THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Carolyn: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK, CHECKING THE VITALS OF OUR BIGGEST INDUSTRY WHAT IS MARYLAND DOING FOR THE NATION'S WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A JOINING US NOW ARE TODD EBERLY, PROFESSOR OF ST.

MARY'S COLLEGE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.

AND MILEAH KROMER DIRECTOR UMBC INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.

NEXT WEEK, THE STATE IS GOING TO SEND IN OVER HALF A MILLION MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

VOTERS WILL BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THE ELECTION.

TODD, ONE OF THE RACES IS IN YOUR BACKYARD.

FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SOUTHERN MARYLAND UP TO JESSE UP, I THINK, LONG REPRESENTED BY STINY WHO IER WHO IS RETIRING AND YOU HAVE A BIG FIELD.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE ARE AT 23 ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

ONE OF THE CANDIDATES RECENTLY ANNOUNCED SHE WAS WITHDRAWING, BUT THIS IS A WIDE RANGING FIELD WITH A LOT OF VERY RECOGNIZABLE NAMES.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ADRIAN WHO HAS RECEIVED THE LION'S SHARE OF THE ENDORSEMENTS BUT YOU HAVE HARRY DUNNE RUNNING IN THIS, BAKE ERR RUNNING IN THIS, A LOT OF NAMES AND NOT A LOT OF POLLING OF CONGRESSIONAL RACES BEING DONE IN MARYLAND SO OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN INTERNAL POLLS THAT HAVE YOU TO TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, IT IS ANYONE'S GUESS WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO.

>> Jeff: NOT EXPECTING A HUGE TURNOUT IN AN OFF-YEAR PRIMARY, RIGHT?

>> PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN AN OFF YEAR TEND TO HAVE VERY, VERY LOW TURNOUT.

I THINK MAYBE THE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAY GENERATE TURNOUTS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON ADVERTISING AND THE VERY UNIQUE NATURE OF THAT RACE.

BUT OVERALL, I AM NOT EXPECTING MARYLAND TO BREAK ANY TURNOUT RECORDS.

>> Jeff: AT OUR TAPING TIME, GOVERNOR MOORE HAS SENT OUT A LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS IN THIS ELECTION, WELL OVER 100 NAMES ON THE LIST.

HE IS NOT ENDORSING AT THIS POINT IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IN THE 6th YOU MENTIONED WHERE DAVID TRONE, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE IS TRYING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO GET HIS JOB BACK BY UNSEATING HIS SUCCESSOR APRIL McCAIN DELANEY.

THE GOVERNOR IS ENDORSING DELANEY.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE TO CHALLENGE GOVERNOR MOORE, MALEA, THERE IS DAN DOCKS WHO WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED AND BUSINESSMAN ED HALE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> I SEE AN INCREDIBLY HARD RACE FOR EITHER WINNER, EVEN IN A YEAR WHERE THERE IS ECONOMIC FRUSTRATIONS THAT PERHAPS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, MAYBE, WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, YOU HAVE AND IN DAN COX, SOMEBODY WHO IS CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WHAT WE KNOW FROM YEARS AND YEARS OF POLLING IN THE STATE IS THAT DONALD TRUMP REMAINS A VERY UNPOPULAR FIGURE, PARTICULARLY AMONG DEMOCRATS AND THE PATH TO VICTORY IN MARYLAND IS THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

YOU HAVE TO WIN 30% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE AS A REPUBLICAN TO WIN STATEWIDE.

LARRY LOGAN WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND HE WAS ABLE TO BRING IN A LOT OF INDEPENDENT OR UNAFFILIATED VOTERS INTO HIS FOLD.

THAT DID NOT SHAKE OUT FOR Mr.

COX LAST TIME HE RAN IN 2022.

>> Jeff: NOW IN 2022, THE DEMOCRATS, NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHICH ORGANIZATIONS, SPENT MONEY TO SUPPORT DAN COX'S CAMPAIGN IN THE PRIMARY.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WANTED TO RUN AGAINST HIM DO YOU THINK THEY WRITE THAT CHECK AGAIN?

>> I'M NOT SURE THEY NEED TO WRITE A CHECK AGAIN.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT STORY WITH AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S WAR CHEST AND THE FUNDRAISING AND NATIONAL BACKING, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WILL BE FULLY BEHIND GOVERNOR MOORE.

NO, I DON'T THINK THIS TIME AROUND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE BOTH CANDIDATES, OR NOT JUST BOTH CANDIDATES BUT MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING AND ANY NUMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DON'T HAVE THE NAME RECOGNITION PERHAPS OTHER THAN DAN COX AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDRAISING APPARATUS AND UNLESS THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE TO OUTSIDE REPUBLICAN FUNDERS THEY CAN MAKE THIS RACE EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE MONEY POUR IN.

OUTSIDE DONORS DON'T GIVE MONEY TO CANDIDATES WHO ENTER A RACE 20 OR 30 POINTS BEHIND WITHOUT A LOT OF PATH TO NARL OWING IT DOWN TO SINGLE DIGITS.

>> Jeff: TODD, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YEAH, A LOT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE FACT THAT WES MOORE'S APPROVAL RATING HAS FALLEN TO 48%, BUT WHAT I KEEP GOING BACK TO, IN 2010, WHEN MARTIN O'MALLEY WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION, HIS APPROVAL RATING HAD FALLEN DOWN TO 48% AND HE WAS TIED WITH A POPULAR FORMER GOVERNOR.

OWE MALI WENT ON-- O'MALLEY WENT ON TO WIN BY 13.5 POINTS IN 2010 IN AN OTHERWISE BAD YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS.

IF HISTORY IS A GUIDE, AND IT CERTAINLY SHOULD BE, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY IN THE MOORE CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO BE PRESSING A PANIC BUTTON.

>> Jeff: SO THE GOVERNOR HAS PLENTY OF TIME MILIEAH, TO SEND OUT ENDORSEMENTS IN LEGISLATIVE RACES, ALL SORTS OF LOCAL RACES.

I LOOKS LOOKED AT THAT LIST AND DIDN'T SEE YOUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.

THE THREE HOUSE SEATS HE DID ENDORSE SKIPPED THE SENATE RACE.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OBVIOUS CONFLICTS BETWEEN SENATE PRINT FERGUSON WHO REPRESENTS HE IN THE 46th AND THE GOVERNOR, OVER THE ISSUE OF MID CYCLE REDISTRICTING AS.

AS WE REMEMBER DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WERE PUSHING FORWARD HOPING THAT MARYLAND WOULD REDRAW THE DISTRICT MAPS.

BILL FERGUSON WAS CONSISTENT AND BELIEVED IT WAS NOT THE BEST PATH FORWARD THAT IF UNDER A COURT CHALLENGE IT MIGHT END UP SHAIBING THAT, NOT ONLY DID THE DEMOCRATS NOT PICK UP SEAT THEY WANT, THE MAP REVERTS TO SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND SO THAT CONFLICT I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS BEHIND THIS OR NOT.

BUT I DO KNOW SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON ALONG WITH BEING SENATE PRESIDENT IS OUR SENATOR AND HAS BEEN TALKING ON DOORS EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN'T HAVE A WELL KNOWN CHALLENGER IN THE PRIMARY RACE.

>> Jeff: THERE IS TIME.

THERE COULD BE AN ENDORSEMENT LATER IN THE GAME AND EARLIER THIS WEEK THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DELEGATE MELNICK SORT OF CRACKING THE DOOR OPEN TO TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT RESTRICTING IN LIGHT OF THE SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS DECISION.

WE HAVE THE HEAD OF THE STATE OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE STUDIO MONDAY WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE IDEA THAT OTHER STATES ARE USING THAT DECISION TO NOW DO SOME LAST MINUTE REDISTRICTING, DID NOT SEEM THRILLED WITH THE IDEA AND DIDN'T SOUND LIKE ANYBODY JUMPED ON THAT BANDWAGON IN THE COURSE OF THE WEEK.

BUT, TODD, THE LONG-TERM FUTURE WITHOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AS WE USED TO KNOW IT.

>> WE ARE SEEING THE NEAR TERM EFFECTS OF THIS RIGHT NOW AS REPUBLICANS CLEARLY RED STATES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS DECISION AND REDRAWING THEIR MAPS.

I'M NOT EXPECTING TO SEE MUCH FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE PRIOR TO THE MID TERM.

BUT POST MID TERM, ONE OF THE THINGS FOLKS HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN VERY LIKELY TO DRAW A MAJORITY/MINORITY DISTRICTS BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS ARE THE BACKBONE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY FEEL IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO CREATE THESE DISTRICTS BUT IF THEY WANT TO COUNTER WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE DOING IN RED STATES, THEY NOW HAVE THE FREEDOM, UNDER THIS SUPREME COURT DECISION, TO NO LONGER CREATE THOSE MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS.

IN MARYLAND IT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER.

YOU WOULD GET RID OF THE SEVENTH AND THE FOURTH, WHICH ARE MAJORITY/MINORITY, TO ENABLE, YOU KNOW, CREATING AN ALL DEMOCRATIC MAP.

BUT THE BIG TICKET IS GOING TO BE STATES LIKE ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA AND WHAT THEY CAN POTENTIALLY DO WITHOUT BEING HAMPERED BY WHAT MIGHT BE AN OBLIGATION TO CREATE THE MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS, I FEAR WE ARE MOVING TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE THERE IS GOING TO BE REDISTRICTING AFTER EVERY CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CYCLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A FUTURE ANY OF US WANT, BUT BARRING A NATIONAL BAN, THAT'S WHAT'S COMING.

>> Jeff: DO WE WIND UP INCREASING POLARIZATION, MORE DISTRICTS THAT LEAN SO HEAVILY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ELECT POTENTIALLY MORE FRINGE CANDIDATES, LESS, YOU KNOW, MODERATES, FEWER MODERATES IN CONGRESS?

WHAT DO YOU SEE AHEAD?

>> WELL, WE ALREADY LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE KNOW PRIMARY VOTERS ARE THE VOTERS THAT DETERMINE OUR FATE BECAUSE MOST DISTRICTS ARE SAFE.

IT'S THE FOLKS WHO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY WHO DETERMINE WHO WINS ULTIMATELY.

AND WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT A FUTURE WHERE WE REALLY HAVE RED AND BLUE STATES.

THERE ARE NO POCKETS OF, YOU KNOW, RED IN A BLUE STATE OR BLUE IN A RED STATE BECAUSE THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE DRAWN TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS PUNCHING MORE POWER OVER TO THE PRIMARY VOTERS AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS ARE MORE TO THE LEFT.

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ARE MORE TO THE RIGHT.

THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A MUCH MORE POLARIZED CONGRESS.

IT IS-- I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT I SEE MOVING FORWARD.

>> THE HOPE IS, I MEAN I THINK THAT A LOT OF REFORMERS WOULD LOVE TO SEE NATIONAL INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS BE THE LAW OF THE LAND TO TAKE THE POLITICS COMPLETELY OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LOT OF APPETITE LIKE THAT.

REFORMERS THROW IT AROUND BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A BIG UPSWELL OF PUBLIC DEMAND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND THESE SORT OF PROCESS ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT, THE WAY WE DRAW DISTRICT LINES ARE SO IMPORTANT THE WAY WE DO OUR ELECTIONS, THESE PROCESS ISSUES DID DO NOT CAPTURE PUBLIC ATTENTION LIKE OTHER MORE HOT BUTTON ISSUES DO.

AND AGAIN, IF IT COULD CATCH FIRE, WE COULD PUSH IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY, VERY GOOD FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AT LARGE.

BUT THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN APPETITE TO SEE A NATIONAL PUSH HAPPENING.

>> Jeff: MILIEAH, HAVE YOU DONE A LOT OF INTERESTING POLLING THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT PEOPLE CAN FIND ONLINE.

I WANTED TO BRING UP THE BASEBALL POLL.

IN JUST A SECOND, OR ORIOLES OR NATIONALS?

UNFORTUNATELY TWO LOSING TEAMS AT THE MOMENT.

>> OKAY, AT THE MOMENT-- SOMETHING WE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE-- IT'S ONLY MAY.

SO, YES, WE ASK MARYLANDERS WHETHER THEY WERE MORE OF AN ORIOLES FAN OR NATIONALS FAN, A FAN OF ANOTHER TEAM OR NOT A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FAN AT ALL.

PLURALITY SAY OF MARYLANDER FANS SAY THEY'RE FANS OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

I APPRECIATE THIS IS ONE EFFORT COOL THINGS I GET TO TO DO AT THE UMBC POLL IS NOT JUST ASK ABOUT APPROVAL RATINGS BUT SOME OF THE FUN STUFF.

>> Jeff: PROFESSORS WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEW A NEW REPORT AT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE LOOKS AT THE STATE OF THE STATE OF THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.

NANCY YAMADA HAS THE STORY.

>> NEVADA THAT IS THE KEY, HOW DO WE SPEND MONEY IN A SMARTER WAY SO WE ARE IMPROVING CARE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>> Reporter: THE SECRETARY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STAT DOWN TO FIND OUT THE FINDINGS OF THE NEW ECONOMIC REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY ON THE STATE ECONOMY.

THE FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRY IN MAJORITY LEADER, EMPLOYING OVER 427,000 PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE MODEL IN MARYLAND, WHEREBY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THE HOSPITALS, FINANCED NET BY HOW MANY HEADS THEY PUT IN BEDS.

HOW WE ARE KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY.

SO WE HAVE A GLOBAL BUDGET THAT WE WORK UNDER THAT ENABLES EARN TO BE ALIGNED ON KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHIER.

>> THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY REPRESENTS 16% OF ALL JOBS IN MARYLAND AND HAS BEEN THE LEADING JOB CREATOR FOR SEVEN OF THE LAST 10 YEARS.

>> MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE BLACK RESIDENTS AND ROUGHLY 30% ARE IMMIGRANTS.

FAR HIGHER SHARES THAN IN NEIGHBORING STATES.

AND NEARLY 80% OF THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE WOMEN.

>> Reporter: WITH 40% OF NURSES SIGNALING THEY PLAN TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, COMPTROLLER LIERMAN SAYS THERE ARE CONCERNS OF WORKPLACE SHORTAGES, PARTICULARLY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PRIMARY CARE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BOTH RURAL AND URBAN.

>> HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS OF BOTH THE HIGH TURNOVER RATES AND ALSO PEOPLE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE AT THE SAME TIME THAT AGE POPULATION IS REALLY DRIVING UP DEMAND.

>> I THINK AGAIN THAT'S WHERE CRISIS MEETS OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE, YOU KNOW, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE WORKFORCE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT MOTIVATES THEM, WHAT IT IS THAT DRIVES THEM, WHAT IT IS THAT BRINGS THEM JOY, AND HOW WE CAN TAP INTO THAT.

AND ONE AVENUE IS THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, WHERE YOU CAN BRING UP THE NEXT GENERAION AND IT ALSO GIVES PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THEIR JOBS, OKAY, HERE IS A WAY THAT I CAN PASS THIS ON TO A FEW GENERATION.

>> Reporter: THE COMPTROLLER AND HEALTH SECRETARY SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS WILL IMPACT MEDICAID FUNDING AND ELIGIBILITY.

>> THOSE HIGHER COSTS GET PASSED ON IN PREMIUMS TO EVERYONE.

WE ARE ALL WORKING ON HOW DO WE SPEND THAT HEALTHCARE DOLLAR IN A SMARTER WAY.

WE HAVE OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD WHICH HAS THE BROADEST MANDATE OF ANY OF THE STATE AFFORDABILITY BOARDS IN THE COUNTRY TO SET UPPER PAYMENT LIMITS ON HIGH-COST DRUGS.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENABLING THAT AFFORDABILITY AT THAT FRONT END SO THAT YOU ARE KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHIER SO THEN YOU DON'T NEED TO GET TO THAT BACK END OF THE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HIGH COST AS OFTEN.

>> Reporter: I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: OUR NEWS MAIM-- OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS MICHELE JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 250 COMMISSION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AS A COUNTRY OVER OUR 250 YEARS OF HISTORY.

WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE WORD SEMI-SEAS QUINN 10IAL MEANS SO FILL US IN.

>> I THINK MORE THAN THE MEANING IS THE DIFFICULTY IN SAYING THE WORD BUT I HAVE HAD THREE YEARS TO PRACTICE THIS.

AND IT MEANS 250 AND TO SAY THIS WORD, THE EASIEST WAY TO REMEMBER IS TO BREAK IT INTO THREE PARTS, SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REPEAT AFTER ME, JEFF, SEMI- >> Jeff: SEMI- >> QUINN.

>> Jeff: QUINN.

>> CENTENNIAL.

>> BUT THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING WITH MARYLAND 250 HERE.

>> CORRECT.

>> Jeff: EIGHT WEEKS FROM TODAY IS JULY 3.

THE EVE OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLANS.

>> OH MY GOSH.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE EVENTS ALL AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND ACTUALLY, THE 2350th OR-- THE 250th DOES NOT BEGIN THE WEEK OF JULY 4.

IT ACTUALLY IS A STATEWIDE YEAR LONG COMMEMORATION.

AND SO EVENTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED, AND THERE WAS REBELS AND RED COATS IN ST.

MARY'S COUNTY IN APRIL.

THE PRINCE GEORGES 250 BLOCK PARTY, WE THE PEOPLE BLOCK PARTY WILL BE ON MAY 30 IN BUOY, AND THEN FINALLY JUNETEETH AND THERE ARE EVENTS FOR JUNETEENTH ALL AROUND OUR STATE AND THESE EVENTS ARE ALL 250 EVENTS AND THEY ARE ALL LEADING UP TO JULY 4.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO END JULY 4th.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP IN MARYLAND AFTER JULY 4.

THE WEEK OF JULY 4, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, BESIDE THE USUAL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THE PARADES, THE FIREWORKS, THERE ARE SOME REALLY COOL EVENTS, AND THERE ARE TWO NATIONAL INITIATIVES.

ONE IS CALLED AMERICA'S POT LUCK ON JULY 5.

AND THAT IS FROM UTAH CALLING FOR COMMUNITIES TO GATHER THEIR RESIDENTS AND HAVE COMMUNITY MEALS AND THEN ON JULY 8, AT 6 P.M., SHARING THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE FROM HAWAII, CALLING FOR A NATIONWIDE SIMULTANEOUS READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND IN MARYLAND, WE ARE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO READ MORE THAN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

WE ARE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO READ OTHER DOCUMENTS, THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA AND FOR AMERICA'S POT LUCK ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE ARE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A RECOMMITMENT TO CEREMONY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC TO RECOMMIT TO WHAT WE ASPIRE TO BE AS A NATION.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES THE COMMISSION THINK ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON HERE?

ON THE ONE HAND, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG TERRIFIC PARTY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DOCUMENT, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

WE THINK ABOUT THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS IN THAT DOCUMENT AND THOSE WORDS FOR CERTAINLY SOME MINORITY GROUPS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

IT TURNED OUT TO NOT BE INALIENABLE AT THE TIME.

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PARTY VERSUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE HISTORY?

>> JEFF, I AM SO PROUD OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT GOVERNOR WES MOORE SIGNED ON JULY 3, 2023, LAUNCHING THIS COMMISSION.

IT LAID OUT THE THEMES OF HISTORY, CIVICS AND SERVICE.

IT LAID OUT PRIORITIES, INCLUDING INDIGENOUS, FREED AND ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS, YOUTH, NEW AMERICANS AND LIFE LONG LEARNERS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ALL AROUND THE STATE.

AND THIS WILL CONTINUE ALL YEAR.

AND THE COMMISSION IS NOT LEADING LOCAL PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE LOCAL PARTNERS ALL AROUND THE STATE.

THERE IS LOCAL 250 COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, AND ENIN ONE REGIONAL ON THE LOWER SHORE FOR SOMERSET COUNTIES AND THESE LOCAL 250 COMMISSIONS AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS AND MUSEUMS AND OUR BARK SERVICE ARE DOING SOME GREAT PROGRAMMING.

>> Jeff: WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMMING STANDS OUT TO YOU, BOTH ON THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE AND ON THE PARTY SIDE?

I MEAN WHO HAS THE MOST CREATIVE STUFF AROUND THE STATE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST EVENT BY FAR IS GOING TO BE SAIL TOO MARYLAND SHOW BALTIMORE AND THAT'S THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR MARYLAND, THE TALL SHIPS WILL BE IN NEW YORK ON JULY 4.

AND SO THIS WILL BE THE WEEK BEFORE AND THERE IS A SERIES OF FESTIVALS AND THE TALL SHIPS WILL BE HERE.

AND THIS IS THE ONLY SAIL 250 INITIATIVE OF ANY IN THE COUNTRY WITH AN AIR SHOW ALONGSIDE OF IT.

I MEAN THAT, BY FAR, IS THE BIGGEST.

BUT THERE ARE SOME GREAT EVENTS COMING UP IN AUGUST.

AND IN AUGUST, THE COMMISSION AND MARYLANDERS WILL BE HEADED TO BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BECAUSE THE MARYLAND 400 FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN, AND THERE IS AN ANNUAL EVENT AT THE OLD STONE HOUSE AND PROSPECT PARK IN BROOKLYN ON AUGUST 22, WHICH IS A SATURDAY AND MANY MARYLANDERS WILL BE HEADING UP TO BROOKLYN TO COMMEMORATE THE 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARYLAND 400 FIGHTING AND SERVING IN THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN.

AND THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE A REDEDICATION OF THE MARYLAND MONUMENT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A MARYLAND MONUMENT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BUT IT TURNS OUT THERE IS KNOWLEDGE.

>> WHEN WE.

>> Jeff: WHEN WE THINK BACK TO THE BICENTENNIAL.

YOU ARE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT TO.

THINGS STAND OUT IN MY MIND.

1: BICENTENNIAL IS A LOT EASIER TO SAY.

SECOND, THE OTHER MEMORY THAT I HAVE OF THE BICENTENNIAL IS THE OPENING OF THE WASHINGTON METRO.

THAT WAS JUST HUGE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM THE TERRIBLE EVENTS BICENTENNIAL, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND THINK BACK ABOUT THAT, ANY LESSONS WE CAN LEARN?

ANY CHANGES THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT OR YOU WANT TO BE THE SAME?

>> THE BIGGEST LESSON IS INCLUSION.

AND JEFF, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS AROUND FOR THE BICENTENNIAL.

AND WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB, ALL I REMEMBERED WAS THAT IT HAPPENED.

AND I DID NOT REMEMBER MY FAMILY PARTICIPATING.

AND I'M FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY.

ALL FOUR OF MY GRANDPARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS.

I ASKED MY DAD, I SAID DAD, DO YOU REMEMBER THE BICENTENNIAL.

HE SAID I DO.

IT WASN'T FOR US.

AND JEFF, SO THAT-- SO I HAVE NO MEMORY-- OTHER THAN THE BICENTENNIAL HAPPENED.

AND MEANWHILE I'M MARRIED TO A MAN WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN ON THE LOWER SHORE SINCE THE EARLY 1600S, BOTH SIDES OF HIS FAMILY.

AND IF YOU WERE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE BICENTENNIAL, HE WOULD TALK YOUR EAR OFF.

AND SO WE HAVE VERY-- MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE VERY DIFFERENT MEMORIES OF THE BICENTENNIAL.

SO INCLUSION IS THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY.

AND OUR EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WES MOORE, IT REALLY, INCLUSION IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Jeff: WELL, WHAT A MEMORY.

I MEAN NOT FOR US.

IT GIVES YOU A CLEAR DIRECTION AND A CLEAR MANDATE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS REALLY GOOD.

I MEAN I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.

AND IT IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

>> Jeff: I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE PEOPLE CAN FIND BY GOOGLING MARYLAND 250 AND THERE ARE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS?

>> SO, WITH THE THEMES OF CIVICS AND SERVICE, IN ADDITION TO HISTORY, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMISSION.

AND THE COMMISSION HAS NOW CONCLUDED A GRANT PROGRAM CALLED MARYLAND 250 FELLOWS.

AND THE COMMISSION FUNDED GRANTS TO 51 SMALL, MOSTLY HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS IN MARYLAND TO FUND INTERNS.

AND THE COMMISSION BELIEVES IN PAYING INTERNS.

AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND WE ARE ACTUALLY HOPING TO RAISE SOME PRIVATE MONEY TO-- SO THAT THIS MARYLAND 250 FELLOWS PROGRAM CAN EXIST IN PERPETUITY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

BEYOND THAT, IN THE AREA OF CIVICS, THE COMMISSION FUNDED ALMOST 30 CITIZEN ACADEMIES IN COMMUNITIES AROUND MARYLAND.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TOWN HALL OR THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING TO OPEN THEIR DOORS, INVITE IN THEIR RESIDENTS TO MEET THEIR ELECTED AND THEIR STAFF OFFICIALS.

LEARN HOW THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS WITH THE END GOAL OF CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: AND WE'VE HEARD REALLY, REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THE COMMISSION JUST APPROVED THE SISKT MOON SHOT.

-- THE CIVICS MOON SHOT.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECT AND THAT IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> Jeff: LASTLY, I SEE IF PEOPLE DO WANT TO GO TO THE WEBSITE MARYLAND 250, YOU HAVE MERCH.

YOU HAVE T SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS AND ALL THAT.

NOT TOO LATE TO ORDER.

>> AND THAT JUST LAUNCHED LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE HAVE TWO SERVICE YOUR OPTION MEMBERS.

ON OUR TEAM.

AND OUR MERCH LINE WAS DESIGNED BY A YOUNG LADY, ANGELA RUSH, ON OUR TEAM, WHO GRADUATED FROM TOESON UNIVERSITY A YEAR AGO.

Y SHE IS ONE OF TWO MEMBERS OF OUR CREATIVE TEAM ALONG WITH PARIS WYATT WHO HAS A MASTERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WE HAVE TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, MARY SALGALON AND ERIN BODY WHO ARE ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.

WE HAVE 34 COMMISSIONERS AND OUR CHAIR IS GOVERNOR GLEN DENYING AND OUR VIET CHAIR IS FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND VARIOUS CABINET SECRETARIES AND WE HAVE TWO STATE SENATORS ALSO.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO MICHELE JOHNSON.

THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7 FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION."