accompany them as my committee continues to work though issues of health care, government procuement and many other issues. We have our work cut out for us and I am looking forward to staying busy. If you are interested in seeing the bills or searching for a specific one, click here.

My bills have all been introduced and next week two of my bills, HB 374 and HB 476 will be heard before the committee. On Wednesday February 18, HB 374 will be heard before the committee. This bill gives the Board of Pharmacy more oversight into radiation services and allows them to better regualte this growing feild. In addition, on Thursday HB 476 will be heard be heard before Ways & Means committee. As mentioned earlier, this bill would submit a contitutional referendum to the voters to allow the General Assmebly to implement Election Day Registration. I am looking forward to both of these bills passing committee so they can move closer along the process of becoming a law.

For more updates of this busy week check out my weekly VLOG. This week I talk about:
- The State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council of which I am a member
- Removing a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA) form child-care products and toys
- Protecting our enviornment from the threat of climate change
- And MORE!
Click HERE to watch the video.

As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and watch my video. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions and concerns you may have concerning anything before the General Assembly.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report - Week 4

Posted Feb 06 at 3 PM
Dear Friends,

As session moves along we get more engaged in the day to day proceedings around the General Assembly. The days get longer, we hear more bills, are given more briefings, and respond to constituents on a variety of bills and other issues. I am excited to report to you an update this week both here and in my weekly video blog as to a couple of key issues which occurred this week.

A few months ago I was approached by a constituent about a streetlight which was has not been turned on. The light, located by a bus stop on Muncaster Mill Road was set up this summer by the Maryland Department of Transportation, had not been turned on since. There was much red tape around this issue, but working in close cooperation with PEPCO, the Department of Transportation and members of the Montgomery County Government we were able to turn on the light (and in the process discovered how many government entities in takes to turn on a light bulb!). I am happy to report that people will be able to wait for the bus in this now well lit area and I urge you to please feel free to contact me with any other issues you have similar to this no matter how big or small.

This week I introduced two bond bills which will benefit my constituents. These bills, if passed will allocate matched money to the capital project to improve conditions in those areas. The first bill is HB 490 for Lake Whetstone Facilities, a building in bad need of repair and a project the entire community is strongly behind. The second bill is HB 414 for Northgate Homes Lighting Upgrade. Lighting upgrades, while seemingly unimportant can be extremely needed for a community both for public safety as well as general well-being. Obviously, with our economic conditions I am unsure how these bills will ultimately turn out, however, I feel these are necessary for the community and will fight for them over the session.

Finally, I would like to remind you that we have another video posted this week and I urge you to take a look. This week we are discussing:

* My Introduction of HB 476 - Election Day Registration Constitutional Amendment
* The passage of one of my local bills out of the Montgomery County House Delegation
* Heart Disease Awareness Day
* My link of the week
* And More!

Click HERE to see the video.

As always, my office is always open to any questions or concerns you may have and I urge you to contact us with any concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Del. Kirill Reznik
Election Day Registration Press Release

Posted Feb 03 at 6 PM
Earlier today, I dropped a Press Release announcing the introduction of HB476 a Constitutional Amendment to allow Election Day Registration. The release follows:

PRESS RELEASE

ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BE INTRODUCED IN SENATE, HOUSE

Annapolis, MD: February 3, 2009 – Delegate Kirill Reznik (D-39) and Senators Mike Lenett (D-19) and Jamie Raskin (D-20), are introducing bills in the House and Senate today that amend the state constitution to allow citizens to register to vote on Election Day.

The proposed amendment will give the General Assembly the power to set up a system in which a person would be able to register to vote at their polling place on Election Day after providing appropriate identification. This system, known as Election Day Registration (EDR) is in effect in nine states and is known to increase turnout and reduce provisional ballots. EDR is known to be effective in raising turnout especially among young people and minorities.

According to Delegate Reznik, “Election Day Registration will further open our democratic process to all those eligible. This bill will help to increase turnout, reduce voter apathy and reduce the strain on our local Boards of Elections by reducing the amount of provisional ballots they will have to count as well as reduce the rush of voter registration applications right before the 21 day deadline.” Senator Lenett points out that “after the implementation of early voting, EDR would be the next step to reduce the disenfranchisement of many voters, particularly mobile citizens, younger voters, late-interest voters, newly-naturalized voters, voters who mistakenly believe they are already registered, and voters whose registration information was not properly transferred from the motor vehicles department.”

According to Ryan O’Donnell, Executive Director of Common Cause: “Judging by its success in other states, there are hundreds of thousands of reasons to support Election Day registration –the hundreds of thousands of new voters it creates. Every new voter who participates in Maryland not only strengthens the democratic process, but ultimately makes government work better. This reform has been tested and proven, and its time has come. A constitutional referendum will be a zero-cost way to start the discussion, leaving plenty of time for our election administrators to prepare to put it into effect in the years ahead.” Cindy Boersma, Legislative Director of the ACLU agreed, “ACLU of Maryland applauds the introduction of a bill to enable Maryland to institute Election Day Registration. Election Day registration is the sensible next step for Maryland to take in removing artificial barriers to the voting booth. States with election day registration prove that it is easy to implement and contributes to routinely the highest voter participation rates in the country.”

The bill is supported by a variety of organizations including The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Common Cause of Maryland, League of Women Voters of Maryland, DEMOS, Maryland PIRG and other organizations. In addition over twenty Delegates and ten Senators have signed on to co-sponsor this bill.
Reznik Report - Week 3

Posted Feb 03 at 6 PM
Dear Friends,

Greeting from Annapolis! After finishing our second complete week of session we are in full gear and working hard to help make the State of Maryland stronger.

As you may know, this past Thursday was the State of the State address in the General Assembly. For this address, just like the State of the Union in the Federal government, the Senate joins the House to listen to Governor O'Malley give a speech on how we as a State are faring, even through these tough fiscal times. In his speech, the Governor talked about the budget and the deficit we are facing, but pointed out how much worse it would be if not for the hard choices we have made over the last couple of sessions. The Governor also talked about the need for affordable access to Higher Education as well as calling for the repeal of the Death Penalty, two issues I readily agree with.

This past Thursday, I introduced HB273, the Autism Insurance Coverage Bill in the House. This bill would require insurance companies to provide autism treatment called Applied Behavior Analysis, which would help many families. I have heard many heartfelt stories form my constituents and I am looking forward to fighting hard for those families. I am eager to see the benefits families and autistic children receive from this bill and the prospects that will come from it.

Also this week, the House Ways & Means committee and the Senate Educational Health and Environmental Affairs committee held a briefing on Election Day Registration (EDR). As you may remember, I sponsored a bill on this issue last year and will be sponsoring a constitutional amendment to allow us to bring this bill before the General Assembly in the future. EDR is an innovative way to increase voter turnout, increase voter participation and make sure that all who have the right to vote get that opportunity.

On a sad note, the Gazette is reporting that Councilmember Donald Paisner (D-4) passed away today at the age of 76. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.

Finally, I would like to remind you that I have posted another youtube video today and I urge you to take a look. This week I will be discussing:

* HB 273 - The Autism Insurance Bill
* Our Public Education system
* Local Bill MC 922-09 a bill which bans leg hold traps
* Highlighting a helpful website
* And more!

Click HERE to see the video.

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik
Autism Insurance Bill Press Release

Posted Feb 03 at 6 PM
On January 28 2009, I release a Press Release concerning the filing of (now) HB 273, the Autism Insurance Coverage Bill. The Release follows:

PRESS RELEASE

AUTISM INSURANCE COVERAGE BILL TO BE INTRODUCED IN SENATE, HOUSE

Annapolis, MD: January 28, 2009 – Delegate Kirill Reznik and Senator Kathy Klausmeier, with the strong support of Attorney General Doug Gansler will be introducing bills tomorrow in the House and Senate to ensure that treatment for children with autism is covered by insurers.

The “Autism Insurance Coverage” bill will require that insurance companies provide coverage for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, medication, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. ABA is a behavioral therapy which is accepted by most medical authorities as the most effective treatment for Autism. It is estimated that 1 in 142 children in Maryland have a disorder which falls on the Autism Spectrum. Similar versions of this bill have passed in States throughout the country including Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Texas.

According to Delegate Reznik, the bill’s lead House sponsor, “this bill is necessary to ensure that those families who have a child with autism can obtain the treatment that they need. Time and time again, we have seen that early intervention with treatment makes a tremendous difference in the child’s life. Additionally, having insurance companies cover the cost of this treatment will make a tremendous monetary difference for both the family and the State, but more importantly allows these children and families to enjoy a better quality of life.” Senator Klausmeier the Senator lead sponsor remarks “I am proud to be the sponsor of this legislation to help the children with autism and their families”.

The bill is supported by a wide group of organizations including Autism Speaks, the Maryland chapters of the Autism Society of America, Pathfinders for Autism, SEIU 500, Arc of Frederick County, Easter Seals, The Association of University Centers on Disabilities and others. In addition over 50 Delegates have signed on to co-sponsor this bill. These groups will be having a press conference in Annapolis on the hearing date to rally supporters to this vital issue. More details on that event will be forthcoming.

###

Delegate Kirill Reznik is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 39th District in Montgomery County. His district includes the areas of Montgomery Village, Washington Grove, North Potomac and segments of Germantown, Darnestown, and Derwood. He began serving in the House of Delegates in October 2007, and sits on the Health Government Operations committee and two of its subcommittees, Government Operations and Minority Health Disparities and is an appointed member of the State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council.
Visit to Holy Cross Hospital NICU

Posted Jan 26 at 5 PM
Today, I was invited to tour the Natal Intensive Care Unit at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. The Holy Cross NICU is the most active in the state, discharging over 1,000 newborns every year.

I was invited by Holy Cross and MedImmune, a pharmaceutical research and development company located in Gaithersburg, MD, who are partnered together to create the Maryland Premature Infant Health Network, bringing together community and health organizations, faith-based groups, healthcare providers and parents to increase care and awareness of premature infant issues.

The reason for the network and for my tour, was to highlight the needed for improved care in Maryland. Maryland is currently ranked 35th in the country and has a grade of "F" by March of Dimes in premature birthrate, with 13.3% of all live births in Maryland being premature.

Premature births contribute to the infant mortality rate, long term development and care, and increased costs (premature care in a NICU can run as high as $7,000 per day).

I had the pleasure of touring the Unit, seeing the advanced equipment and techniques used by the doctors and nurses, and was even able to witness the delivery of care to a premature infant born at 25 weeks gestation. (from a safe distance).

Clearly, this is an issue that needs to be addressed and I will try to continue to promote the need for pre-natal care and continued research, as well as learn more about the causes of premature birth so that we may better tackle this issue in Annapolis.
General Assembly Session Week 2 Update

Posted Jan 25 at 9 PM
I didn't want to post a long message this Friday afternoon, but I did want to make sure you checked out my new video report from Annapolis on my Youtube page which you can access by going to my website and clicking on "Videos". I hope to use this as yet another tool to keep you updated on what is happening in Annapolis. This week I talk about the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the Governor's proposed budget, the death penalty and I introduce a helpful website for constituents to use.

As always, I appreciate your input into this and any endeavors I may undertake and urge you to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
New Reznik Video Report

Posted Jan 23 at 4 PM
Dear Friends,

I didn't want to send you a long email this Friday afternoon, but I did want to make sure you checked out my new video report from Annapolis on my Youtube page which you can access by going to my website and clicking on "Videos". I hope to use this as yet another tool to keep you updated on what is happening in Annapolis. This week I talk about the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the Governor's proposed budget, the death penalty and I introduce a helpful website for constituents to use.

As always, I appreciate your input into this and any endeavors I may undertake and urge you to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you,

Del. Kirill Reznik
Reznik Report from Annapolis - Opening Week

Posted Jan 16 at 5 PM
Greetings from Annapolis, Maryland where the 426th General Assembly of the Maryland Legislature is in full swing. As always, I hope to send out periodic emails to you during session to make sure that you are kept up to date on our goings on here in Annapolis.

As you may have heard, this session will be a difficult one here in Annapolis. With a $1.9 billion budget deficit, and no easy cuts in sight, this session will be about making certain that we have a balanced budget but at the same time make sure that we are able to ensure that our education system remains number one in the country and that our healthcare and transportation services are able to thrive.

While we do have this budget issue looming over session, I am excited and eager for the many opportunities this session to improve the lives of people in the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and in the district. These issues include several bills revolving around this issue of autism care including making sure that insurance companies cover treatment for people whose children have this illness. In addition, I will be continuing my work from last session on voter enfranchisement by proposing a bill allowing people to register to vote on Election Day and continuing my work to make sure Maryland is prepared for emergency situations. Finally, I am looking forward to using my position on the State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council to ensure that we keep substance abuse treatment and prevention on the top of the list of issues that we will review in my committee.

In addition, I am excited to add another communication tool to better keep you up to date. Starting next week I will be hosting a weekly video log. This video, which will be posted on my Youtube page, will be a short video update of what happened in Annapolis during the prior week as well as a chance for me to answer on video one of the many constituent questions I receive. If you are interested in asking a question, just reply to this email or email delegate.reznik@gmail.com.

Finally, I wanted to be sure to address the exciting events of the upcoming week. First, this weekend, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a grassroots campaign in Montgomery County will be going door to door to seek donations and other items to help the many families and individuals in our county who have fallen on difficult times. I urge you to go to http://www.yesmontgomerycan.org, and sign up to help make a difference for those in need this weekend. Moreover, this Tuesday is the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. As a supporter of the President-Elect early in the primary season, I am tremendously excited to see this day come and am looking forward to having an effective leader in Washington DC to help move our state and country forward in these difficult times.

As always, I am here to serve my constituents in District 39 and I urge you to contact me if there is anything I can help you out, whether the issue is Statewide, Countywide, Districtwide or even specific to your individual community.
Delegate Reznik volunteers to participate in furlough

Posted Dec 16 at 10 AM
In response to the announcement from Governor O'Malley regarding mandating furloughs for all State employees, I have informed the Office of the Speaker of the House of Delegates today that I will volunteer to take a furlough equal to the mandated furloughs expected soon from Governor O'Malley.

With a faltering economy and a budget crisis well over a billion dollars, it is necessary for me as an elected official to make sure that I join all of the other employees of our State in this sacrifice. Every year, we vote on the budget and make the big decisions that affect the everyday lives of our constituents across the State, including thousands of State employees. It seems only fair that should we ask them to take a furlough to help us through these difficult times we are willing to take this furlough with them.
Happy New Year

Posted Nov 05 at 11 AM
Last night I was part of a crowd of Democrats gathered at the North Bethesda Conference Center at a watch party sponsored by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. A gathering of party faithful, poll workers, and campaign volunteers. I want to say there were 1,000 people there, but I am probably exaggerating, it might have just felt like it.

The room was excited and hopeful. No one wanted to say that we had won, at least not before official results came in, but I have been on winning campaigns and losing campaigns, and you can feel the difference in the room, even before the results are in.

And then we heard it, Ohio was projected for Obama, then Iowa, New Mexico, and Colorado. We hadn’t reached the fabled 270 yet, but with California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawai’i closing at 11:00pm EST, it was inevitable.

As we got closer to 11:00pm, the projection of CNN on the big screen began a countdown clock, and everyone in the room started counting down, 20…19…18…, and as everyone in the room realized what others were doing, they joined in, 10…9…8…7, louder and louder, just like it was New Year’s Day, 3…2…1, and CNN, instead of cutting to their “CNN Projection” graphic, switched to a graphic we hadn’t seen that night…”CNN Breaking News”.

They didn’t even bother to report that projections but announced “Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States” and I realized, it was New Year’s Day, and all of the emotion of that day rushed in. The hope, the expectation, the feeling that this year anything is possible.

The only thing missing was the crowd singing “Auld Lang Syne”, but the deafening roar of the crowd cheering and screaming, and the sight of grown men crying, was enough for me.

So, to all of my fellow Americans, I say Happy New Year.
School Board Endorsements

Posted Nov 03 at 2 PM
With election day tomorrow, a number of people have asked me about the School Board races that have received significantly less publicity. So, I wanted to reminder everyone that "down ballot" races affect us as much as the election for the President of the United States.

So, in addition to encouraging you to vote for Barack Obama for President, Congressman Chris Van Hollen in District 8 and Congresswoman Donna Edwards in District 4, I also want to point out the following school board candidates:

Laura Berthiaume - District 2 - An attorney and PTA mom, Laura is a community leader that understands the challanges facing our county's school system. Laura would bring needed change to our School Board.

Phil Kauffman - At-Large - Phil is a parent of two MCPS graduates, the husband of one of our wonderful teachers, and has spent many years working to improve the school system as a PTA activist. As a member of the Board of Education, he will work to make sure parents, and the greater community, have a voice in the school system. As an economist will be essential in these challenging economic times, as it becomes necessary to find ways to trim spending without hurting the education of our children.

Chris Barclay - District 4 - Though running unopposed, Chris has been an great member of the School Board and a consumate advocate for the parents and students in the County school system. He deserves to be re-elected.
Reaching out to new communities for Obama/Biden

Posted Oct 20 at 3 PM
As many of you know, I am an immigrant. Having been born in the former Soviet Union, I grew up in a unique way. Growing up and being educated in the United States, I feel in every way an American. However, I also had the opportunity few have - Growing up in a bi-lingual home speaking both English and Russian (often the only way for me to communicate with my elderly grandfather who helped raise me when my parents spent every waking hour working, building their small business and giving my brother and me every opportunity to succeed) and living in a house that was as culturally Russian as it was American.

With that perspective, I was honored this weekend to be invited by the Obama/Biden campaign as a surrogate to speak to a large group of Russian immigrants in Philadelphia, as well as communicate with a variety of Russian language media about Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

This was a great opportunity for me to bring my unique cultural background and my passionate supporter of Senator's Barack Obama's candidacy together.

I found that the community is well informed about the issues, and has the same concerns as everyone else; about the economy, the war in Iraq, our foreign policy in general, and the outlook for the future.

I also found the group incredibly grateful that someone who can speak directly to them would travel from Maryland to make sure that they were not overlooked in this election cycle.

I'm glad for the opportunity to have contributed in this unique way, and believe that we have made some friends over the weekend. A group of people who, for most of their life, have not had the ability to exercise their inalienable right to chose their own leader.

I think they will chose well.
Gearing up for the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act

Posted Oct 20 at 3 PM
For those who may have followed my bills last year, you may remember that I filled the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.

The Act was meant to establish a law as consistenly as possible thoughout all 50 states to allow for medical and health professionals to be able to go to another state, in this case Maryland, in times of emergencies such as hurricanes, other natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other forms of massive destruction and render assistance.

You can view last year's bill here.

This is currently not the case because for a medical professional to be allowed to practice their trade, they need to be licensed to do so, which they clearly would not have time to do in times of a medical or other emergency.

We encountered some resistence during testimony and for that reason, the bill was referred to for Summer Study. The Summer Study's aim is to bring the proponents and opponents together to try and work out a solution so that they bill, in its ultimate form, can pass, and doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals can come to Maryland to help out should we ever need them.

Last week, on October 15th, I chaired the first of three hearings of the Summer Study to try and resolve the throny issues on this bill.

If you are interested in the topic and would like to attend the remaining meeting they will be held on the mornings of November 12th and December 17th in Annapolis in the Lowe House Office Building, Health and Government Operations Committee Hearing Room.
CCT - on track or off of the rails

Posted Sep 26 at 2 PM
This Wednesday, I attended a briefing on the status of the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), sponsored by the Maryland Transit Administration and the City of Gaithersburg.

For those who don't know, the CCT is a proposed light-rail extending from the Shady Grove Metro Station to Clarksburg, and eventually, all the way through to Frederick, Maryland.

Unlike other transit projects, the CCT is not nearly as controversial. It is a popular project of which the State already has obtained much of the needed right-of-way, and will not require the taking of private property through eminent domain actions.

What is missing, of course, is money. Mass transit projects are expensive, and this is no exception. The CCT will require a serious financial commitment from the State, as well as Federal Grant funds to cover at least half of the engineering and construction costs.

In addition to money, there are some other factors that are still being decided on including some alignment alternatives, as well as whether or not the CCT will be a light-rail at all or a less popular but more cost effective "bus rapid transit" (BRT) system - using bus-like vehicles on roads with dedicated lanes, rather than tracks.

With more and more people moving north, but continuing to commute to their jobs in Washington, DC and the surrounding suburbs, the CCT is a priority. This is not just an environmental matter, but one of business growth and our overall quality of life. This is why so many in our community are supporting it, from environmental groups to chambers of commerce.

I will continue to fight for the CCT one of my top priorities, and I encourage everyone else to do so as well, by contacting your legislators and the Governor's Office expressing your support.

Learn more about the CCT here.

You can also read some press coverage of the recent briefing in the Gazette.
Congressional District 8 Candidate Forum

Posted Sep 23 at 11 AM
The Montgomery County The Montgomery County League of Women Voters & The Friends of the Library, Rockville Chapter invite the public to a candidate forum for Congressional District 8.

Candidates at the forum include:

Congressman Chris Van Hollen (Democratic Party)
Steve Hudson (Republican Party)
Gordon Clark (Green Party)
Deborah Vollmer (Independent)

When: October 2, 2008.

Time: Snacks and mingling begins at 6:30pm/Forum from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

Where: Rockville Public Library located at 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland

Hope to see everyone there.
Delegate Reznik featured on Barbershop Radio

Posted Sep 09 at 3 PM
Today, I gave an interview with Rev. John Crestwell of Barbershop Radio. We discussed the upcoming election, the national effort of Democats throughout the country to get Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden elected to the White House, and how that election would impact the State of Maryland and Montgomery County.

If you are interested in hearing the interview, click over to "Barbershop Radio."
September is National Alcohol and Drug Additional Recovery Month

Posted Sep 05 at 2 PM
And there is no better time to seek help for yourself, a family member, or a friend from drug and alcohol addiction.

Today, I had the pleasure of attending the kick-off to Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Catonsville, Maryland, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration featuring a number of speakers discussing community-based prevention, intervention, andn treatment resources that are available throughout the State.

Through my recent appointment to the State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, of which SAMHSA, is a part, both the scope of the problem and the number of hardworking individuals who try every day to defeat the problems of drug and alcohol abuse, have really opened my eyes.

For more information about SAMHSA or other activities taking place this month, visit the Maryland Alcohol and Drug Addiction Administration "website."
Health Insurance Coverage Expansion Begins in Maryland

Posted Sep 05 at 2 PM
Many will remember that during the 2007 Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly, we passed legislation aimed at expanding health insurance coverage to as many as 100,000 insured Marylanders. Even during tough economic times, the General Assembly and the Governor recognized that health care is a priority for us as a state.

I am proud of my involvement in this landmark legislation, and am happy to report that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Maryland Health Care Commission have completed their efforts to draft regulation and are now prepared to offer the program to Maryland's residents.

The program consists of two different parts:

1) The expansion of Medical Assistance health coverage for working families with family incomes of up to $20,500. If you, or someone you know, are interested in taking advantage of this new cover please call 1-800-456-8900 or click "here"

for more information. Enrollment has already begun.

2) Provide a subsidy to micro-businesses (those between 2-9 employees) to be able to afford health insurance for their employees. If you, or someone you know, are interested in taking advantage of this partnership plan click "here"

for more information. Enrollment will begin in September 2008.
Not going to Denver - join me at AFI

Posted Aug 07 at 2 PM
Can’t be one of 75,000 at Invesco Field? Join me and 200 of your closest friends at AFI Silver Theatre to watch Senator Barack Obama accept the Democratic Nomination for President.

The Montgomery County Young Democrats are hosting a community-wide Convention Watching Party on Thursday, August 28, 2008. Join us for this historical night as we also celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech."

Join with friends for food, drink and fun before cheering on Senator Obama as he officially accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party.

Thursday, August 28 from 8:00pm – 11:00 pm
AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910

$25 Tickets (tickets on sale at www.mcyd.org)

For Questions, please contact Sarah Holstine at smarksh@yahoo.com or 202-905-4228.
Join me at the Fair

Posted Aug 07 at 2 PM
Tomorrow, an annual tradition kicks off as the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair rolls into town for the 60th year - from August 8th through August 16th.

Fairgrounds are located in Gaithersburg, off of Route 355 just south of Quince Orchard Road/Montgomery Village Avenue.

The fair annually features rides, carnival food, agricultural exhibitions, and my personal favorites - the Monster Truck Rally and the Demolition Derby.

On Saturday, August 9th, the other District 39 Legislators and I will be at the Democratic Tent for much of the morning and early afternoon.

Come by and say hello, and enjoy the Fair.
Delegate Reznik appointed to State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council

Posted Jul 23 at 2 PM
Yesterday, Governor Martin O'Malley, by Executive Order, reestablished the State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and strategic approach to the use of State and local resources for prevention, intervention, and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse among the citizens of the State.

Of the 21 voting members of the new Council, I have been selected by Speaker Michael E. Busch as the sole representative from the House of Delegates.

I am very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to working with the Governor and the other members of the Council to bring real and necessary policy recommendations which will allow our fellow Marylanders with a drug or alcohol abuse problem to be able to deal with their addictions.

More information about the State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council can be found at this website: www.maryland-sdaac.org

NCSL in full swing

Posted Jul 23 at 1 PM

This week, I am in New Orleans, Louisiana with dozens of my fellow Maryland Delegates and Senators, taking part in the annual National Conference of State Legislatures.

This conference is an opportunity for over 6,000 state legislators, legislative staff members, and exhibitors, to get together and share ideas about what works and what doesn't in a variety of different subject matters.

Given my assignment to the House of Delegates' Health and Government Operations Committee, I have been attending a number of seminars and forums dealing with issues of health care, including drug and alcohol abuse, prescription drugs, and insurance and ERISA policy.

2nd LEED certified construction in District 39 breaks ground

Posted Jul 23 at 1 PM

On Monday, July 21st, 2008, I had the pleasure of attending, with County Executive Ike Leggett and Congressman Chris Van Hollen, the ground breaking of Fitzgerald AutoMall's latest endeavor, a brand new dealership in Germantown that will specialize in Toyota Certified used cars.

What makes this dealership unique is that it will LEED Silver certified.

For those who don't know, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the standard-bearer for certification of green and environmentally-friendly construction created by the U.S. Green Building Council.

This new Fitzgerald dealership, the first of its kind on the east coast, follows on the heels of the construction of Great Seneca Creek Elementary School, the first LEED certified school building in Maryland and the passage of HB 376/SB 208 (High Performance Buildings Act) requiring buildings constructed or renovated with State funds to meet specific LEED building standards.

I am very proud of the leadership role that District 39 has shown in the area of energy efficiency and green construction, and am excited by the prospects of businesses in District 39 working in partnership with the community to make it a reality.

A visit with Hearts and Homes

Posted Jul 13 at 12 PM

Yesterday, on July 12th, I had an opportunity to visit the Richard J. Ferrara Therapeutic Home for Boys in Derwood, Maryland run by Hearts and Homes for Youth.

Hearts and Homes for Youth is a Maryland organization that works to help help troubled children and youth, who are abused, neglected or runaways, become independent, productive adults through a broad spectrum of educational, residential, independent living and mental health programs, including group homes and therapeutic group homes, as well as assistance with therapeutic foster care, independent living, resources for runaways and runaway prevention, and help to teen mothers.

The Ferrara Home is a therapeutic group home for boys that houses 7 boys between 13-17 years of age for either short or long periods. With 24-hour staff supervision, the boys go to school, do homework, have responsibilities and choirs, and receive a variety of therapy to help get them transition to independent living.

The vists was incredibly enlightening and I hope to have more opportunities to participate with Hearts and Homes in their work.

Clean up of Lake Whetstone

Posted Jul 13 at 12 PM

On June 28th, I had the great pleasure of participating with 25 members of the Friends of Lake Whetstone (FOWL) in their 2nd "Rake the Lake" for 2008.

Lake Whetstone is a beautiful lake in the heart of Montgomery Village, and FOWL works year round to protect its beauty and make sure that all residents can continue to enjoy it.

Some people got into kayaks to collect trash in the water others worked the banks. Upon arrival, I was handed a trash bag and a trash gripper and sent with Montgomery Village Foundation Board Member Scott Johnson and Whetstone Community board member Sharon Cranford along the edge of the lake. My strangest find, a hubcap in the water - unfortunately, it was plastic and not chrome.

In addition to cleaning up, Scott and Sharon pointed out some of the more systemic problems in Lake Whetstone, just as erosion along along the residents side of the water.

FOWL also has a group of dedicated young people, lead by brothers Robert and Simon Maxwell, who, in addition to helping clean up the lake, have done research about the lake and how to preserve it, presented their findings at school, and work to recruit their classmates to come out and help.

It was a great experience, and I hope others take it upon themselves to keep Lake Whetstone clean, whether it is with through participation in FOWL or on your own.

4th of July Celebration

Posted Jul 13 at 12 PM

On Friday, July 4th, I was able to participate in the annual Montgomery Village 4th of July day parade and fair. This is an annual event, and though I have attended for the last 3 years, this was the first time I participated in the parade itself as an elected official.

The Montgomery Village parade is not the biggest holiday parade in the County, but a great opportunity for the people of Montgomery Village and near by neighborhoods of Gaithersburg, Germantown, Derwood, North Potomac and Olney to come by and gather with their friends and neighbors (and of course grab candy being tossed out by the elected officials and other parade participants as they drive by).

In addition to the parade is the fair that follows at the Apple Ridge Community Park, with food, games, and the fabulous Montgomery Village Community Band playing up a storm.

I look forward to doing it again next year, and hope you can join us.

Welcome

Posted Jul 07 at 1 PM

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my blog.

I hope that this blog will enable me to continuously inform you to all of the happens in District 39, Montgomery County, and Maryland, in general; what I have been doing in my efforts to represent the people of District 39; and have an ongoing online conversation between myself and the residents of District 39. This should also help to decrease the number of emails I have to send out to keep everyone informed.

In addition to reading this blog, please feel free to peruse my website. In contains a great deal of information including where I stand on a variety of issues, what legislation I have worked on, information about District 39 and how to get involved with your community, and my fun Kids Page, where younger constituents can learn all about the political process.

In addition, there are links to my Flickr page where you can view all of my photos, my YouTube Channel where you can view my video and audio clips, as well as my Facebook page where you can "friend" me if you are a Facebook user.

Finally, the blog and website offer a "RSS feed", which means that you can be informed, via email, whenever the website is updated, including when a new blog entry is posted, so you know when to come and check out the latest information.

I hope to be blogging often in an effort to make sure that issues important to the residents of District 39 are kept current.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or issues that you would like to discuss. My contact information is available here.

Sincerely,

Delegate Kirill Reznik

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