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".

THE 2026 SESSION OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN THE HISTORY BROOKS.

>> I MOVE THE SENATE OF MARYLAND STAND ADJOURNED SINE DIE.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.

[CHEERING] >> Jeff: THE SESSION SAW THE ENACTMENT OF AN ELECTION YEAR BUDGET AVOIDING TAX INCREASES WHILE LEAVING FUTURE DEFICITS IN PLACE.

LAWMAKERS ALSO CUT THE NUMBER OF CRIMES THAT SEND JUVENILES DIRECTLY TO ADULT COURT.

THEY MADE CHANGES TO AN ENERGY SAVINGS FEE TO REDUCE BILLS FOR RATEPAYERS.

THEY DECLINED THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST TO REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED TWO BILLS RESTRICTING LOCAL COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION.

GOVERNOR MOORE JOINED US LIVE FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION" MONDAY EVENING.

>> 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 AND THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY AN IMMIGRANT SINGLE MOTHER AND I ALSO KNOW 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 THE A.T.F.

AND BIGGER BUDGET WISE, THE BUDGET OF MARYLAND.

BUT I.C.E.

NOW CAN DEPUTIZE OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK.

MARYLAND HAS THE FASTEST DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND I.C.E.

TO TRYING TO DEPUTIZE OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO IMMIGRATION WORK.

>> Jeff: THIS WEEK WE WILL HEAR FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BEGINNING WITH SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON WHO SPOKE WITH SUE COPPIN.

>> JOINING US NOW IS SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> SHORT DAY FOR YOU.

LONG DAY YESTERDAY HOPEFULLY SHORT TODAY.

>> A BUSY DAY AND EARLY MORNING ENDING.

>> VERY EARLY.

LET ME DO SOMETHING I WOULD NOT DO BUT I WANT TO FLIP THINGS AROUND A BIT, AND WHAT AS THE 90 DAYS HAVE NOW PASSED WHAT DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THAT YOU HAD HOPED WOULD DURING THIS PERIOD?

EVEN UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT THINGS HIT THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

TELL ME?

>> IT'S INTERESTING WE WERE UNBELIEVABLY PRODUCTIVE ESPECIALLY EARLY ON THIS SESSION WE WERE IN A GOOD PLACE UNTIL THE LAST WEEK WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WERE OUTSTANDING.

SO I WOULD SAY, I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE DID GET DONE ON OUR GROWTH AGENDA PARTICULARLY ON AFFORDABILITY PROTECTING AGAINST THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD WAS THIS DISTRICT COURT COMMISSIONER BILL THAT HAD GUARDRAILS AROUND THE PROCESS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT THAT CAN LEAD TO AN ARREST WITHOUT A JUDGE OR A ATTORNEY REVIEW.

IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE ESPECIALLY FOLKS IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THOSE WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THIS IS A PROCESS AN ESCAPE VALVE THAT IS UTILIZED.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE AT THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS OFFICE HE HAD 180 COMPLAINTS FILED AND ONLY 10 LED TO CONVICTIONS.

CAN BE A PROCESS RIPE FOR REFORM THAT IS ONE I WAS SAD WE DID NOT GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND OUR TRANSPORTATION AGENDA AND LOOKING AT A ROBUST WAY OF BALANCING ALL THE NEEDS.

WE HAD THIS TRANSPORTATION CLIMATE ACTION BILL THAT WOULD PUT SOME GOALS IN PLACE FOR HOW WE USE OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

SO THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE THE FINISH LINE.

SOMETHING I HOPE WE CAN TAKE UP NEXT TERM.

BUT I REALLY THESE ARE MINOR THINGS IN COMPARISON TO THE THINGS WE DID GET COMPLETED.

>> ONE THING YOU FINISHED EARLY IS THE BUDGET.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU WALKED IN A PREDICTION OF $1.5 BILLION SHORTFALL?

>> YES.

WE ENDED WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.

WE TOOK WHAT WAS 1.5 BILLION PROJECTED SHORTFALL AND ENDED WITH $250 MILLION IN SURPLUS AND 8% RAINY DAY FUND.

WE MADE HARD DIFFICULT CHOICES TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

AND PUT MONEY INTO RESERVE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE MORE OF A DRAMATIC YEAR ON THE BUDGET FRONT THAN IT ENDED UP BEING.

I THINK WE STABILIZED THE BUDGET E WE HAVE BIG QUESTIONS LOOMING IN THE FUTURE AND WE'LL TACKLE THEM BUT THIS YEAR WAS A MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND I WOULD SAY WE WANTED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNCERTAIN YEAR AS PREDICTABLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BIG QUESTIONS AHEAD.

>> THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION BEFORE SESSION ABOUT POSSIBLY REVISITING THE BLOOD PRESSURE TWEAKING THAT MIGHT UP THE BUDGET.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

HIM.

WE DID MAKE TWEAKS TO THE BLUEPRINT MAKING SURE THAT TEACHERS HAVE MENTORS AND POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

WE HELD HARMLESS THE DISTRICTS THAT LOST ENROLLMENT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IN THE COMING YEARS.

THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT KERRY WRIGHT WHO IS IMPACTFUL HAD A POLICY ABOUT BRINGING IN TEACHER MODELS THAT WE INVESTED IN THIS YEAR AND I THINK WAS A SMART WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DID NOT TAKE UP THE BIGGER QUESTIONS AROUND THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BLUEPRINT.

IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY WE HAVE WHY I RAN INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HAVING GREAT SCHOOLS IS WHY I DO THIS WORK.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT SUSTAINABLY AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLY.

SO WE'RE FIVE YEARS INTO THE BLUEPRINT WE PUT A POLICY IN PLACE THAT SAYS AT THAT FIVE-YEAR MARK WE WOULD DO A CHECK IN WHETHER WE ARE GETTING THE OUTCOMES.

WE ARE AT THAT POINT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY IMPLEMENTATION BOARD ARE GOING TO BE IN A PROCESS OF REVIEWING ALL OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR BOTH FINANCES AND OUTCOMES.

SO I EXPECT US TO TAKE THAT UM NEXT TERM AS A MAJOR ISSUE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE AT JUSTMENTS THAT GIVE US A FINANCIALLY STABLE PATH AND GETTING THE RESULTS WE NEED.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER FOCUSES AND, AGAIN IT WAS MENTIONED THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN THE BUDGET WAS RESOLVED IS THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE SORT OF HAD TO TAKE A HIT IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE BUDGET SITUATION.

>> YEAH.

WE ARE IN A REALLY CHALLENGING PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

WE ADDED A SELF DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR OWN CARE AND HAVE CARETAKERS AT HOME OF THEIR CHOOSING AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN CENTERS AND PROVIDERS WITH GROUP SETTINGS.

THIS CHOICE WE MADE FOUR YEARS AGO, INITIALLY WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DIFFERENCE IN HOW FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT.

IT'S LED TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MORE SPENDING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

SO WE'VE HAD TO MAKE CHOICES TO HAVE A MORE PREDICTABLE GLIDE PATH FOR THE INVESTMENT INTO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.

I BELIEVE WE LANDED IN A GOOD PLACE THAT STILL PROVIDES THE CARE THAT IS REQUIRED, BUT ALSO GIVES US A BETTER PATH TOWARDS DOING IT RESPONSIBLY.

>> UTILITY RELIEF ACT.

>> THE TOP ISSUE THIS YEAR.

>> AND IT WASN'T RESOLVED UNTIL THE LAST-MINUTE?

>> IT WASN'T A COMPLICATED POLICY.

AFFORDABILITY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING WE HAD TO FOCUS ON AND ENERGY COSTS ARE THE BIGGEST DRIVER FOR ALL OTHER TYPES OF SPENDING THAT RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE.

AS THE ENERGY MARKETS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUPPLY, INCREASED DEMAND WITH ELECTRIFICATION WE'VE SEEN PRICES RISE.

AND WE'VE SEEN THE IMPACT OF DATA CENTERS WHICH THERE ARE REPORTS THAT SAY THE INCREASED DEAND ON OUR ELECTRIC GRID ABOUT 75% CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR BY JUST THE DATA CENTERS BUILT IN OUR REGION.

THAT CAN'T CONTINUE.

OUR RESIDENTS OUR RATEPAYERS CANNOT CONTINUE TO FACE THOSE ESCALATED COSTS.

THE UTILITY RELIEF ACT MAKES IT SO THE DATA CENTERS PAY THEIR OWN WAY.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT RATE WHICH THEY SHOULD BECAUSE THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THEM TO OPERATE.

THEY ARE PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND THEY SHOULD PAY THE COSTS.

WE REINED IN UTILITY SPENDING OUR UTILITIES PROVIDING ELECTRICITY ARE DOING IT IN A WAY IN THE RATEPAYERS' BEST INTEREST.

AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

WE NEED AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

I'M PROUD WHAT WE DID, IT WILL SAVE ON AVERAGE $150 A YEAR FOR YOUR AVERAGE MARYLAND RATEPAYERS BUT LOW INCOME RATEPAYERS IT WILL BE UP TO $1400 OF SAVINGS ANNUALLY.

THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT BILL THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENT FOR A LOT OF MARYLANDERS.

>> AND THOSE THAT SAID $150 DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH?

>> EVERYBODY IS GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HIGH PRICES NOT BEING LOW ENOUGH.

THAT IS HOW IT GOES.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT ENERGY MARKETS ARE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL.

SO THERE ARE ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TOOLS WE HAVE.

YOU LOOK AT PRICES RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN ATTRIBUTE THE PRICE INCREASES TO AN ARBITRARY WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST STARTED BY A PRESIDENT WHO HAD NO PLAN GOING IN AND SHUT DOWN OIL PRODUCTION ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND LED TO RAISING PRICES EVERYWHERE.

IF WE WANT TO BE SERIOUS AND HONEST WHERE COST INCREASES ARE COMING FROM WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MADE CHOICES THAT DOMINATED AFFORDABILITY.

WE ARE USING THE LEVERS WE HAVE.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THE WORD REDISTRICTING IT TOOK UP A LOT OF TIME.

IT WAS A BATTLE.

I MEAN THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

WHERE ARE WE AND WHERE WILL IT GO?

>> CERTAINLY IT WAS A CHALLENGING ISSUE.

MORE CHALLENGING THAN I EXPECTED IN THE FALL WHEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION IT WOULD BACKFIRE AND AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT IS INCREASINGLY LAWLESS AND THREATENING MARYLAND IN WAYS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE, WE DIDN'T FEEL WE WOULD TAKE THE RISK IT COULD GIVE DONALD TRUMP ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

WE MADE A REALLY PURPOSEFUL DECISION TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE COULD CONTROL AND WE KNOW WE COULD WIN ON RATHER THAN ENGAGING IN SOMETHING MOST LIKELY TO US GOING BACKWARDS.

>> AND WE HAVE A NEW STATE SYMBOL?

>> THE MEG LA DON MADE ITS WAY.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> THE PREHISTORIC SHARK.

THIS IS IF YOU GO DOWN TO SOUTHERN MARYLAND THESE WERE I KNOW IT CAN BE SILLY BUT THEY ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS WHY SHARK'S TOOTH MEG LA DON TEETH THAT PEOPLE HUNT FOR IN MARYLAND AND WE HAVE A STATE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, WE BALANCE THINGS AND MAKE THEM WORK.

>> EXCELLENT, PRESIDENT FERGUSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: HOUSE SPEAKER JOSELINA PENA-MELNYK SAT DOWN WITH NANCY YAMADA.

>> SPEAKER PENA, YOU CONCLUDED YOUR FIRST SESSION AS HOUSE SPEAKER BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING WENT AND SOME OF THE KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW DID YOU FARE IN THIS ROLE?

AND WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF?

AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THIS 141-MEMBER BODY IN LINE AND MOVING FORWARD EVERYDAY?

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.

WE ENDED ACTUALLY THIS MORNING, AT MIDNIGHT.

I HAVE NOT SLEPT I DON'T THINK THREE HOURS.

IT WAS A VERY INTENSE 90 DAYS.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT OUR WORK.

I CAME IN WITH A VISION OF WHAT I WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND IT WAS TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM THE LENS OF AFFORDABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY AS WE LOOKED AT EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

BECAUSE MARYLANDERS LIKE THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES, THEY ARE SUFFERING.

THEY ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

SO I WAS FOCUSED AND I PUT TOGETHER A TEAM AS I WAS TELLING YOU EARLIER, THAT WERE REALLY COMMITTED AND I WAS TELLING MY HUSBAND THE OTHER DAY THAT I FEEL SO BLESSED BECAUSE I SAW HOW HARD THEY WERE WORKING EVERYDAY TO MAKE SURE THAT I SUCCEEDED AND THAT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

AND I GAVE THIS MY BEST.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE DID.

>> YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A COMMITTEE LEADER DID THAT HELP YOU AS YOU ASSUMED THE NEW ROLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS A COMMITTEE LEADER I HAD 24 MEMBERS INCLUDING MYSELF.

I HAD HALF OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS ON MY COMMITTEE.

AND THAT REQUIRES INTENTIONALITY BECAUSE WE ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE HAD TOUGH ISSUES LIKE ABORTION CARE, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THOSE ISSUES THAT CAN BE REALLY POLARIZING BUT I LEARNED TO LISTEN AND TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT AND WE REPRESENT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

AND WHAT I NEEDED WAS TO LISTEN.

AND I ALWAYS DID THAT.

AND I ALLOW EVERYONE TO STATE THEIR POSITION AND THEN I TOOK THE VOTE.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE NASTY ABOUT IT.

I WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL AND THAT HELPED.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE NOW THEY ARE ON THE FLOOR ALL OF THEM.

AND THEY KNOW ME PERSONALLY.

AND THEY KNOW MY HEART.

AND I THINK THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

YOU ADJOURNED WITH A BALANCED BUDGET OF $71 BILLION FOR 2027 THAT PASSED WITH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE EARLY.

IT WAS SIGNED WELL BEFORE SINE DIE BY THE GOVERNOR.

IN YOUR MIND WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS?

>> AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE BUDGET.

WHAT I ALSO WANT TO MENTION IT WAS BIPARTISAN.

THERE WERE 16 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE THAT VOTED FOR IT.

AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

THE BUDGET IS A DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTS, I BELIEVE, YOUR VALUES.

AND THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT BUDGET IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT ANY NEW TAXES.

WHICH IS REALLY AMAZING.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN MONEY FOR EXAMPLE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING EVICTION.

WE PUT IN ALSO APPROPRIATED MONEY FOR CHILDCARE.

MORE THAN 3700 KIDS ARE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE THEIR PARENTS TO GET HELP FOR CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE MADE SOME CUTS TO THE DISABILITY BUDGET.

>> NOT AS SEVERE?

>> NO, THEY WERE NOT.

AND ACTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO PUT SOME MONEY BACK.

AND THAT SHOWS ACCOUNTABILITY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PROGRAM.

IT IS A PROGRAM THAT THE BUDGET USED TO BE A LITTLE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND IN FIVE YEARS, IT HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN $3 BILLION.

AND WE HAVE A WAIVER AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT WAIVER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT IS A BUDGET THAT ALSO APPROPRIATES MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING FOR EDUCATION, THE RURAL COUNTIES WHICH I CREATED A RURAL CAUCUS, AND WE PUT MONEY FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW THE AREA OF WESTERN MARYLAND WHERE FEMA DENIED THE GRANT RIGHT FOR THE FLOODING.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN $12 MILLION FOR THAT.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT BUDGET.

THERE IS A COMMUNITY IN THE EASTERN SHORE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.

THERE'S $5 MILLION TO CREATE A SCHOOL AS WELL.

>> YOU CAME IN EMPHASIZING AFFORDABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY MOVED THE NEEDLE ON COSTS LIKE HOUSING AND ENERGY, HEALTHCARE?

>> ON ENERGY, WE MOVED THE NEEDLE.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE SENATE AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON AND WITH THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE RELIEF.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAVE AT LEAST $150.

BUT THE BILL HAS MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM GOALS.

AND IN THE END THEY WILL SAVE MORE THAN THAT.

AND WE PASSED A LOT OF REGULATIONS FOR THE UTILITY COMPANIES SO THAT THEY DON'T PASS THEIR COSTS ON TO THE RATEPAYERS.

AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY AS WELL AND LOOK AT HOUSING, WE PASSED A COUPLE OF MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES ON HOUSING.

WHERE WE ARE GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE RED TAPE AND THE ZONING REGARDING DEVELOPMENT.

MARYLAND HAS A SHORTAGE OF OVER 100,000 HOMES.

I WORRY ABOUT MY CHILDREN.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT OUR KIDS.

WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE.

IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

SO WE ACTUALLY PASSED BILLS TO MAKE IT EASIER.

THERE IS ANOTHER BILL TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT ACTUALLY PROMOTES BUILDING NEAR TRANSIT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE CLOSER, RIGHT, TO TRANSIT BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND HELP THOSE DEVELOPERS BUILD.

SO THEY CAN FEEL THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE AND GET RID OF A LOT OF THE RED TAPE MAKE IT EASIER.

>> THIS SESSION YOU SAID IT WAS A PRIORITY TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT MARYLAND STANDS WITH THEM.

WHICH BILLS DO YOU THINK WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT?

AND DO YOU WORRY THAT MARYLAND MIGHT FACE LEGAL OR FINANCIAL RETALIATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> REGARDING WHETHER MARYLAND WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER WE FACE RETALIATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE ALREADY FACING IT.

JUST THE FACT THAT WE ARE A BLUE STATE HAS MADE US A TARGET FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED, AGAIN, IN WESTERN MARYLAND WITH FEMA DENYING THE GRANT FOR THE FLOODING.

I MEAN THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

YET, THEY DIDN'T GET ANY HELP WHEN THEY NEEDED IT THE MOST.

WE THE STATE STEPPED IN.

REGARDING THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THEY DESERVE RESPECT.

THEY REALLY DO.

AND THEY ARE PART OF US.

THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE PASS BILLS LIKE THE 287G PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, BANNING THAT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE DEPUTIZED TO IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.

NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

SO WHEN YOU ALLOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS YOU CREATE DISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT BILL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THOSE CONTRACTS.

I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE BILL THAT WILL NOT ALLOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I.C.E.

AGENTS TO WEAR MASKS WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT AS WELL.

IT'S TERRORIZING WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING THAT IS ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS EVEN IN YOUR OWN PARTY.

THE BILL BREEZED THROUGH THE HOUSE EASILY.

BUT ULTIMATELY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE AFTER THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAID HE DID NOT SUPPORT MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING.

HOW DISAPPOINTED ARE YOU THAT THAT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD?

AND DO YOU PLAN TO REINTRODUCE THE BILL NEXT YEAR?

>> I AM NOT THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR YET.

I'M THINKING ABOUT GETTING SOME SLEEP.

SO WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET TO IT.

YOU KNOW, I WANTED THE BILL TO PASS.

AND THERE'S TWO CAMERAS WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

AND I RESPECT HIS POSITION.

I WAS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT NOT MAKING -- NOT DESTROYING OUR RELATIONSHIP EARLY ON OVER THAT ISSUE BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER PEOPLE CAN AFFORD HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS AND WE WILL HAVE SO MANY OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND I WANTED TO KEEP THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.

AND WE DID.

AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I FEEL PROUD THAT THE HOUSE MET THE MOMENT.

THAT I CAN LOOK BACK 10 YEARS FROM NOW, GOD WILLING I WILL HAVE GRANDKIDS AND I CAN SAY YOUR GRANDMA DID SOMETHING TO PROTECT MARYLANDERS AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE RIGHT NOW, UNDER ATTACK WE'RE LOSING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.

WE ARE ALLOWING RACIAL PROFILING.

THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION.

FOR THE THREE BRANCHES OF LAW.

WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT I JOSELINA PENA-MELNYK CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE HOUSE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO NANCY YAMADA AND THE SPEAKER.

FOR THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY, EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY IN THE SESSION DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

>> WE KNEW THIS WAS AN ELECTION YEAR AND WE SAW THAT BUDGET THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY DID WHAT IT WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY OBLIGATED TO DO AND THAT WAS TO BE BALANCED BUT WE WANTED TO SEE TAX CUTS AND RELIEF FOR MARYLANDERS WE TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND IN THE DEMOCRTS' MINDS IF THEY DID NOT RAISE TAXES THEY LOOK AT THAT AS POSITIVE.

WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WE DIDN'T SEE ANY REAL RELIEF FOR MARYLANDERS.

I DID SUPPORT THE BUDGET I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT SOLVE ANY OF THE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN NINE MONTHS AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LIKELY IN ESTIMATED DEFICITS.

AND WE ARE NOT REFORMING THE BLUEPRINT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

WE CANNOT AFFORD THE BLUEPRINT THE WAY IT'S CONSTRUCTED YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT UNLESS YOU HAVE CUTS TO PROGRAMS OR TAX HIKES.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE SOMETHING WITH ENERGY PRICES AND CUSTOMER UTILITY BILLS I THINK THE RELIEF ACT FELL VERY SHORT AS FAR AS PROVIDING REAL RELIEF.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE $150 A YEAR WE THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER THAN THAT.

REPUBLICANS HAD GOOD IDEAS THAT WERE GOING TO CHANGE GREEN ENERGY POLICIES IN PLACE THAT COULD PROVIDE RELIEF.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS WEREN'T WILLING TO ACCEPT IT AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK THE RATEPAYERS AND MARYLANDERS WILL BE UNHAPPY WITH WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED.

>> I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD THE WORD TRUMP MORE SINCE THE ELECTION THAN WHAT I'VE HEARD IN THE LAST THREE POSSIBLE.

MARYLAND DEMOCRATS WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THEY DO IS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND YOU CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP'S POLICIES.

SOME OF WHAT NO ONE LIKES TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH I.C.E.

AND THE INCIDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS WHERE YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE TO BEGIN WITH AND THE I.C.E.

OFFICERS COULD HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

THOSE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS.

AND SO WHAT MARYLAND DEMOCRATS DECIDED TO DO WAS TURN THAT INTO AN ENTIRE SESSION OF TALKING ABOUT I.C.E.

AND THE REALITY IS I THINK A LOT OF WHAT THEY DID IS PROBABLY UNLIKELY TO BE ENFORCED AND KNOCKED DOWN BY COURTS OR LOCAL POLICE WILL FIND HEY I CAN'T DO IT THIS WAY.

I DON'T THINK OUR LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING AROUND FEDERAL OFFICERS NOT JUST I.C.E.

BUT THE F.B.I.

AND OTHERS AND CHECKING TO SEE WHETHER THEY HAVE FACE COVERINGS ON.

AND ATTEMPTING TO DETAIN THEM AN ISSUE WITH A CITATION.

>> ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT IS REDISTRICTING AND THAT FEDERAL MOVEMENT THAT CAME IN WHERE DEMOCRATS WERE PUSHING THIS THESE TYPES OF CHANGES WE WERE APPRECIATIVE THAT SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON HELD HIS GROUND ON THAT.

IT'S HARD TO SAY IT WAS A WIN.

BUT AT THE END OF DAY IT HAD A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AT THE BEGINNING AND A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER TO MOVE THAT.

AND I THINK THE SENATE HELD ITS GROUND AND DID THE RIGHT THING THERE.

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

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANKS FOR WATCHING.