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.

>> Jeff: LOCKING IN A SPENDING PLAN.

>> A BALANCED BUDGET WITH NO NEW TAXES.

AND NO NEW FEES.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE FORECAST TO HAVE BUDGET DEFICITS RUNNING AS HIGH AS 3 TO $4 BILLION IN THE COMING YEARS.

IS.

>> Jeff: PARTING THOUGHTS.

>> I'M FULL OF HOPE AND JOY FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> MY POLITICAL CAREER GOT STARTED IN 2018 WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THIS SEAT, THE SENATE OF MARYLAND.

>> DECIDE TO RETIRE UNDER MY OWN STEAM UNDER MY OWN CHOOSING RATHER THE VOTERS DOING IT FOR ME.

>> Jeff: AND ARE GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS LOSING THEIR BARK?

>> WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE AGENCIES, LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS, FINANCIAL RECORDS, SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT, MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WASTE, FRAUD OR ABUSE.

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY DOCUMENTS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

>> CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

THE BIG STORY AROUND "STATE CIRCLE" IS THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

IS NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET A PRUDENT COMPROMISE OR IS IT A HEAD IN THE SAND RESPONSE TO A LOOMING CRISIS?

SUE COPIN HAS OUR STORY.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR MOORE JOINED WITH THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT IN SIGNING THE NEARLY $71 BILLION BUDGET ON WEDNESDAY.

>> A BALANCED BUDGET WITH NO NEW TAXES, AND NO NEW FEES.

>> Reporter: BUT GETTING THEIR REQUIRED A COMBINATION OF FUND TRANSFERS AND CUTS IN ORDE TO CLOSE A PROJECTED 1.5 BILLION SHORTFALL.

>> WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO INVEST IN THINGS THAT MATTER: IN PUBLIC SAFETY, IN EDUCATION AND IN MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND WITHOUT RAISING FEES ON THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

WE SAID WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND TODAY WE ARE THANKFUL TO STAYING ON PARTNERSHIP AND SAY WE DID IT.

>> Reporter: OVERALL IN THE FY'2027 BUDGET GENERAL FUND SPENDING IS DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

IT CALLS FOR MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND WHICH ALLOWS IT TO MAINTAIN AN 8% RESERVE AND IT ANTICIPATES AN INCREASE IN THE STATE'S YOU FUND BALANCE TO $250 MILLION BY THE END OF THE FREER.

BUT WHAT ARE THE AREAS TAKING A HIT IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET?

THE STATE'S DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION.

>> THIS 3.3 BILLION PROGRAM HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

A RATE OF GROWTH THAT THREATENS THE STATE'S MACED WAIVER THAT KEEPS 19,000 MARYLANDERS OUT OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE PROGRAM HEALTHY AND TO PROTECT THIS WAIVER, WE HAD TO TAKE AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THESE CHALLENGING DECISIONS HAVE NOT MEANT THAT WE HAVE ABANDONED OUR VALUES.

WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEM.

AS I SAID THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE ARE GOING TO AND HAVE CONTINUED TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND THIS BUDGET DOES EXACTLY THAT.

THOUGHTFULLY AND PURPOSEFULLY.

>> Reporter: ALSO IN THE BUDGET, INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS.

>> IN THIS BUDGET, IT SUPPORTS THOUSANDS OF JOBS THROUGH THE CAPITAL BUDGET.

AND IT INCLUDES $100 MILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO GROW IN MARYLAND, HIRE IN MARYLAND OR RELOCATE TO MARYLAND.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE FORECAST TO HAVE BUDGET DEFICITS RUNNING AS HIGH AS $3 BILLION TO $4 BILLION IN THE COMING YEARS.

MOST OF THEM STEM FROM INCREASED COST FOR THE BLUEPRINT EDUCATION PLAN.

WE ALSO HAVE INCREASED COST OF MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> THIS BUDGET KIND OF KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S NOT DOING A LOT OF HARM PER SE RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S NOT SOLVING A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE KNOW CONFRONT US.

>> MAKING A DECISION TODAY AS TO WHAT THE FY'28 BUDGET LOOKS LIKE IS, WE ARE MONTHS AND MONTHS AWAY.

THE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW ARE SITTING AROUND THE TABLE AND HAVING THE REAL CONVERSATIONS AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OR PARTNERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, WHICH IS TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AND WE ARE CERTAIN WE WILL DO THAT NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: I'M SUE COPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: OUR MARYLAND'S INSPECTORS GENERAL LOSING THEIR POWER TO INVESTIGATE WASTE AND FRAUD.

NANCY YAMADA HAS THAT STORY.

>> IF I WAS A TAXPAYER, I WOULD BE FRUSTRATING THAT WE ARE NOT MOVING THIS BILL ALONG.

>> Reporter: THAT FRUSTRATION IS SHARED BY SENATOR JENNINGS, THE SPONSOR OF A SENATE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW SNENLS IN THE STATE TO MORE EASILY DO THEIR JOB.

THE BILL THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT CLARIFIES INSPECTORS GENERAL ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT WHEN CONDUCTING PUBLIC INVESTIGATIONS.

HE FILED A BILL ON BEHALF OF ISABELLE CUMMINGS AFTER SHE SAID THE CITY REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH A SUBPOENA INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT.

>> WHEN SHE SHOWED ME THE REPORTS SHE IS GETTING WITH INFORMATION REDACTED, THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT.

WITHOUT EXPLAINING TO HER, JUST SENDING HER THE FILES WITH EVERYTHING REDACTED VERSUS SAYING LET'S MEET AND LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THAT IS REDACTED.

BUT SHE IS NO THE GETTING THAT AT ALL.

>> Reporter: HE SAID WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BALTIMORE CITY IS BEING REPEATED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, TOO.

>> THIS IS WHAT THE I.G.

SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, GO INTO THE AGENCIES, TO LOOK AT THESE DEPARTMENTS, THE FINANCIAL RECORDS, SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WASTE, FRAUD OR ABUSE.

>> Reporter: THE BILL'S CO-SPONSOR SENATOR CARL JACKSON SAID TRANSPORTATION TRANSPARENCY IS PARAMOUNT WHEN TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE INVOLVED.

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY DOCUMENTS THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE PUBLIC ON WHAT IS GOING ON INTERNALLY.

>> Reporter: SENATOR JACKSON AND OTHER BALTIMORE COUNTY LAWMAKERS FILED ANOTHER BILL THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT OVER BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH HAS AN OPERATING BUDGET OF OVER $2 BILLION.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A LOT OF WORKERS.

AND I JUST WAS NOT CONVINCED THAT ALL THE IS WERE DOTTED AND TS WERE CROSSED.

>> Reporter: THE BILL ULTIMATELY DID NOT PASS IN THE SENATE.

AS FOR THE OTHER I.G.

BILL?

>> WE WILL SEE AT THE END OF SESSION IF WE CAN GET THERE.

THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING.

THE COURT CASE COMPLICATED THINGS.

>> Reporter: SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON SAID THE ISSUE NEEDS A BALANCE APPROACH AND A CLOSER LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES IN OTHER STATES.

>> SO EVALUATING WHAT OTHER MODELS LOOK LIKE AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE APPLIED LOCALLY VERSUS STATE LEVEL, WHETHER SHOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN THE APPROACH.

WHETHER THE LEGISLATIVE TOOLS ARE SUFFICIENT AND SHOULD BE MATCHED.

SO IT'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE'LL SEE.

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

>> Jeff: THE END OF A FOUR-YEAR LEGISLATIVE TERM WILL BRING SOME POLITICAL CAREERS TO A CLOSE.

MIKAYLA NEWTON WITH THE PARTING THOUGHTS FROM SOME RETIRING LAWMAKERS.

>> Reporter: ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS WEEK, RETIRING DELEGATE ANN HEALY WAS HONORED BY A SUCCESSION OF HER COLLEAGUES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SHE IS AMONG THOSE RETURNING TO PRIVATE LIFE.

>> I AM FULL OF HOPE AND JOY FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS COUNTRY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: ACROSS THE HALL IN THE SENATE, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR ARTSDZER ELLIS IS REFLECTING ON HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

>> MY POLITICAL CAREER GOT STARTED IN 2018 WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THIS SEAT, THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, AND WAS SWORN IN JANUARY OF 2019.

SO IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SERVING AS STATE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 28.

I WAS AN AVERAGE GUY HELPING TO RAISE MY KIDS AND GETTING TO KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THINGS WERE NOT HAPPENING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTY, OUR COUNTY CHARLES COUNTY WAS GROWING TREMENDOUSLY.

IT WAS MOVED FROM A VERY RURAL TO A MORE SUBURBAN COMMUNITY.

AND LEADERSHIP WAS NOT ADDRESSING ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.

>> >> Reporter: HE IS NOW RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, HOPING TO FILL THE SEAT OF LONG TIME REPRESENTATIVE STENY WHO IER.

>> WE NEED AN ACTIVE CONGRESS, A CONGRESS THAT WILL STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO EXERT THE CONGRESSIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS, THE POWER OF THE PURSE, TO SAY NO, YOU DO NOT START A WAR WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE AISLE, REPUBLICAN SENATOR CHRISTOPHER WEST GIVES US A LOOK INTO WHAT LIFE HAS REALLY LOOKED LIKE.

>> WELL NORMALLY THERE IS A LOT GOING ON BEFORE SESSION.

SESSION STARTS AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

I CAN BE HERE AS EARLY AS 8:00 IN THE MORNING AND GET TWO HOURS OF WORK DONE, MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE.

LOBBYISTS WANT TO MEET WITH ME, CONSTITUENTS WANT TO MEET WITH ME.

TALK TO OTHER STATE SENATORS ABOUT BILLS, WORK WITH MY STAFF.

AND THEN FINALLY THE BELL RINGS AND I'M OVER TO THE SENATE FLOOR FROM 10:00 UNTIL WHENEVER.

EARLY IN SESSION IT'S VERY SHORT BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT CAN GO UNTIL 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, SESSION CAN GO AND THEN BACK IN THE BILL HEARINGS AND THEN BACK TO THE FLOOR FOR ANOTHER FLOOR SESSION WHICH CAN GO INDETERMINANTLY INTO THE EVENING.

>> BUT FOR WEST, THIS SESSION WILL BE HIS LAST.

>> I JUST TURNED 76 YESTERDAY, AND SO I'M RETIRING.

I DECIDED TO RETIRE UNDER MY OWN STEAM AT THE TIME OF MY CHOOSING RATHER THAN HAVE OF VOTERS DO IT FOR ME.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE IS WARMING UP HIS SEAT, THROWING HIS SUPPORT BEHIND THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> RATHER THAN TAKE THE RISK THAT I WOULD GO OUT UNDER LESS AUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES I THINK THIS IS THE BEST TIME FOR ME TO SAY GOODBYE, RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET AND LET SOMEBODY YOUNGER TAKE MY PLACE.

>> Reporter: WEST PREDICTS A SHIFT IN THE HOUSE SPEAKER WITH MORE LAWMAKERS LEAVING THE ASSEMBLY IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> I TALK TO LOTS OF LEGISLATORS WHO SAY I ENVY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, I WILL BE EXITING ALSO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE BUT NOT THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: AND NOW FOR OUR FINAL POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT.

WE ARE JOINED BY MPT SUE COPIN WHO IS RETIRING, AND AS YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE A PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT THESE DAYS, THEY GENERALLY NEED TO DO AN EXIT INTERVIEW.

SO SUE, THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO THIS SHORT EXIT INTERVIEW.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME, I THINK.

>> Jeff: AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

SO LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL US WHEN, BUT MAYBE WHERE YOUR CAREER STARTED AND A COUPLE OF THE MAJOR STOPS ALONG THE WAY.

>> WELL, I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING AND I STARTED WRITING FOR MY JUNIOR HIGH NEWSPAPER IN THE SEVENTH GRADE AND IT STARTED THERE.

BECAME EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IN THE NINTH GRADE.

WENT ON TO HIGH SCHOOL TO BE THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR FOUR TWEERS AND WORKED AT A LOCAL RADIO STATION, LOOSELY BECAUSE IT WAS VOLUNTEER.

STUDENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOW.

WEND IN EASTERN MARYLAND IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

I GREW UP OUTSIDE OF DENTON.

I WAS NOT EVEN IN THE TOWN.

AND WEMD WHETTED MY APPETITE FOR BROADCASTING.

WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, JOINED THE CAMPUS RADIO STATION WMUC AND FROM THAT POINT ON, SENIOR YEAR, I HAD THREE JOBS, ABC RADIO DESK ASSISTANT, I WAS A WMAL RADIO, NEWS TALK STATION WITH A TERRIFIC NEWS DEPARTMENT WAY BACK WHEN.

I WAS THERE FIVE IN THE MORNING UNTIL NINE A.M.

IN THE MORNING AND THEN I WAS-- THIS IS ALL IN THE SAME TIMEFRAME.

FALL OF MY SENIOR YEAR.

AND I WAS ALSO WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RADIO WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR BROADCAST DESK IN THE RADIO DIVISION.

SO I HAD THREE ESSENTIALLY PART-TIME AND OR INTERNSHIPS AT THE SAME TIME I WAS CARRYING 12 HOURS.

THAT LED TO MY CONNECTION FROM A.P.

RADIO TO WCBM OWNED BY METRO MEDIA.

MY ENTREÉ INTO THE BALTIMORE MARKET.

TOOK A SUMMER RELIEF POSITION THERE AND STAYED THERE A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY IN BALTIMORE.

>> Jeff: INCLUDING MPT, THE FIRST GO ROUND.

AND THEN A TEACHING CAREER AT YOUR ALMA MATER.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS FOR WBAL, TOO, BECAUSE I WAS-- RADIO, I WAS THERE FULL TIME RADIO FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THEN I CONTINUED ON, TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT, WORKING WEEKENDS AND THEN ALMOST 10 YEARS AFTERWARDS, SORT OF DOING FILL IN WEEKENDS AND HELPING OUT WITH OTHER THINGS, TOO.

I WAS A TEACHER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM AT MY ALMA MATER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

AND RETIRED FROM THERE IN 2019, WHICH IS WHEN YOU REACHED OUT AND SAID HEY, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN, I'M A SUCKER WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> Jeff: WORKED OUT VERY WELL FROM OUR SIDE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND COVERAGE OF IT.

BUT YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT EVEN IN YOUR YOUTH, YOU WERE A FORCEFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT WITH, WAS THIS THE HIGH SCHOOL OR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS WHICH WAY YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT.

IN HIGH SCHOOL THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WE GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AT THE AGE OF 18.

AND I CONTACTED OUR CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE AND ACTUALLY ARRANGED A FULL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AND HE CAME AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT NEEDED TO GET OUT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ALSO IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE WERE-- AS I SAID, I WAS THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER AND WE WERE, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAD TO PAY FOR OUR PUBLICATION, WE WANTED OUR INDEPENDENCE BUT THAT REQUIRED A CHANGE IN THE POLICY.

AND THIS IS WHERE I GUESS THIS ALSO BEGAN IN MY JOURNALISM CAREER.

I FOUND OUT HAVE YOU TO GO TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO HAVE THAT DONE.

IT WAS Mr.

HOOPENGUARDENER.

I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

MADE MY CASE.

HE GRANTED IT AND THE NEXT DAY I FOUND OUT HE GRANTED IT, I GOT A CALL TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.

THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, WHO JUST BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT GOING THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS, NEVER ONCE MENTIONING HE WAS UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

BUT I GOT WHAT I WANTED.

HE MADE HIS POINT AND THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT SET ME ON MY COURSE THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO GO TO THE POWER CENTER, YOU JUST GO TAKE IT RIGHT.

>> >> Jeff: WHAT DO THEY TEACH YOU IN JOURNALISM SCHOOL?

IT'S EASIER TO APOLOGIZE THAN ASK PERMISSION?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT WE DO.

BE POLITE, THE IMPORTANT THING, UNDERSTAND THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, NOTHING WE ARE ENTITLED TO BUT WE KNOW THE PUBLIC HAS RIGHTS.

WE WANT NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO.

>> Jeff: FIRST TIME AS A REPORTER AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> HOLY COW, THAT GOES BACK TO, LET ME THINK ABOUT THIS.

AROUND 1981, WCBM, PRECEDED BY A PERSON WHO WAS A LEGEND IN THE BALTIMORE MARKET, EDDIE FENTON.

>> Jeff: OF COURSE.

>> YEP.

>> Jeff: VERY DISTINCTIVE SIGN-OFF.

>> COULD SAY THAT.

EDDIE COVERED THE STATEHOUSE.

NEVER DROVE, NEVER HAD A CAR AND ALWAYS MANAGED TO FIND HIS WAY TO ANNAPOLIS.

I MADE IT CLEAR WHEN I CAME IN THAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT.

AND THIS DOES GO BACK TO COLLEGE, JEFF AND I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT MY INTEREST AND FIRST RECOVERING ANNAPOLIS GOES BACK TO COLLEGE.

MY SOPHOMORE YEAR I WAS WITH THE CAMPUS RADIO STATION FOR THREE AND A HALF OF MY FOUR YEARS AND A GROUP OF US WHO WERE ARE THE ROUGHERS, OUR STATION THE DIAMOND BACK, WHICH IS A NEWSPAPER WERE INVITED TO COME TO THE STATEHOUSE TO COVER A STORY WITH THE STUDENT REGION ISSUE.

WE MET WITH STENNYHOYER'S OFFICE.

>> Jeff: HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE.

>> Jeff: AND UNLESS HE IS WATCHING NO ONE WILL REMEMBER.

>> NOBODY WILL REMEMBER EXCEPT MY STATION MANAGER BECAUSE I WAS ASKED TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT GROUP AS A SOPHOMORE AND THAT REALLY, I THINK WHETTED MY APPETITE AND IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY EVER SINCE.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE BASEMENT OF THE STATEHOUSE, WHICH IS WHEREAS THE PRESS IS HEADQUARTERED, THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT.

I MEAN THERE IS STILL A LOT OF PRESS ACTIVITY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE PAST AND START LOOKING TO THE FUTURE?

>> I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE PART OF THE PRESS CORPS IS OVERWHELMING.

IN THE TIME THAT I STARTED THERE, IT WAS-- I MEAN I WAS IN THE GREAT MINORITY.

ALTHOUGH IN RADIO, WHICH I WAS AT THE TIME WHEN I STARTED OUT THERE, WERE A LOT MORE WOMEN COVERING THE STATEHOUSE THAN THERE WERE MEN.

TOM LATANZY WAS A STALWART THERE.

FOR MANY, MANY YEARS HE WAS THERE.

THE OTHER THING IS JUST THE NUMBER OF BODIES AND SADLY WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH ANOTHER KIND OF UNFORTUNATE PURGE RECENTLY.

BUT THERE WAS A TIME IN THE ROOM THAT I AFFECTIONATELY CALL H-3, A NUMBER IN THE BASEMENT WHERE I STARTED I. WAS THE RADIO ROOM.

WE COULD HAVE UPWARDS OF 10 RADIO PEOPLE IN THERE AT ANY TIME AND NOW AS YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE, MAYBE ONE OR TWO ON OCCASION THAT ARE THERE AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH NEWSPAPERS, WHETHER IT'S ONLINE OR IN HARD PUBLICATIONS.

THAT HAS BEEN GREATLY DIMINISHED, TOO.

BUT THEN AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE NOW HAS A STREAMING OF THE HEARINGS AND STREAMING OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE CHAMBERS.

THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE BACK THEN AND SO THAT DOES HELP WITH KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> Jeff: SO THE TRANSPARENCY IS WAY BETTER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THEIR NEWS AND IT'S FULL OF CLICK BAIT AND A.I.

DISINFORMATION AND THAT'S HOW PEOPLE ARE BECOMING INFORMED AND FORKING OPINIONS ABOUT THEIR WORLD.

>> AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TAUGHT FOR MY 19 YEARS AS A FULL-TIME INSTRUCTORSOR AND ADJUNCT FOR 10 BEFORE THAT, FIND OUT, GO BACK AND FIND WHAT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE IS.

BECAUSE THE INFORMATION GETS-- CAN GET SO DISTORTED AND STRETCHED OUT AS IT MAKES ITS VARIOUS ITERATIONS ALONG THE NEWS INFORMATION HIGHWAY, THAT I WOULD CHALLENGE MY STUDENTS WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE?

WHO TELLS YOU?

HAVE YOU TO FIND OUT WHERE THE ORIGINAL SOURCE IS AND DON'T QUOTE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

>> Jeff: WELL, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE PRESS CORPS AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND JOURNALISM SCHOOL AND AT MPT, WE OFFER CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A LOT OF HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

SUE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A RIDE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: THE MARYLAND LYNCHING TRUTH IN RECONCILIATION COMMISSION HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK.

WE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE CHAIRMAN, Dr.

DAVID FAUCKENLAY.

>> THE KEY FINDINGS WERE THAT THERE WERE MANY SECTORS WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT WERE COMPLICIT IN THE COMMISSION OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS, SO WHILE MANY PEOPLE MAY FOCUS ON THE MOBS AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR PART TO PLAY IN RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE NEVER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE FOR THEIR CRIMES, THERE WERE ALSO THE SYSTEMS THAT WE CAN SAY, AT BEST, TURNED A BLIND EYE; AT WORST, AIDED IN THE COMMISSION OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS.

AND SO THE REPORT GOES INTO VERY FINE DETAIL AS TO WHAT THOSE MECHANISMS AND INSTANCES WITHIN HISTORY LOOK LIKE WHEN WE SAY THAT SYSTEMS AND SECTORS HAD A ROLE TO PLAY IN RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING.

SO NO, THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY THERE AT THE COMMISSION OF THE CRIMES, ALTHOUGH IN SOME CASES, PERHAPS THEY WERE.

IT WAS MORE SO WHAT THEY ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE CAPACITY OF THEIR POWER AND THEIR ROLE WITHIN THE STATE.

SO ALONG WITH THAT, THERE IS THE RECOUNTING OF THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE ON THE 38 CONFIRMED RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS BETWEEN 1854 AND 1933.

THERE IS ALSO CERTAINLY RECAPS AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THE VARIOUS HEARINGS AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE DID 14 IN TOTAL.

13 REGIONAL AND ONE THAT WAS INSTITUTIONAL HELD IN BALTIMORE CITY.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT MEANS HISTORIANS, THAT MEANS EXPERTS, THAT MEANS CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS, THAT MEANS DESCENDANTS, DESCENDANTS OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING VICTIMS, DESCENDANTS OF PERPETRATORS, DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVERS.

WE DID OUR BEST TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES, THE VARIOUS REALLY MANIFESTATIONS OF HUMANITY THAT CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS CENTURIES OLD PRACTICE OF INHUMANITY.

IT STILL HAS ITS EFFECTS TODAY AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND THEREFORE THE NECESSITY OF REPARATIVE JUSTICE.

>> Jeff: WHERE DID THESE LYNCHINGS TAKE PLACE?

WERE THEY CONCENTRATED IN ONE PART OF THE STATE?

>> I THINK STEREOTYPICALLY, PEOPLE MAY IMMEDIATELY ASSUME THE MOST KIND OF DISTOLL REGIONS OF MARYLAND FROM THE 95 CORRIDOR INCLUDING BALTIMORE CITY, SO THINKING OF THE EASTERN SHORE AND THINKING OF WESTERN MARYLAND SO TO OUR KNOWLEDGE AND OUR WORK, THERE WAS ONLY ONE CONFIRMED-- AND WE ALWAYS SAY CONFIRMED, RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING IN THE WESTERN MARYLAND AREA THAT WAS ALLEGANY COUNTY.

COINCIDENTALLY, THE FIRST HEARING THAT WE HAD DURING THIS COMMISSION'S WORK.

THERE WERE DEFINITELY SEVERAL IN THE EASTERN SHORE, SO CERTAINLY WHEN YOU GO TO THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE AND UPPER EASTERN SHORE, YOU SEE CLUSTERS OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS IN THOSE REGIONS, BUT JEFF, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

WHAT COUNTY DO YOU THINK HAD THE MOST CONFIRMED TERROR LYNCHINGS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: I COULDN'T TELL YOU.

THE POPULATION WAS CENTERED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, RIGHT?

4.

>> SO THE ANSWER IS PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY ALSO HAD A HIGH NUMBER OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK IT WAS A CRIME COMMITTED-- WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THIS WAS A-- WAS NOT AN AIS TO AT THIS, A FORM OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM THAT ONLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE.

IT HAPPENED ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CONFIRMED RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING IN BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE CITY SHOWS UP IN A LOT OF STORIES BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYED IN JUST THE MECHANICS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND SO OUR HEARINGS SHOWED UP IN THOSE REGIONS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO STATE OF THE-- NO PART OF THE STATE WERE UNTOUCHED WHERE THE TERROR LYNCHINGS OCCURRED AND WE COMPLETED ALL 13 OF THE REGIONAL HEARINGS WE DID REPRESENTING, AGAIN, THE 38 CONFIRMED LYNCHINGS THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE.

AND EVEN OUR AWARENESS UNCOVERING OF JUST OTHER FORMS OF RACIALIZED HARM THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME, SO NOT NECESSARILY REACHING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A LYNCHING, WHICH HAS MANY DEFINITIONS IF YOU LOOK THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY, BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES, A RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING AND CERTAINLY WHAT THAT TENDED TO ENTAIL, WHICH WAS A DEMONSTRATIVE KILLING THAT WAS INVOLVING SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS, TYPICALLY LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE FOR WHICH, AGAIN, NO ONE WAS EVER CHARGED FOR THE CRIMES THAT THEY COMMITTED.

>> Jeff: AND YOU USE THE TERM RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING, NOT JUST LYNCHING.

>> CORRECT.

>> Jeff: BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF THIS, THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND IT WERE MAYBE BROADER THAN JUST WHATEVER HAPPENED AT A PARTICULAR SCENE.

>> SO, YES.

ONE OF THE FIRST ACTS THAT WE TOOK AS A COMMISSION WAS TO HAVE OUR OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING.

IF YOU LOOK THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE COMMITTED TO ANTILYNCHING EFFORTS HAD THEIR DEFINITION THAT THEY USED IN ORDER TO CHRONICLE HOW MANY OCCURRED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY BORROWED FROM THEIR LANGUAGE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, FOR OUR CASES-- AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW THAT CREATED THE COMMISSION-- THAT WE WERE SPECIFYING RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING.

THERE ARE OCCURRENCES OF LYNCHINGS HAPPENING IN THE NAME OF VIGILANTE JUSTICE AND OFTEN TIMES THEY WERE INTERRACIAL.

SO A WHITE MOB LYNCHING A WHITE PERSON, A BLACK MOB BLIRCH LYNCHING A BLACK PERSON AND SO FORTH.

WE WERE FOCUSED ON THAT ACT BUT WITH THE INTENTIONALITY OF PRESERVING A PERCEIVED RACIAL HIERARCHY AND THAT'S WHY WE SAY RACIAL TERROR.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

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