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

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WELCOME TO "DIRECT CONNECTION" WE ARE JOINED FOR THE PROGRAM BY GOVERNOR WES MOORE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> CANNOT BELIEVE IT IS THE FOURTH TIME WE HAVE DONE THIS END OF SESSION PROGRAM.

>> IT GOES FAST, DOESN'T IT?

IT GOES FAST.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNOR ON MARYLAND POLITICS OR NATIONAL POLITICS SEND US AN E-MAIL.

IT WILL BE ON THE SCREEN.

YOU ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON ENERGY POLICY AND I BELIEVE THAT IS DONE AT THIS POINT?

>> JUST ABOUT DONE.

THEY MIGHT BE WORKING OUT FINAL DETAILS.

BUT ALL THE TERMS ARE DONE AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE WE MADE A PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AT THE START OF SESSION WE WOULD FOCUS ON BRINGING COSTS DOWN AND PROTECTING FOLKS FROM THE RAVAGES FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HOW THEY HAVE IMPACTED MARYLAND AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE OUR STATE IS MORE COMPETITIVE AND DEALING WITH ENERGY COSTS WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

AND WE ARE GLAD THE UTILITY RELIEF ACT ADDRESSES THAT.

>> Jeff: WHAT CHANGES ARE IN THERE THE EMPOWER PROGRAM THAT PREDATES YOU IT WAS AN ENERGY SAVINGS THING PUT IT ADDED TO EVERYBODY'S BILL.

ARE WE MERELY MOVING THAT OFF OF THE RATEPAYERS AND ON TO THE TAXPAYERS?

>> THE FOCUS OF IT WAS TO MOVE US TOWARDS A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO BELIEVE WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I THINK ABOUT ENERGY, I AM AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY PERSON.

I UNDERSTAND WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF ENERGY AND I BELIEVE THE MOST READILY AND AFFORDABLE FORMS OF ENERGY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE THE CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES.

THEY ARE THE SOLAR, THEY ARE THE WIND.

BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PULLING AWAY FROM.

SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CHEAPEST AND QUICKEST FORM OF ENERGY THAT CAN GET ON THE GRID.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GIVE MARYLANDERS A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF.

OVER THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE SEEN OUR ENERGY BILLS INCREASE BY OVER 13% IN A YEAR.

SO WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IT SAYS YES WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STREAMLINING OUR SOLAR AND OUR WIND PROJECTS BECAUSE A LOT HAVE BEEN PIPELINED.

WE WILL PUT CAPS ON THE SALARIES OF ENERGY.

AND WE WILL PUT EXTRA MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF MARYLANDERS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR NRG?

WE HAVE BEEN CRAZY ENVIRONMENT WHERE DATA CENTERS, THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CLOUD, WENT FROM SOMETHING DESIRABLE LIKE WE WANT TO HAVE THEM IN MARYLAND TO WAIT A SECOND, THEY USE MORE POWER THAN MANY OF OUR ENTIRE SMALL TOWNS.

SO DO WE WANT THEM HERE AT THIS POINT OR NO?

>> I THINK WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING THE BENEFITS OF THIS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE WANT MARYLAND TO COMPETE IN, WE WANT MARYLAND TO COMPETE IN WIND AT IT AND LIFE SCIENCES AND THEY WILL REQUIRE THOSE MECHANISMS.

BUT WHAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE WHAT WE SAW IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WHERE THEY WROTE THEIR OWN RULES AND JACKING UP PRICES BECAUSE THEY WERE SUCKING FROM A GRID.

AND THAT GRID THAT PJM GRID IS 13 STATES SO ALL 13 STATES WERE PAYING FOR THE FACT THEY HAD UNREGULATED ENVIRONMENT.

SO WHAT I HAVE SAID IS THAT FOR DATA CENTERS TO GET MY APPROVAL INSIDE THE STATE THEY NEED TO QUALIFY ON THREE THINGS: ONE THEY NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN ENERGY OR PAY FOR THEIR OWN ENERGY AND PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT TAKES PLACE FOR THEM TO GET ON THE GRID.

THE SECOND PIECE THEY NEED TO WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LOCAL JURISDICTION ACTUALLY WANTS IT.

AND THE THIRD THING IS THEY NEED TO HIRE LOCAL WORKERS THEY CAN'T BRING PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY TO COME INTO MARYLAND AND WE ARE SUPPORTING THE TAX BASE OF ANOTHER STATE.

SO IF THEY CAN DO THAT WORK IT'S SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN.

IF THEY CANNOT HIT THOSE BARS THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE MY SUPPORT TO HAVE A DATA CENTER IN MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: IMMIGRATION POLICY IS SOMETHING ELSE MOVING AT THE LAST-MINUTE.

THE LEGISLATURE MOVED TO PREVENT 287G PLAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CERTAIN COUNTIES, AND LOCAL SHERIFFS AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ABOUT TURNING OVER POSSIBLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

NOW THERE IS A SECOND BILL MOVING THAT WOULD CRACKDOWN FURTHER ON LOCAL COOPERATION WITH I.C.E.

AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID IT IS A PUT THE CRIMINALS FIRST POLICY.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT ISSUE?

>> I THINK THAT DESCRIPTION IS NOT JUST NONSENSE, IT'S ACTUALLY THAT IS THE KIND OF POLITICAL THEATER THAT PEOPLE HATE.

BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRUTH TO IT.

YOU KNOW WHERE I AM ON THIS ISSUE I'M CLEAR.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW DUE PROCESS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF MARYLANDERS.

RIGHT?

THOSE ARE THE GUIDELINES THAT I HAVE FOR ANY DEBATE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AROUND IMMIGRATION POLICIES THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY AN IMMIGRANT SINGLE MOTHER.

AND RIGHT NOW, I.C.E.

THEIR BUDGET IN 2024 WAS $10 BILLION.

THEIR BUDGET NOW IS $85 BILLION.

I.C.E.

IS BIGGER THAN THE F.B.I.

I.C.E.

IS BIGGER THAN THE D.E.A.

I.C.E.

IS BIGGER THAN A.T.F.

AND BUDGET WISE, THE BUDGET OF MARYLAND.

BUT I.C.E.

NOW CAN DEPUTIZE OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE DOING GOOD WORK MARYLAND HAS THE FASTEST DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME AND I.C.E.

IS TRYING TO DEPUTIZE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO IMMIGRATION WORK AND THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY ARE THAT BIG.

I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

AND WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE THREATS TO SOCIETY WE WILL COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THAT.

BUT WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IS ALLOW OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO HAVE THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIZED TO JOIN AN ASSY THAT IS ARRESTING FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.

THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AND THAT IS THE LINES WE'RE TRYING TO GUARD AGAINST.

>> Jeff: I WAS ABOUT TO BRING UP THE BUDGET THAT YOU SIGNED WHEN I GET AN E-MAIL FROM A VIEWERRER WHAT DOES STATE SPENDING INCREASE FASTER THAN INFLATION?

IT'S LOGICAL IT WILL INCREASE BY THE RATE OF INFLATION AND THE GROWTH IN THE STATE BUT ARE WE RUNNING FASTER THAN THAT?

>> WE ARE NOT.

IN FACT, THANK YOU FOR THAT MESSAGE.

AND ACTUALLY, THE REALITY IS THAT DURING THE FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN THE GOVERNOR WE HAVE DECREASED THE SIZE OF THE GENERAL FUND EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

SO THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN DECADES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

SO ACTUALLY WHAT YOU ARE SEEING WITH THIS BUDGET IS WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING MORE WITH LESS.

AND WE'VE DONE IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN THE GOVERNOR.

AND THE GOAL THAT WE HAD WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS THIS... WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE WERE BRINGING COSTS DOWN FOR MARYLANDERS AND PROTECT MARYLANDERS FROM THE RAVAGES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND MAKE OUR STATE MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND WE WILL DO IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES OR FEES AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN CHILDCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ALSO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WITH THIS BUDGET, WE WERE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THE GOVERNOR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A TAX CUT TO MIDDLE CLASS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DECREASE THE SIZE OF THE GENERAL FUND SINCE I'VE BEEN THE GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP A HEALTHY 8% IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

AND ALSO NOW START TRIGGERING ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHIN OUR STATE.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SHOWING NOW IS FISCAL DISCIPLINE DOES MATTER THAT INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE DOES MATTER AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPROMISE BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.

>> Jeff: HOW DISCIPLINED IS THIS BUDGET?

IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR TO TAX INCREASES ARE AUTOMATICALLY OFF THE TABLE.

WE SAW SOME LAST YEAR.

ARE WE GOING TO NEED THEM NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE FORECAST IS AGAIN MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICITS AHEAD?

>> THE CHALLENGE IS THAT I INHERITED A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

I MULTIPLE BILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

IN FAIRNESS SO DID MANY GOVERNORS THAT CAME BEFORE ME.

MARYLAND HAS HAD A SPENDING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY FORMULAIC SPENDING.

18 OF THE LAST 20 BUDGETS NEEDED CUTS TO BALANCE.

SO MY PLAN IS THAT I AM GOING TO FIX THIS.

I AM NOT GOING TO PASS OFF TO MY SUCCESSOR WHAT I INHERITED FROM MY PREDECESSOR WHICH IS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND GET AWAY FROM THE FORMULA BASED BUDGETING THAT MARYLAND EXISTED WITH.

BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT JUST BALANCING OUR BUDGET BUT MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DOING IT ON THE BACKS OF WORKING FAMILIES AS WELL.

>> Jeff: DOES FORMULAIC SPENDING INCLUDE THE KERWIN PLAN THAT CALLS FOR ESCALATIONS IN SPEND ARE FOR PRE-K AND TEACHERS.

>> I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR TEACHERS, I THINK THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD A MORE PRO PUBLIC SCHOOL GOVERNOR IN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME INSIDE THE STATE.

I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE.

BECAUSE JUST LIKE ANY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, IT REQUIRES PRESSURE TESTING.

AND I THINK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

SOCIAL SECURITY WAS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND IT'S BEEN CHANGED DOZENS OF TIMES BECAUSE IT HAD TO ADAPT TO A NEW WORLD.

I THINK ABOUT THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION.

THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION HAS CHANGED OVER 200 TIMES SINCE IT WAS FIRST RATIFIED.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS WE DID NOT KNOW WHEN KERWIN A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

WE DIDN'T KNOW COVID.

WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD WOULD HAVE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHO WOULDN'T FUND IT FOR YEARS AND TRIED TO GET RID OF IT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD HAVE A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT WOULD NOW BE DRAGGING US INTO MORE FOREVER WARS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY PRESSURE TEST EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: SWITCH TOPICS.

YOU WERE ALL WITH AL SHARPTON AN EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY.

HE ASKED AS EVERYBODY ASKS YOU ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS 2028 AND THAT CAMPAIGN AND YOUR ANSWER WAS I'M HUNGRY BUT I'M NOT THIRSTY.

I HAVE BEEN SCRATCHING MY HEAD FOR DAYS OVER THAT.

DID REVEREND AL UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING?

>> I THINK HE DID.

WHAT I MEAN IS THAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT DOING THE JOB THAT I HAVE.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT KEEPING MY PROMISES.

I AM A PROMISE KEEPER.

AND IF I SAY SOMETHING I MEAN IT.

AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING RIGHT AND ADDRESS CHILD POVERTY INSIDE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONTINUING THE HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENT CRIME.

AND MAKE SURE THE FACT WE'VE ADDED NEARLY 100,000 NEW JOBS IN MARYLAND OVER ABOUT A TWO-AND-A-HALF YEAR PERIOD.

35,000 NEW BUSINESSES.

LIKE I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

WHEN I SAY I'M NOT THIRSTY, IT MEANS THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING AND POSTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO BE SOMETHING.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SOMETHING.

I AM A KID WHAT HAD HANDCUFFS ON MY WRISTS AT 11 YEARS OLD NOW SERVING AS GOVERNOR AND FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR IN THE HISTORY OF MY STATE AND THE THIRD IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: IT MAKES YOU A NATIONAL PLAYER AND WE SEE YOU FACE THE NATION, MEET THE PRESS ALL OF THOSE SHOWS.

AND HOW DO YOU IF YOU ARE REELECTED AS IT LOOKS LIKE YOU LIKELY WILL BE, HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DIVIDING THOSE OBLIGATIONS?

>> I THINK THAT I PLAN ON BEING INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I DO THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IS DEVASTATING.

I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE SEEING A STATE LIKE MARYLAND THAT IS MORE UNDER ASSAULT THAN ANY STATE.

IN OUR NATION.

WE'VE HAD 31,000 PEOPLE FIRED IN MARYLAND IN A YEAR BY DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE.

AND IF YOU INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE FEDERAL WORKER ADJACENT IT'S OVER 40,000 PEOPLE IN A YEAR.

THERE'S BEEN NO STATE THAT HAS BEEN UNDER A GREATER MEASUREMENT OF ASSAULT THAN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE NOTICING JUST HOW RESILIENT OUR STATE IS.

WE ARE FIGHTERS.

AND I WILL CONTINUE.

I AM A SOLDIER BY TRAINING AND I WILL ALWAYS SOLDIER FOR MY PEOPLE AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY ARE NOTICING THAT.

BUT I'M LASER FOCUSED ON OUR REELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND LASER FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE MARYLAND IS NOT JUST PUSHING BACK ON THE RAVAGES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BUT WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD AND WE'RE SHOWING THE COUNTRY WHAT RIGHT CAN LOOK LIKE.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO THE VIEWERS WHO ARE SENDING EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.

THIS IS DAVID, WANTS TO KNOW CAN WE GET ANOTHER BRIDGE OVER THE POTOMAC RIVER NOT THE BRIDGE WE ARE THINKING OF WHAT THE AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE TO COLLEGE PARK A MESS OFTEN AN HOUR OR MORE DELAYS.

CERTAINLY THE LEGION BRIDGE NEEDS WORK?

>> WHO IS THE NAME OF THAT?

>> Jeff: DAVID.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WITH SECRETARY DUFFY ON THIS ISSUE.

A COUPLE PRIORITIES WE HAVE WITH THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS THE KEY BRIDGE AND CONTINUING THE FACT THAT THE KEY BRIDGE IS THE FASTEST MOVING LARGE PROJECT IN THIS COUNTRY.

CONTINUING THE ABSOLUTE CASE STUDY THAT I THINK MARYLAND HAS PUT ON WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO TRAGEDY.

ALSO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY NOT ONLY ACTUALLY WITH THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, HAS BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION BUT SECRETARY DUFFY HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER WITH US TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE AND TO SHOW THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, AS HE HAS SAID THAT WE CAN GET BIG THINGS DONE IN AMERICA.

>> Jeff: THERE ARE PEOPLE SITTING IN TRAFFIC EVERY RUSH-HOUR AT THE FORT McHENRY TUNNEL WHO WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE KEY BRIDGE REOPENED IF YOU HAD KNOWN THIS WAS GOING TO TURN INTO A OR SEVEN YEAR PROJECT WOULD IT HAVE MADE SENSE TO FIX THE PART OF THE KEY BRIDGE THAT FELL IN THE WATER JUST THAT CENTER SPAN?

IT PROBABLY WOULD BE DONE BY NOW?

>> IT WOULDN'T BE, BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SAFETY ISSUES.

PART OF THE REASON THAT THE BRIDGE IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO GET DONE, ONE IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THAT BRIDGE WHEN INITIALLY DONE TOOK A DECADE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME THAN THE KEY BRIDGE INITIALLY TOOK WHEN IT CAME TO THE PLANNING AND THE PROCESSES AND THE BUILD PHASE.

THE OTHER PIECE IS THIS... THAT THE KEY BRIDGE WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED A STANDARD IF IT WAS BUILT IN 2026 LIKE IT WAS BUILT IN 1977.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BUILDING A BRIDGE TO THE CURRENT DAY STANDARDS OF NEW BRIDGES THAT ARE BEING BUILT WHICH MEANS SAFETY AND MEANT SPAN.

BECAUSE THE BRIDGE THAT IS BEING BUILT NOW, IT IS NOW HAVING TO ACCOMMODATE SHIPS THAT ARE MASSIVELY LARGER THAN WHAT THEY WERE BACK IN 1977.

AND SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS BEING DONE IN PARTNERSHIP, THE GUIDELINES, THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE BEING DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.

AND YOU KNOW WHEN THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO TAKE 11 MONTHS TO CLEAR THE FEDERAL CHANNEL WE GOT IT CLEARED IN 11 WEEKS.

THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE YEARS TO GET THE PERMITTING DONE WE GOT IT DONE IN 14 MONTHS.

WHEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT A COMP IS LIKE THE GORDIE HOE BRIDGE DONE.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS I WANT TO BE THE GOVERNOR TO BE ABLE TO CUT THE RIBBON ON THE NEW KEY BRIDGE.

>> Jeff: WE'LL WAGER A COLD BEVERAGE ON THAT ONE AND I HOPE TO LOSE THAT BET.

SO ANOTHER TOUGH QUESTION FROM A VIEWER THIS IS BETH.

HOW WILL YOU GET BACK MARYLAND'S TRIPLE A BOND RATING WHICH WAS DOWNGRADED UNDER YOUR WATCH?

>> YEAH.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH BETH.

AND REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO SHOW IS THAT YOU CAN BE FISCALLY DISCIPLINED INSIDE THIS MOMENT AND ALSO REALLY GUARD AGAINST SOME OF THE OTHER NATIONAL HEADWINDS.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, BECAUSE DO YOU KNOW WHILE MARYLAND SAW ONE OF OUR RATINGS YOU SAW MOODY'S AND WITH FITCH AND S&P WE STAYED AT A TRIPLE A BOND RATING WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A TRIPLE A WITH THE RATING AGENCY IT WAS JUST THE ONE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE RATING AGENCY DOWNGRADED?

WASHINGTON D.C.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THEY DOWNGRADED?

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO THERE WAS A CONTAGION THAT TOOK PLACE WHERE THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE INCREASING DEBT LOAD THAT WAS TAKING ON.

AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS SURROUNDING THEM ENDED UP GETTING A HIT AS WELL.

NOW, WE'RE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR FINANCES WHERE WE NOT ONLY HAVE A HEALTHY 8% WITHIN OUR RAINY DAY FUND BUT ALSO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CURB OUR SPENDING WHERE I'VE INDICATED BEFORE THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE DECREASED THE SIZE OF OUR GENERAL FUND DECREEING THE SIZE OF OUR BUDGET AND HAVE ECONOMICS FOR THE FUTURE OF MARYLAND.

I'M COMMITTED TO KEEP ON DOING THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CLEAR THAT SOME OF THE NATIONAL HEADWINDS THAT WE ARE FACING THEY ARE HAVING AN IMPACT NOT JUST ON RATING AGENCIES BUT THEY ARE HAVING A REAL IMPACT ON MARYLAND FAMILIES POCKETBOOKS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: HERE IS A POSITIVE QUESTION.

THIS IS JORGE SAYS NO QUESTION JUST A COMMENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO WHICH I SAY YOU ARE WELCOME.

I THINK HE WAS TALKING TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND HONESTLY, THE THANKS GOES TO THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE A REMARKABLE STATE WITH REMARKABLE CITIZENS WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO GET BIG THINGS DONE.

AND I THINK ABOUT AS WE'RE COMING TO SINE DIE ON THE SESSION I'M NOT JUST PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE GOT DONE BUT HOW WE GOT IT DONE.

IF THE TIME OF POLITICAL VITRIOL THAT WE SEE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING?

EVERY SINGLE BILL I'VE INTRODUCED THAT HAS GOTTEN PASSED IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, 97% OF THEM, HAVE GOTTEN PASSED BIPARTISAN.

BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

THE UTILITY RELIEF ACT THE ENERGY BILL THAT WE JUST PUT FORWARD AND I'M GETTING READY TO SIGN, THAT IS GOING TO BE PASSED BIPARTISAN.

OUR BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED LAST WEEK, PASSED BIPARTISAN.

AND SO IN MARYLAND I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE ARE OWE DOING BIG THINGS BUT WE'RE DOING BIG THINGS TOGETHER BECAUSE NO PARTY HAS THE MARKET CORNERED ON GOOD OR BAD IDEAS IF WE REMEMBER WE'RE FIGHTING FOR ALL MARYLANDERS WE WILL BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

>> Jeff: I WILL BRING UP A TOPIC THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT WE WILL HAVE FUN WITH THIS.

EVERYBODY SAYS THERE IS A THIRD RAIL IN NATIONAL POLITICS AND THAT IS SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE THIRD RAIL IS THE SUBWAY WHERE THE ELECTRICITY IS.

AND YOU STEP ON THAT, AND YOU ARE DEAD.

SO THE STORY IS IF POLITICIAN BRINGS UP SOCIAL SECURITY IT IS NOT A GOOD POLITICAL MOVE.

YOU HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW THIRD RAIL IN MARYLAND POLITICS WHICH IS THE THING OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER WHICH IS THE FLAG OF WHO THE GREAT STATE OF MARYLAND.

YOU QUOTED A SAYING, TALKING ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES, THE CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN THE FLAG.

WHICH IS A REALLY INTERESTING STORY.

WE'LL STIPULATE EVERYBODY LOVES THE FLAG YOU ARE WEARING IT ON YOUR LAPEL BUT THE UPPER RIGHT, THE RED AND WHITE PART OF IT, HAS A SMALL ASSOCIATION WITH THE CONFEDERACY.

AND THE REASON I BRING IT UP, I THINK IT'S MISUNDERSTOOD.

I THINK PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME BETSEY ROSS OF THE CONFEDERACY WHO SOD THAT THING AND WE'RE FLYING IT.

WE ARE NOT.

IT PREDATES THE CONFEDERACY BY 500 YEARS IT IS A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL WHICH IS ANOTHER WHOLE CAN OF WORMS.

AND, YES, SOME MARYLAND ILL ADVISED MARYLAND CONFEDERATES WHILE THEY WERE LOSING 160 YEARS AGO CARRIED THAT PORTION OF THE FLAG AROUND BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT A CONFEDERATE SYMBOL.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> HERE IS WHAT I AGREE.

I ALSO AGREE THAT THE FLAG IS A CONTRADICTION.

BY DEFINITION.

THE DEFINITION OF A CONTRADICTION IS TWO OPPOSING IDEAS COMBINED TOGETHER.

THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A CONTRADICTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR FLAG IS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD.

THAT ACTUALLY MAKES IT POWERFUL.

THAT THE BEAUTY OF OUR FLAG IS IN MANY WAYS THE BEAUTY OF OUR STATE.

OUR STATE IS COMPLICATED.

OUR STATE IS A REALLY COMPLEX HISTORY THAT THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF CIVIL WAR WERE NOT FOUGHT IN ALABAMA THEY WERE NOT FOUGHT IN MISSISSIPPI THEY WERE FOUGHT IN MARYLAND.

AN TEETH TUM.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO STRESS TO PEOPLE THAT I LOVE THIS FLAG.

AND I LOVE WHAT IT REPRESENTS THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFLICTING AND CONTRASTING IDEAS PUT TOGETHER BUT KNOWING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY THE BATTLE OF THOSE IDEAS AND THE UNITY THAT COMES FROM IT THAT MAKES THIS STATE SO UNIQUE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND AMERICAN HISTORY IF YOU ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND MARYLAND'S HISTORY.

>> Jeff: SO AFTER YOU BROUGHT THIS UP AND I GUESS THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF EXCITEMENT, YOU QUICKLY PUT IT DOWN WE LOVE THE FLAG WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE FLAG.

THEN IT WAS MARYLAND DAY AND YOU AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR APPEARED WEARING VARIATIONS OF THE FLAG.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IT IS A LOVELY SCARF.

YOU WERE WEARING A FLAG THAT LOOKS LIKE A TIE THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY TOOK OUR FLAG AND PUT IT IN A BLENDER AND TRIED TO GLUE THE THING BACK TOGETHER.

SO AND I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DID IT.

THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER TIE BASED ON THE MARYLAND FLAG?

>> I WILL TRY TO FIND A BETTER ONE TO CELEBRATE MARYLAND DAY.

BUT YOU KNOW, BUT I AM REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS UP, TOO.

BECAUSE I ALSO AM A BIG BELIEVER IN THIS... LOVING YOUR COUNTRY DOESN'T MEAN LYING ABOUT ITS HISTORY.

AND LOVING YOUR COUNTRY DOESN'T MEAN MASKING ITS HISTORY.

THAT I LOVE THIS COUNTRY.

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY.

I'VE RISKED MY LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY AS A MEMBER OF THE 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION IN AFGHANISTAN AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF CALLED UPON.

AND I LOVE THIS STATE.

I WILL SACRIFICE FOR THE STATE.

I LOVE WHAT THE STATE REPRESENTS AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE PLOW MAN AND THE FISHERMAN.

>> Jeff: I HAVE 10 SECONDS FOR YOU TO BRAG ABOUT YOUR SON'SES'S GRANDSLAM.

>> THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEKEND WAS MY 12-YEAR-OLD SON ON HIS TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAM HITTING A GRANDSLAM HOME RUN AND KNOWING THAT I WILL HEAR ABOUT IT NOW PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT 40 OR 50 YEARS.

>> Jeff: WELL, I HOPE SO.

NOW THAT THE SESSION IS ENDING I HOPE YOU CAN GET OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SEE BASEBALL.

>> AMEN NOOFER GOVERNOR WES MOORE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION" JOIN US FRIDAY FOR "STATE CIRCLE" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]