>> 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."

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A HOT BALLOT QUESTION.

ASKING VOTERS TO APPROVE NEW TERM LIMITS.

QUESTION K IN BALTIMORE CITY WOULD LIMIT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND COMPTROLLER TO TWO TERMS IN OFFICE.

THE CAMPAIGN IS LARGELY BACKED BY ONE DONOR, THE CHAIRMAN OF ST. CLARE BROADCASTING.

WE'RE JOINED NOW MY LAW PROFESSOR AND APPLICABLE MAESTRO LARRY GIBSON AND ATTORNEY AND LOB RIS CALIFORNIA COLLINS.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BOTTOM LINE QUESTION HERE, TERM LIMITS, GOOD IDEA OR BAD IDEA?

WE'LL START WITH MR. COLLINS.

>> Carville Collins: THANK YOU, JEFF OR FOR INVITING ME ON.

I'M A LAWYER IN BALTIMORE.

I'M REPRESENTING PERSONS FOR ELECTED ACCOUNTABILITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

THEY ARE A BALLOT ISSUE COMMITTEE SUPPORTING THIS IDEA THE CASE FOR TERM LIMITS IN BALTIMORE CITY ARISES ON THREE MAJOR TENETS, BUT FIRST LET'S UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT QUESTION K CALLS FOR AND WHAT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS.

IT CALLS FOR A LIMIT OF UP TO TWO EXECUTIVE TERMS FOR EACH OF FOUR CITY ELECTED OFFICE.

COUNCILMEMBER, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND COMPTROLLER.

A BERN CAN SERVE IN ALL FOUR OF THOSE -- A PERSON CAN SERVE IN ALL FOUR OF THOSE POSITIONS, JUST NOT MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN ANY ONE.

THERE IS NO EFFECT UNDER THIS PROPOSAL ON THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF OR STATE'S ATTORNEY.

THE TERM LIMITS WOULD FIRST APPLY TO PERSONS ELECTED IN THE 2024 CITY ELECTION.

SINCE IT APPLIES TO PERSONS ELECTED IN THE FUTURE, BY ITS NATURE IT IS NOT AND CANNOT BE AIMED AT ANY CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIAL.

>> Jeff: LET ME JUMP IN THERE JUST COULD ASK WHY IS IT A GOOD IDEA IN YOUR VIEW.

>> Carville Collins: WHY IT'S A GOOD IDEA, I THINK THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY THREE MAJOR TENETS FOR WHY THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

THE FIRST TENET UNDERLYING TERM LIMITS IN BALTIMORE CITY IS URGENCY.

TERM LIMITS WILL ALLOW FOR THE HEALTHY TURNOVER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN BALTIMORE AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW IDEAS, MORE RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND NEW LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.

>> Jeff: GOOD PLACE TO BRING IN PROFESSOR GIBSON.

DO WE NEED NEW IDEAS IN BALTIMORE?

>> Larry Gibson: QUESTION K WOULD BE A HARMFUL SOLUTION TO A NON-EXISTING PROBLEM.

BALTIMORE CITY GOVERNMENT NEEDS MORE STABILITY, NOT LESS.

LET ME GIVE JUST THE FACTS.

THE MAYOR OF BALTIMORE, THE CURRENT MAYOR HAS SERVED LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SERVED LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

THE COMPTROLLER HAS SERVED LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

THERE ARE 14 MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ONLY TWO OF THEM HAVE SERVED MORE THAN TWO TERMS.

FIVE OF THOSE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SECOND TERM AND SEVEN, HALF OF THEM, HAVE SERVED LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

SO THE ARGUMENT THAT WE NEED THIS MEASURE TO HAVE A HEALTHY TURNOVER JUST IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE FACTS.

>> Jeff: LET ME GO BACK TO MR. COLLINS THERE.

I BANKRUPTED BEFORE YOU GOT -- INTERRUPTED BEFORE YOU GOT TO THE OTHER TWO ARGUMENTS.

>> Carville Collins: LET ME JUST FOCUS ON THE URGENCY BECAUSE IT DOES ADDRESS WHAT PROFESSOR GIBSON HAS FIRST MENTIONED HERE.

THIS IS ABOUT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF BALTIMORE IMMINENTLY.

THESE PROBLEMS ARE REAL.

THEY'RE MATERIAL P. THEY'RE PERVASIVE.

YOU SULK SAFETY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND PRACTICALLY EVER OTHER ASPECT OF AT THE LIFE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS HERE IN BALTIMORE, THE CITIZENS DON'T HAVE FOUR YEARS.

WE DID NOT HAVE FOUR YEARS TO WAIT FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO COME UP TO SPEED ON A PLOBLGHT EVER POLITICAL PROCESS.

THE CITY NEEDS PROBLEM SOLVING SOLVING NOW AND IT CERTAINLY CANNOT TOLERATE THE SAME OLD STATUS QUOAF PROLONGED, IF NOT INDEFINITE INACTION FROM CAREER POLITICIANS.

>> Jeff: MR. COLLINS, LET'S PLAY THIS WORD FORWARD.

SAY THIS PASSES AND IT STARTS, AS YOU SAY, WITH THE NEXT ELECTION.

SO EIGHT YEARS AFTER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POTENTIALLY ALMOST EVERYBODY TERM-LIMITED AND THEN WIND UP WITH A WHOLE NEW CROP OF PEOPLE.

YOU ARGUE FOR EXPERIENCE.

THESE NEW PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE NO PERSONS.

>> Carville Collins: WELL, JEFF, I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY -- IT'S NECESSARILY TRUE THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE ROTATED OUT OR REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SERVE THE FULL EIGHT YEARS.

AND AS WELL, IF THIEVE THEY'VE DECIDED THAT IF THEY ARE TERM LIMITED AND HAVE SERVED THEIR EIGHT YEARS, THEY ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM SERVING IN ANY OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL ROLES THAT I'VE MENTIONED, A TOTAL OF FOUR OFFICES, SO IF THERE ARE COUNCILMEMBERS -- THEY'RE A COUNCILMEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY GO RUN FOR CITY COUN PRESIDENT AND SERVE IN THAT POSITION FOR TWO TERMS, EIGHT YEARS OR THEY COULD RUN FOR MAYOR OR COMPTROLLER SORRY THEY COULD SERVE IN ALL FOUR POSITIONS IF THEY SO DECIDED AND WON ONE ELECTION AND WISHED TO SERVE, THEY COULD, AND THEY COULD CONTRIBUTE NIGHTLY TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND THE CITIZENS.

>> Jeff: LET ME TURN THE FLOOR BACK OVER TO PROFESSOR GIBSON AND ALSO ASK AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU'RE OPPOSED TO TERM LIMITS FOR THESE CITY OFFICES, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TERM LIMITS THAT WE HAVE FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> Larry Gibson: THE LAST THING THAT BALTIMORE NEEDS IS MORE INSTABILITY IN ITS GOVERNMENT.

I HAVE SHOWED YOU HOW OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS STRUCTURED.

AND QUESTION K WOULD DEPRIVE CAN BE R., CONTINUOUSLY DEPRIVE OF A STABLE GOVERNMENT.

LET'S GO TO WHAT'S REALLY OBJECTIONABLE WITH QUESTION K. TERM LIMITS FOR EXECUTIVE BODIES ARE, EXECUTIVE OFFICES, PRESIDENTS, GOVERNORS, COUNTY EXECUTIVES, THAT'S NOT NEW.

THEY'RE DEBATABLE BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE THAT PLUS WE HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THAT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND RARE, AND FOR GOOD REASONS.

BUT THEN TO ADD N. INSULT TO INJURY, PRESTON K HAS TERM LIMITS FOR COMPTROLLER.

THAT'S JUST PLAIN FOOLISHNESS.

THE CNSZ OF MOST PLACES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR, CERTAIN BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THAT FOR THE FISCAL WATCHDOG THEY WANT SOMEONE THERE AFTER ONE ADMINISTRATION AFTER ANOTHER WHASMG THE MONEY AND -- WATCHING THE MONEY AND HANDLING THE FISCAL DEMANDS.

THAT'S PLAIN UTTER NONE SAYS TO INCLUDE IN THIS THE COMPTROLLER.

LET'S THINK OF WHAT -- IN MARYLAND.

LET'S TAKE BALTIMORE CITY.

BALTIMORE CITY TENDS TO RE-ELECT OFTEN ITS COMPTROLLERS FOR GOOD REASON.

THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

I THOUGHT PETER FRANCHOT WAS A VERY GOOD GOOD COMPTROLLER.

HE JUST FINISHED FOUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ONE OF THE REASONS BALTIMORE CITY AND THE ESTATE KEEPS A GOOD BOND RATING.

WE TEND TO HAVE STABILITY IN THE OFFICE COMPTROLLER.

TO HAVE INCLUDED THAT QUESTION K WAS JUST A -- IT WAS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE IDEA.

>> Jeff: MR. GIBSON, POLL QUESTIONS, BALLOT QUESTIONS IN BALTIMORE TEND TO PASS, DON'T THEY?

AND ALSO WHEN YOU POLL TERM LIMITS, IT TEND TO BE POPULAR.

>> Larry Gibson: WELL, BUT THEY SELDOM ARE AS DANGEROUS AS THIS ONE, JUST THAT LAST POINT.

IT IS PLAIN DANGEROUS TO HAVE TERM LIMITS AND CERTAINLY INADVISABLE FOR THE COMPTROLLER, FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, BUT LET'S JUST TALK EVEN ABOUT MAYOR.

NOW, THAT IS SOMEWHAT DEBATABLE.

I'M 80 YEARS OLD, BUT I WAS BORN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

TO SHOW YOU THAT THIS MEASURE IS NOT NEEDED, WE HAVE HAD ONLY THREE MAYORS SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR WHO SERVED MORE THAN TWO TERMS.

TOMMY D'ALESANDRO, THE FATHER AND DONALD SHAFFER.

BOTH OF THOSE SERVED FOUR TERMS AND KURT SPOKE IN WHO SERVED THREE TERMS.

WITHOUT A DOUBT IN MY MIND THOSE WERE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MAYORS OF MY LIFETIME.

>> Jeff: GOOD POINT TO BRINGIT BACK TO -- LET ME GIVE IT BACK TO MR. COLLINS.

MR. GIBSON HAS NAMED SOME POPULAR EX MAYORS AND BROUGHT UP AN INTERESTING POINT ABOUT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

YOUR RESPONSE.

>> Carville Collins: YES.

IT GOES TO REALLY THE SECOND TENET UNDER WHY LYING TERM LIMITS, AND THAT IS MODERATION.

THE NOTION THAT PROFESSOR GIBSON HAS MENTIONED ABOUT RESERVING TERM LIMITS FOR EXECUTIVES, WELL, THAT UTTERLY IGNORES THE REALITY WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN MARYLAND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THERE ARE ALREADY TERM LIMITS IN PLACE IN MARYLAND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL LEVEL IN HOWARD COUNTY, IN ANN DRUN RUNDEL COUNTIES, IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND THEY MUNICIPAL LIVE NEEN NINE OF THE TEN LARGEST CITIES IN AMERICA HAS TERM LIMITS FOR ALL OF THESE OFFICES.

TERM LIMITS ARE PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THEY ARE GROWING IN POPULARITY AT THE LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT LEVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: MR. COLLINS, LET ME ASK ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES THIS INITIATIVE IS THAT IT IS LARGELY FUNDED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL.

SHOULD THAT MATTER TO VOTERS?

>> Carville Collins: YEAH, I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS FOR THE BALLOT ISSUE COMMITTEE, THAT IS ADVOCATING IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL, IT IS SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF PERSONS.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

I'VE MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO IT.

BUT, YES, THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO HAS DONE -- MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION, BUT HE'S A PERSON JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF US AND HE CARES AS MUCH ABOUT BALTIMORE AS ANY OF THE REST OF US, AND I THINK ALL OF US ON THIS BROADCAST CARE A LOT ABOUT BALTIMORE CITY.

I'M A LIFELONG BALTIMORE CITY RESIDENT.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK -- I THINK HE SHOULD BE -- HE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT ANYONE ELSE, AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, TO SUPPORT AN ISSUE LIKE THIS AND ADDRESS A CONCERN, THE CONCERNS OF URGENCY, MODERATION, AND THEN THE THIRD TENET WHICH I THINK IS BASED ON OUR HISTORY, AND IF I MAY JUST DRESS THAT, THAT HISTORICAL ASPECT -- >> Larry Gibson: BEFORE WE WERE GET TO THAT COULD WE TAKE THIS IN SEGMENTS?

BEFORE PEOPLE FORGET IT, I WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS POINT OF WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A MEDIA COMPANY THAT HAS A LOCAL STATION THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING A STEADY DIET OF NEGATIVE COVERAGE OF BALTIMORE TO FUND, AND LET'S BE CLEAR, DAVID SMITH FUNDED THIS.

HE PUT UP $368,000.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.

MAYBE THERE HAVE BEEN, BUT THE MEDIA REPORTS UP UNTIL NOW, AND HE HASN'T CORRECTED IT, IS THAT HE FUNDED THIS, AND THIS IS THE HEAD OF THE STATE -- A COMPANY THAT OWNS FOX45 THAT IS ENGAGED IN A STEADY DIET OF NEGATIVE, UNFAIR, UNBALANCED REPORTING ABOUT BALTIMORE.

I THINK THAT FRANKLY IS NOT ILLEGAL, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY INAPPROPRIATE.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO MR. CODGES AND MR. GIBSON.

NOW WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

THIS WEEK NANCY WALLACE, THE NOMINEE OF THE GREEN PARTY, TELLS US ABOUT HER FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Nancy Wallace: I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE 30 YEARS AGO MYSELF AND STARTED CHANGING MY OWN BEHAVIOR, JUST WATCHING THE NEWS, READING SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, AND SO I'VE REALLY BEEN STUDDING IT AND LEARNING IT IN-DEPTH SINCE THEN SINCE EVEN BEFORE VICE PRESIDENT GORE, AND WHAT'S DISTINCTIVE ABOUT MY APPROACH IS THAT I REALLY THROIFNT SCIENTISTS, THE INTERNATIONAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I'M AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IN THE 1790s THE PARTS PER MILLION CO2, AND I HATE TO JUST THROW OUT THE NUMBERS BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS WE WILL LIVE OR DIE BY, IT WAS 270.

SO KIND OF LIKE I270.

YOU CAN THINK OF THAT IN TERMS OUR HIGHWAY HERE IN MARYLAND.

THAT ACTUALLY IS THE SAFE STABLE BALANCED POINT FOR OUR AS THE NEAR ATMOSPHERE.

AND WE STARTED BHURNG PEAT AND THEN COAL AND THEN OIL AND NOW WE'RE UP TO 414.

AND THE SCIENTISTS HAVE SAID WE COULD NEVER GO OVER 400, AND WE'RE EVEN SURGING TO 400.

SO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY NOW IN THE ATMOSPHERE, ALL OF THE -- ACTUALLY SEVERAL MAJOR CLIMATE KASS BUTTED CO2 IS THE ONE WE KNOW THE MOST -- >> >> Jeff: I WONDER.

LET ME ASK THIS -- >> Nancy Wallace: THAT'S CAUSING IF GLOBAL WARMING 1K3 I WANT TO REDUCE EMISSION BUT AB SOARPG THAT 130 YEARS OF EMISSIONS.

>> Jeff: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS HOW.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE THE TEMPERATURE IS UP.

YOU LOOK AT THE BAY.

THE BAY, THE SEA LEVEL IS ALL UP.

AND PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THAT NOT TO BE THE CASE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN ELECTRIC CARS AND WIND TURBINES AND SO FORTH, WE SEE THE DEVELOPING WORLD BUILDING DOZENS OF NEW COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

AND MAYBE PEOPLE SHRUG A LITTLE BIT.

HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO WIN THAT BATTLE?

>> Nancy Wallace: THAT ARE FOUR THINGS WE CAN TOP.

THREE POSITIVE AND ONE KIND OF ADDRESSING THAT COAL ISSUE, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY BLESSED IN MARYLAND BECAUSE WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THE WORLD'S SECOND LARGESS ESTUARY, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, AND THE ESTUARIES ARE A MAJOR ABSORBERS OF CARBON DIOXIDE IF YOU TREAT THEM RIGHT.

AND ONE THING IS TO PLANT SAWGRASS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SEAGRASS AND KELL KELP CAN ABSORB MORE CARBON DIOXIDE EVEN THAN A FOREST REGENERATION.

WE HAVE HAD THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SEAGRASS PLANT, PROJECT IN THE CHESAPEAKE ALREADY BUT IT'S DOWN IN V. VIRGINIA, SO I WOULD BRING THAT SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE UP.

WE HAVE A HUGE CARBON ZINC BASICALLY RIGHT HERE IN OUR FRONT YARD.

SECOND OF ALL IS REFOREST PAITION P I WOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP EXCESS MOWING.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES THAT ARE UNDER THE OWNERSHIP BY THE STATE, ALL THOSE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY MEDIANS, ALL SOAFTS PUBLIC FACILITIES.

WE HAD SHOULD HAVE MINIMUM SAFETY MOWING AND WE SHOULD ALSO WORK WITH OUR COUNTIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR TO REGROW MARYLAND.

AND THIRD IS AGRICULTURE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ORGANIC FARMS AND ORGANIC SOILS, THE REASON THE BLACK SOIL IS THE RICH SOIL OF A GOOD ORGANIC FARM, REASON IT'S BLACK IS BECAUSE IT'S ABSORBED CARBON, SO I AM GOING TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY FOR CLIMATE.

IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL HAS DONE, AND I WOULD JUST TAKE IT UP TOP STATE LEVEL, AND WE WILL SUPPORT THE FUNDING AND IF TRAINING OF -- THE TRAINING OF ALL OF OUR MARYLAND AGRICULTURE TO CERTIFIED ORGANIC AND WE WILL WITHDRAW PUBLIC SUPPORT, WE WILL NOT MAKE IT ILLEGAL BUT WE WILL WITHDRAW PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM FARMS THAT STILL WANT TO USE TOXIC CHEMICALS.

SO THERE'S THREE MAJOR WAYS TO ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE.

AND THE FOURTH IS THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK CLOSE LATE ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD BE COOPERATING AND SHIPPING COAL FROM THE MOUNTAINS DOWN TO BALTIMORE WHERE THEY'VE CAUSED METHANE EXPLOSIONS AT CURTIS BAY, ET CETERA AND THEN SHIPPING THAT DOALT DEVELOPING WORLD.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT'S A PAROLE AND WE DO HAVE ONE LEVERAGE POINT THAT.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

BUT I'M SO OPTIMISTIC AND EXCITED ABOUT THE MANY WAYS WE CAN SUCCESSFUL REVERSE CLIMATE CHANGE, NOT JUST REDUCE IT OR A% CAPTAIN ADAPT OR MITIGATE WHICH IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION IS DOING.

>> Jeff: THERE'S A POLITICAL POLL.

THE PRACT CAFLTS YOUR CAMPAIGN.

RECENT POLL HAD YOU AT 2%.

WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY TO CROW THAT GROW THAT?

AND COULD YOU HAVE A DO YOU HAVE A TARGET FOR ELECTION DAY THAT WOULD MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN?

>> Nancy Wallace: I THINK WE WIN IN OUR WAYS WITH GREEN-PARTY.

ONE IF WE MAKE OVER 1% THEN WE WILL HAVE QUALIFIED TO ON I STAY A PARTY IN MARYLAND.

SECOND, IF WE'RE BETWEEN 2 AND ABOUT 35 PERCENT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING THESE ISSUES UP TO THE FORE AND WE'RE GOING TO INFLUENCE THE COUT OUTCOME ENOUGH THAT HOPEFULLY THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WILL FINALLY APPROVE RANK CHOICE VOTING.

THEY'VE KILLED RANK CHOICE VOTING BILLS EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS IN ANNAPOLIS.

DIDN'T EVEN LET IT COME TO A SUBCOMMITTEE VOTE.

AND THE FACT IS MAINE, ALASKA, NEW YORK CITY, SAN FRANCISCO, AUSTRALIA, LOTS OF PLACES HAVE RANK CHOICE VOGTS, AND THAT MEANS EVERYBODY'S VOICES GETS INCLUDED.

AND THIRD OVER 35% WE WIN THE ELECTION.

AND FOURTH, I THINK BRINGING THESE ISSUES UP INTO THE PUBLIC, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE LEAGUE OF LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE BLACK GROUPS, BLACK COALITION THAT'S GOING TO BE SPONSORS THE DEBATE IN ABOUT A WEEK IN BALTIMORE AND THE UNION DEBATES DOWN IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY, YOUR PROGRAM RIGHT HERE PROVIDING A VOICE FOR THESE ALTERNATE OPTIONS.

>> Jeff: I'M SURE YOU GET ASKED THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT HISTORICALLY THIRD PARTIES HAVE CERTAINLY REVEALED AREAS OVER TIME WHERE THE MAJOR PARTIES WERE OFF-BASE.

SOMETIMES IN A CLOSE ELECTION, TAKE A COUPLE PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND WIND UP SHIFTING IT IN A DIRECTION THAT WINDS UP LEAKING SOMEBODY WITH COMPLETELY OPPOSITE VIEWS TO YOURS.

IS THAT A CONCERN AT ALL?

>> Nancy Wallace: WELL, THAT'S THE FEAR MESSAGE, AND I THINK IT SHOWS UNFORTUNATELY HOW, WHEN A PARTY USES THAT, THEY'RE REALLY TELLING YOU DON'T LOOK AT THEIR POLICY.

IT SPEAKS TO THE BANKRUPTCY OF OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE TWO PRE-CIVIL WAR PARTIES.

NOW, THE TWO PRE-CIVIL WAR PARTIES, THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, DIDN'T EXIST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COUNTRY.

SO OBVIOUSLY HAVING ADDITIONAL PARTIES IS A GOOD THING.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO KEEP -- WE HAVE TO LET THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH THESE TWO PRE-CIVIL WAR PARTIES IN MARYLAND UNDERSTAND THAT 50 TO 65 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WANT THIRD PARTY VOICES IN THE ELECTION.

AND BY EXCLUDING US, THEY -- THEY REALLY ARE DEMORALIZING AMERICANS AND PEOPLE PULL BACK, AND THEN THEY GET HOPELESS, AND OUR COUNTRY DOESN'T WORK.

WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE.

AND ALSO ALL OF THE PROGRESSIVE IDEAS OF THE LAST 130 YEARS HAVE COME FROM THIRD PARTIES, SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE WITH A PARTY THAT IS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: THE APPLICABLE POLL, THE GOUCHER POLY MENTIONED ASKED -- POLY MENTIONED ASK VOTERS WHAT THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS IN THIS ELECTION, AND THEY GAVE VOTERS A LIST THAT INCLUDED THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE VIERMD WOUND FIFTH ON THE -- ENVIRONMENT POUND WOUND UP FIFTH OFTDZ VOTERS FOUND MAYBE MORE PRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND EXRIEM AND EDUCATION.

WHAT ARE VOTERS MISSING IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THOSE PRIORITIES?

>> Nancy Wallace: WELL, THE POLL DIDN'T SAY CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WHEN I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THEY SAY, "IT'S MY FIRST PRIORITY."

THEY MAY NOT BE AS MOTIVATED BY THAT AS THEY ARE BY VOTER-TERM ISSUES OF THEIR OWN LIFE, BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE.

THE GREEN PARTY IS THE ONLY NATIONAL PARTY THAT DOESN'T TAKE ANY MONEY FROM CORMINGSES OR PACS -- CORPORATIONS OR PACs, SO WE ARE PERFECTLY PLACE TODAY LEAD THIS COUNTRY IN THE EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION, A WORLD WAR II TYPE MOBILIZATION TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE PROBLEM AND TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE OTHER ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S CALLED CLIMATE JUSTICE OR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

WE CREATED THE GREEN NEW DEAL IN 2010 AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT'S 100% EMPLOYMENT, TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS, AND THEN COVERING AUTO SOLAR PANEL AND SHUTTING DOWN OUR COAL AND NATURAL GAS ELECTRICITY.

>> Jeff: TO DO THAT -- >> Dr. Bhati: >> Nancy Wallace: 35R7B?

>> Jeff: TO GET RID OF BURNING STUFF FOR POWER, WE ALREADY RELY VERY HEAVILY IN MARYLAND ON NUCLEAR.

WOULD YOU -- AND THIS IS A DISPIEWRT WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT -- DISPUTE WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY.

WOULD YOU FAVOR MORE NUCLEAR AS A BRIDGE TO DECARBONIZATION?

>> Nancy Wallace: NUCLEAR HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A DISASTER IN THE CLIMATE CONTEXT.

IF YOU LOOK AT FRANCE THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON NUCLEAR, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE HAD TO SHUT OFF THEY ARE NUCLEAR PLANTS IF THEIR DROUGHTS BECAUSE THE RIVER WATER LEVELS FELL AND BECAUSE IT GOT TOO HOT.

SO UNFORTUNATELY NUCLEAR, JUST FROM A PURELY TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL STOND STANDPOINT IS NOT AN ANSWER, AND AS GOVERNOR I WILL START THE PLANNING FOR DE DECOMMISSIONING CALVERT CLIFF'S NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT HAVE A POTENTIAL NUCLEAR EXPLOSION ON OUR BACK PORCH, ESSENTIALLY, WHEN WE HAVE SUCH TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES COMING IN TERMS OF THE HURRICANES, THE GRID STABILITY, RESILIENCE AND ALL THESE ISSUES.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE CAN GENTLER THE POWER WE NEED SAFELY USING RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY.

>> Jeff: WELL, TO PUT A FOCUS ON THAT, THERE MAY BE THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW HYDRO ELECTRIC PLANT IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

IT WOULD MEAN DAMMING A PRISTINE WATERSHED BUT IT WOULD GREAT CREATE GREEN POWER.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

WANCHT I WOULD LOOK ANOTHER IT.

I TRY TO LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT ALL THE PROPOSALS AND LOOK A WHAT ALL THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SAYS.

IN GENERAL I THINK THAT LARGE HYDRO POWER PLANTS SHOULD BE OUR ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO MS. WASTLES.

OFF THESE INTERVIEWS WILL BE POAFLTD ONLINE AT MPT.ORG/VOTE-2022.

AND NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS REPORT, HERE'S NANCY YAMADA.

>> YOU COULDN'T BE IN IRAQ AND NOT SEE BURN PITS.

IT'S THE WAY THAT WE GOT RID OF TRASH.

>> Nancy: U.S. ARMY OF VETERAN ERIC DONAHOE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA HOW DANGEROUS THOSE PLUMES OF SMOKE WERE WHEN HE SERVED IN IRAQ FOR 1 YEAR YOU.

INSIDE THOSE BURN PITS WERE CHEMICALS,Y MEDICAL CANS AND PLASTICS AND HUMAN WASTE.

YEARS LATER HIS BODY BEGAN TO BREAK DOWN.

>> IT ALL STARTED REALLY BACK IN 2014 WITH RANDOM SHOOTING PAINS THAT I WOULD GET IN MY BONES.

>> Nancy: THEN THE FATHER OF TWO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBROMYALGIA, AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT THEN LED TO THYROID PROBLEMS AND THE DISCOVERY OF HIGH LEVELS OF TONY'S IN HIS BODY.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT LOGICALLY MAKES SENSE ON WHY I HAVE LEAD, URANIUM, BARIUM AND BUYS MOTH IN MY SYSTEM WOULD BE BECAUSE OF WAR.

>> Nancy: LIKE SO MANY VETERANS OVER THE YEARS, HE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET DIAGNOSED THEN FIGHT TO GET HIS MEDICAL BILLS úPAID FOR BY THEVA.

70% OF CLAIMS TO BURN IT.

EXPOSURES HAVE BEEN DENIED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EVIDENCE.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

AN ARE AFTER A EXPENSIVE LOBBY CAN EFFORT BY VETERANS GROUPS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND CELEBRITIES THE PAC ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, TO 3 MILLION VERTS EXPOSE TODAY TONIGHT URGES BURNS EXPUT REMOVES THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR VETERANS SEEKING CARE.

>> IT IS A HUGE WEIGHT OFF OF I THINK ALL OF US VETERANS WHO DEAL WITH THIS.

IT'S A HUGE WEIGHT OFF OUR SHOULDERS.

>>NESS, QUITE FRANKLY, THE LARGEST -- THIS IS, QUITE FRANKLY, THE LARGEST MOST IMPACTFUL HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION PASSED FOR VETERANS EVER SO IT'S HUGE.

>> Nancy: TOM PORTER IS WITH THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS AMERICA.

>> THE BILL IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

IT REACHES BACK AND IT HELPS GULF WAR VETERANS, IT HELPS MANY THOUSANDS OF VIETNAM VERTS THAT HAVE BEEN VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THEY EVER BENEFIT SO THAT'S HUGE.

THERE'S A LIST OF 23 ILLNESSES: CANCERS, SPROIRTS ILLNESSES MOSTLY.

IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE 23 ILLNESSES AND YOU WERE DEPLOYED TO A LIST OF COUNTRIES THE IN MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIA IN THE LEGISLATION, THEN IT PRESUMES THAT THOSE ILLNESSES CAME FROM YOUR DEPLOYMENT.

>> Nancy: AS FOR DONAHOE -- -- >> MY SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY IS WHAT GAVE ME THE LIFE I HAVE TODAY?

>> >> Nancy: HE SAYS HE HAS NO REGRETS ABOUT THE PAST, AND DESPITE FEARS ABOUT HIS DECLINING HEALTH -- >> IT HELPS THAT I KNOW THAT IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME, MY FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO.

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

>> Jeff: NANCY, THANK YOU.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY MONDAY WITH DIRECT CONNECTION, ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LATEST IMAGES FROM THE NEW WEB SPACE TELESCOPE.

THAT IS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT A 7:00.

NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.