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".

WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS SDR ANDREW GUTHRIE FERGUSON A YOUR ROLL GIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SHORE MEDICAL GROUP IN EASTON.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IT'S MEN'S HEALTH MONTH.

WE HAVE FATHER'S DAY COMING UP IT IS A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT MEN ARE RELUCTANT TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

WHY SHOULD WE BE LESS RELUCTANTTANT TO SEEK HELP SOMETIMES.

>> .

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THAT IN EVERY STAGE IN YOUR LIFE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR THE YEARS THAT ARE TO COME AND THE SOONER YOU GET THINGS CHECKED OUT THE SOONER YOU CAN ADDRESS THEM AND THEY POTENTIALLY WON'T AFFECT EFFECT THE QUALITY OF OUR HEALTH OR YOUR HEALTH SPAN GOING FORWARD.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE CONDITIONS YOU STREET.

I DO NOTICE KIDNEYS OVER YOUR SHOULDER?

>> YOUR ROLL GISTS IN GENERAL TREAT CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY I TREAT MEN'S HEALTH LIKE LOW TESTOSTERONE, ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AND THE LARGE PROPERTYTATES.

ALSO HELP TO SCREEN AND DIAGNOSE FOR PROSTATE CANCER AND RECOMMEND TREATMENTS TO PATIENTS AND I HAVE A SPECIALIZATION IN KIDNEY STONES AS WELL.

>> Jeff: LET'S RUN THROUGH SOME.

PBH WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR AND WHAT KIND OF TREATMENTS DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE.

>> SO PBH STANDS FOR BENIGN PROSTHETIC HYPER PLASH SHAH NOT CAN CUSTOMER IN THE PROSTATE.

AS A MAN AGES THAT IS YOUR NECESSARYRY SYMPTOMS PEOPLE WILL HAVE SYMPTOMS RELATED TO BPH.

SAY MEDICATIONS DON'T WORK YOU CAN DO CERTAIN TYPES OF SURGERIES TO ADDRESS BPH SOME IN THE OFFICE WITHOUT ANESTHESIA WHERE YOU INJECT STEAM INTO THE PROSTATE TO SHRINK IT OR PUT BANDS THAT WIDEN THE PROSTATE AND KEEP IT OPEN OR DO SURGERIES IN THE HOSPITAL TO REMOVE PROSTATE TISSUE.

YOU THINK OF PROSTATE LIKE AN ORANGE, YOU SCRAPE OUT THE FRUIT USING A LASER OR LOOP AND LEAVE THE SKIN BEHIND AND MEN WITH URINATE WELL.

>> Jeff: HOW OFTEN DOES MEDICAL THERAPY WORK?

>> THE MEDICAL THERAPY WORKS PRETTY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME.

IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE MAYBE IT'S 50/50.

THERE ARE GUYS THAT CAN BE ON MEDICATIONS FOR A LONGTIME AND NEVER HAVE PROGRESSION OF THEIR SYMPTOMS.

CERTAIN MEN COME IN WITH ALARM SYMPTOMS THE MEDICATIONS DON'T WORK FOR THEM AND THEY PROGRESS TO SURGERY.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE SYMPTOMS NOT JUST BPH BUT OTHER SYMPTOMS RELATED TO UROLOGY THAT MEN SUFFER FROM AND LET DID FOR TOO LONG?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS BRINGING MEN IN AND THEY TRY TO LET GO FOR TOO LONG IS FREQUENT NIGHTTIME URINATION.

WAKING UP MORE THAN ONE-TIME AT NIGHT IS CONSIDERED ABNORMAL WHEN YOU WAKE UP TO URINATE.

THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THE MORE YOU WAKE UP TO URINATE IT CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR MORTALITY YOU MAY NOT LIVE AS LONG.

NOT SLEEPING WELL CAN CREATE A HOST OF FACTORS WHERE IT CAN LOWER YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, AS YOU GET OLDER YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO FALL AND BREAK YOUR HIP.

THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST NEGLECTED SYMPTOMS.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES IN ADDITION TO THE BPH WHICH WE DISCUSSED?

>> I USUALLY RUN THROUGH A LIST HEY, HOW MUCH ARE YOU DRINKING BEFORE YOU GO TO BED?

DO YOU STOP DRINKING BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.

DO YOU DRINK CAFFEINE IN THE AFTERNOON?

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL DO YOU DRINK WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE YOU TAKING AND WHAT ARE YOUR SLEEP HABITS ARE YOU NAPPING IN THE DAY AND YOU WON'T SLEEP AS WELL AT NIGHT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PATIENT AND THEIR BEHAVIORS.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU KNOW THEY DON'T NEED A MEDICATION OR SURGERY THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR HABITS.

ANOTHER THING IS SLEEP APNEA.

GUYS ARE WAKING UP FOUR AND FIVE TIMES AUTO URINATE THEY ARE WAKING UP BECAUSE THEIR BODY IS DEPRIVED OF OXYGEN AND THEY GET A TEST AND HAVE SLEEP APNEA.

>> Jeff: ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION DOES MAKE THE MEN PICK UP THE PHONE HOW OFTEN IS IT RELATED TO A LARGER HEALTH ISSUE?

>> I SOMETIMES TELL MEN THAT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE IT CAN BE AN INDICATOR OF A BIGGER PROBLEM.

WHETHER THE GUY HAS UNTREATED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, MAYBE THEY ARE OVERWEIGHT THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION.

>> Jeff: BESIDES PILLS USED TO BE ADVERTISED ON TV AND THAT NOW YOU SEE PLENTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL ADS ON TV, SO THERE'S MEDICAL THERAPY, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE?

>> THE REASON YOU DON'T SEE THE ADS FOR THE PILLS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL GENERIC AND CHEAP GREAT FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IT USED TO BE $70 A PILL AND NOW THEY ARE 50 CENTS A PILL.

BESIDES MEDICATION, PILLS THAT YOU CAN TAKE FOR ED, THERE ARE INJECTIONS THAT MEN GIVE THEMSELVES TO HELP AND THERE'S SURGERY THE IMPLANTED THAT MEN HAVE PLACED TO CURE THEIR DYSFUNCTION.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT PSA TESTING EVEN IN THE MEDICAL WORLD IS CONTROVERSIAL.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES GENERALLY DON'T DO IT ON A WHOLESALE BASIS.

WE DO MORE OF THAT HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR PATIENTS?

WHAT AGE SHOULD YOU START SCREENING FOR PROSTATE CANCER?

>> I KIND OF DIVIDE IT INTO TWO GROUPS.

IN GENERAL MOST MEN SHOULD START GETTING SCREENED FOR PROSTATE CANCER AT THE AGE OF 55 TO 69.

AND OUR GUIDELINES SAY THAT YOU CAN IT EVERY YEAR, TWO TO FOUR YEARS.

MOST OF MY PATIENTS GET IT DONE EVERY YEAR.

THERE ARE SOME MEN, THOUGH, THAT SHOULD BE SCREENED SOONER.

BLACK MEN, MEN WHO HAVE A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY OF PROSTATE CANCER OR GUYS WHO HAVE A GENE THAT MIGHT PREDISPOSE THEM.

THEY SHOULD BE SCREENED IN THEIR 40s.

>> Jeff: AND YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE THAT IS NOT 100% SPECIFIC, I GUESS, IS THE WORD.

IN OTHER WORDS SOMEBODY CAN HAVE A SERIOUS CASE OF PROSTATE CANCER AND THE PSA WOULDN'T ALERT BUT OTHER FORMS OF SURVEILLANCE WOULD?

>> YES, THERE IS A VERY SMALL SUBSET OF GUYS OUT THERE THAT WILL HAVE A NORMAL PSA AND YOU WILL DO A RECTAL EXAM AND FEEL A NODULE AND DO FOLLOW-UP TESTING LIKE A MRI OR BIOPSY AND IN THE LAST NINE YEARS I'VE FOUND AT LEAST 10 GUYS WHO HAVE HAD A LETHAL PROSTATE CANCER THAT WE FOUND EARLY AND WERE ABLE TO TREAT IT.

>> Jeff: FOR PEOPLE WITH LESS AGGRESSIVE FORMS OF PROSTATE CANCER THERE'S ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE.

HOW RECEPTIVE ARE PATIENTS TO THE IDEA THAT YOU'VE DIAGNOSED A CANCER AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO WATCH IT FOR A WHILE?

>> 10 YEARS AGO, MEN WERE LESS RECEPTIVE.

BUT NOW, I THINK, MANY MORE MEN ARE MORE RECEPTIVE THEY HAVE DONE THEIR RESEARCH ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN YOU PRESENT THEM WITH THE FACTS AND WITH ALL THE DATA ABOUT HOW YOU'VE COME TO THE DECISION THAT ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE IS THE BEST CHOICE AND YOU CAN AVOID THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT, WHICH CAN AFFECT YOUR LIFESTYLE A LOT SOMETIMES.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE OPEN TO CONSIDERING THAT AS A TREATMENT OPTION.

>> Jeff: FOR YOUR PATIENTS ON THE EASTERN SHORE, HOW AVAILABLE IS PRIMARY CARE?

THAT IS NOT YOUR SPECIALTY BUT I'M SURE YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE OR HOPEFULLY PHYSICIAN.

AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FIND THAT IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE BUT MAYBE ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS?

>> A GREAT QUESTION.

I'M FOR THE MOST PART DEPENDENT ON MY REFERRALS FROM PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.

SOME PATIENTS FIND ME BUT MOST COME FROM PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.

SINCE COVID A LARGE PORTION OF PROVIDERS HAVE RETIRED.

AND SO IT IS CHALLENGING.

I THINK, ONE THING THAT IS DEFINITELY FILLING THE VOID IS PEOPLE ARE HIRING MORE ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO HELP WITH THE NUMBERS OF PATIENTS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY COMING HERE.

I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE EASTERN SHORE.

THEY ARE HELPING TO FILL A LOT OF THAT VOID.

AND PROBABLY WILL FOR SOMETIME TO COME.

>> Jeff: THE COMMUNITIES YOU ARE HAD IN EASTON, CAMBRIDGE, UP TO QUEENS TOWN AREA, THOSE ARE GROWING COMMUNITIES YOU PROBABLY SPEND YOUR SHARE OF TIME ON ROUTE 50?

>> I KNOW.

LUCKILY I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE TOO FAR MY HOUSE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED TO EVERYTHING.

I THINK EACH ONE OF OUR AREAS ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAS THEIR OWN SPECIFIC CULTURE AND I'D LIKE GETTING TO MEET THE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

>> Jeff: I'M SURE AFTER YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL AT MARYLAND, YOUR RESIDENCY YOU COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE AND YOU CHOSE THE EASTERN SHORE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK PARTIALLY I HAVE MY WIFE TO THANK FOR THAT SHE IS FROM THE EASTERN SHORE.

BUT ONCE I MET HER I HAD THE FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND FALL IN LOVE WITH THE EASTERN SHORE.

BUT I ALSO WHEN I LEFT RESIDENCY I WANTED TO GO TO A PLACE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF GENERAL YOUR UROLOGY RATHER THAN HYPER SPECIALIZE IN ONE THING AND I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> Jeff: AND YOU TREAT WOMEN, TOO.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CONCERNS FOR WOMEN COMING TO YOUR PRACTICE?

>> WELL, I MEAN ONE OF THE THINGS I DO SOMEWHAT SPECIALIZE IS KIDNEY STONES AND THEY DON'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON SEX I SEE MEN AND WOMEN WITH KIDNEY STONES AND EVERYBODY GETS THEM.

SO THAT'S ONE THING.

I SEE MORE WOMEN WHO TEND TO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF OVERACTIVE BLADDER OR INFECTIONS.

ANOTHER PROVIDER IN OUR OFFICE SPECIALIZES IN PELVIC FLOOR RECONSTRUCTION I SEND THOSE TO HIM.

>> Jeff: IF YOU COULD GIVE MEN AND WOMEN ONE PIECE OF ADVICE ON TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR OUR URNNARY HEALTH WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> DON'T SWEEP THINGS UNDER THE RUG IF YOU ARE NOTICING SOMETHING THAT IS AFFECTING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE OR THINKING MORE THAN YOU SHOULD, ADDRESS IT.

JUST GO AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.

THE LONGER YOU WAIT SOMETIMES THE HARDER IT IS TO FIX SOMETHING OR HARDER IT IS TO TREAT OR MAYBE IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S NOT FIXABLE LIKE A CANCER AND YOU CAN'T CURE IT.

I ALWAYS ALSO ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR MY PATIENTS TELL THEM THAT EXERCISE IS THE BEST MEDICINE ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO BUT THE CHEAPEST MEDICINE AND IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFESPAN AND YOUR HEALTH SPAN.

>> Jeff: Dr.

ANDREW GUTHRIE FERGUSON JOINING US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SHORE MEDICAL GROUP WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW, IT MAYBE THE MOST EXPENSIVE SELF FUNDED CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN HISTORY.

RECENTLY ON OUR "STATE CIRCLE" PROGRAM WE SPOKE WITH FORMER CONGRESSMAN DAVID TRONE HO IS SPENDING WIG TO RETAKE HIS OLD SEAT.

TONIGHT OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE INCUMBENT ALSO SPENDING BIG, APRIL MCCLAIN DELANEY.

CONGRESSWOMAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT OUR TAPING TIME WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH IRAN, BUT BASED ON WHAT YOU DO KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

>> LISTEN, I TWEETED ON THIS EARLIER TODAY, YOU KNOW, TRUMP WAS THE ONE THAT FOR UP OBAMA'S DEAL, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY WORKING.

AND THEN AFTER BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE PUT IN, NO AUTHORIZATION BY CONGRESS AND SEVERAL AMERICANS WHO HAVE DIED WE NOW HAVE A DEAL WHICH WE THINK POTENTIALLY COULD BE WORSE THAN OBAMA'S DEAL.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED CONGRESS TO WEIGH-IN ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE IN IT.

BUT WE WILL SEE.

THE SENATE AND LINDSEY GRAHAM LIFTED UP THAT HE WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT J.D.

VANCE NEGOTIATED.

TO BE DETERMINED.

BUT I HOPE THEY ARE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT IS IN IT.

AND WE IN CONGRESS NEED TO WEIGH-IN HOW WE APPROPRIATE, LEGISLATE AND SET TARIFFS AND WEIGH-IN ON MORE.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION THE FIRST REELECT HADDION CAMPAIGN.

AND THAT IS THE POINT AT WHICH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE TEND TO BE MOST VULNERABLE.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT RETURN YOU TO CONGRESS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

AND I DEFINITELY THINK THEY SHOULD.

A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE I'VE SHOWED UP EVERYWHERE.

SIXTH DISTRICT IS THE ONE PURPLE DISTRICT WITH NO PURPLE PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO BE.

IT GOES THROUGH MOUNTAIN AND WESTERN MARYLAND AND UP COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

AND I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW IT AND I'VE GOTTEN THINGS DONE ACROSS A CRAZY LANDSCAPE.

MY OPPONENT WAS IN CONGRESS WHEN THERE WAS THE PRESIDENT WE WERE IN THE MAJORITY, WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH A ROGUE AND LAWLESS ADMINISTRATION AND I RAN ON COMMON SENSE COMMON GROUND.

AND I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THAT COMMON GROUND WITH A ROGUE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN UP THE FIRE ACADEMY, WORK WITH TEAM MARYLAND LOCK STEP AND GET THINGS DONE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY PROJECT GRABTS.

GRANTS.

INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS LEAN INTO MY YEARS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN NONPROFIT TO CONVENE AND ACTUALLY PUSH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO NAVIGATE A PROCESS, TO HELP MY WORKING CONSTITUENTS.

BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEAR ABOUT IS AFFORDABILITY, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, AND FOR OUR FARMERS, I AM A FARMER'S DAUGHTER, 40% IN FARM BANKRUPTCIES THIS YEAR.

YOU'VE SHOWN UP AND YOU'VE GOTTEN THINGS DONE.

>> Jeff: WHEN WE TALKED TO Mr.

TRONE ONE OF HIS LINES OF ATTACK WAS ACCORDING TO HIM YOU VOTED WITH TRUMP ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME, WHICH YOU SAID IS HIGH FOR A DEMOCRAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK HE VOTED WITH TRUMP LIKE, 33% OF THE TIME OR WHATEVER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE EQUATED THOSE VOTES.

FIRST OF ALL, EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, EVERY FLY AND NIGHT THERE'S THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX VOTES THAT EVERYONE VOTES ON.

THEY CAN BE POST OFFICE NAMENTINGS OR BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

HE NEVER CLARIFIED WHAT VOTES.

I HAVE BEEN A FIGHTING HARD FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

I AM A GOOD DEMOCRAT SO TO SPEAK.

LIFTING UP OUR WORKING CLASS.

ISSUES IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, OUR LABOR AND FIGHTING FOR OUR I AM GRANTS I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE STOPPING THE I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTER IN HAGERSTOWN.

REALLY HELPING ALL OF OUR 35,000 GOVERNMENT WORKERS THAT ARE BEEN RIFTED OUR AGENCIES AND FARMERS AND ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR WOMEN BECAUSE I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS.

AND I'VE SPENT A LIFETIME IN NONPROFIT LIFTING UP THE ISSUES OF WOMEN POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, OUR CHOICE.

AND HE HAS BEEN ASSAULTING ME ON THAT WHICH IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH OF THE 11200 PEOPLE THAT EVER SERVED IN CONGRESS 406 HAVE EVER BEEN WOMEN AND WE HAD NO WOMEN IN THE DELEGATION AS OF 2024 AND SARAH AND I WERE TWO OF THE EIGHT REPS ARE NOW IN THE HOUSE AND ALSO ANGELA ALSOBROOKSES IN THE SENATE.

AND WOMEN HAVE A ROLE IN TAKE TALKING ABOUT DAYCARE AND ELDERCARE AND HAVING THE DISMANTLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WOMEN'S BUREAU IT IS AN ASSAULT ON OUR EQUAL PAY AND EQUAL RIGHTS BUT ON CHOICE.

AND TO THINK THAT I'M EVEN GETTING ASSAULTED BY MY OPPONENT ON ISSUES LIKE THAT IS CRAZY.

BUT LONG AND SHORT, I HAVE BEEN A INCREDIBLE FIGHTER FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC VALUES FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

AND I'M ACTUALLY MAKING INROADS.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK ALL OF OUR MARYLAND FEDERAL DELEGATION ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE TWO SENATORS AND GOVERNOR HAVE ENDORSED ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A TEAM PLAYER AND RODE WITH TEAM MARYLAND TO STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THIS RACE NOTABLE IS THAT IT MAY SET THE RECORD FOR THE AMOUNT OF SELF FUNDING.

Mr.

TRONE HAS PUT IN APPARENTLY $25 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY.

AND YOUR FAMILY'S PUT IN -- >> WE NEED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

>> Jeff: LET BE FINISH UP THE QUESTION.

YOU HAVE PUT IN $7 MILLION REPORTEDLY OF YOUR OWN MONEY.

MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENTS IN HANCOCK EVER RELATE TO THAT?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

I WAS RAISING MY OWN MONEY.

I HAVE BEEN I'M STILL RAISING MONEY AND I PLAN ON ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND RAISING MONEY AND DOING FORWARD ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE AS MANY GRASSROOTS AND AS MANY DIFFERENT DONORS FROM MY DISTRICT AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I DID NOT FORESEE A MAN WHO HAD COMPLETELY ENDORSED ME AND WHO I'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB AND I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY MY DELEGATION TO COME AFTER ME.

I THINK HE IS A BOTHERED BILLIONAIRE AND HE IS SEEKING RETRIBUTION FOR LOSING THE ALSOBROOKS RACE BY PUTTING THIS MUCH MONEY IN, I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, YOU ARE RIGHT, TO HAVE TO LET OUT THE ALTERNATIVE MESSAGE.

I FELT COMPELLED.

I DID NOT WANT TO ENTER INTO THIS NASTY NAME THROWING, WHO IS THE BETTER FIGHTER FOR TRUMP.

IF ANYTHING, I HAVE BEEN DOING MY JOB FULL-TIME REALLY WORKING ON DELIVERING RESULTS FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

BEING IN ALL PARTS OF MY DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY WORKING ON CAPITOL HILL.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, COULD NOT FUNDRAISE IN THE SAME WAY THAT Mr.

TRONE CAN.

ALL HE IS DOING AT HOME PUTTING IN THE MONEY.

BUT IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT WE HAVE A TOXIC GROUP IN OUR COUNTRY.

GERRYMANDERING.

DARK MONEY CITIZENS UNITED.

AND SELF FUNDING AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PLATFORMS.

SPEWING A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THREE OF THOSE AS WE GO FORWARD AND LOOK HOW WE HAVE A MORE TRANSPARENT AND FAIR ELECTIONS PROCESS.

>> Jeff: I HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.

I WANTED TO ASK ONE LOCAL QUESTION, THE COAL-FIRED ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT NEAR CUMBER LOND WARRIOR RUN, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO RESTART THAT YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I WORKED IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION I WAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND WE WORKED A LOT ON THE IRA AND CLEAN ENERGY AND I BELIEVE WE NEED ALL OF THE ABOVE, SOLAR AND WIND.

AND NUCLEAR INFUSION I AM ON I SCIENCE COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

WITH RESPECT TO THIS COAL-FIRED PLANT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE COME OUT TO THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ENERGY THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND AT THIS POINT, THAT COAL-FIRED PLANT WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO SOMETHING MORE GREEN IS GOING TO HELP WITH AFFORDABILITY IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

MOREOVER, WHEN IT WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE GOVERNOR APPARENTLY WHAT WE DID THEN IS START BUYING ELECTRICITY FROM OTHER NEIGHBORING STATES WHO HAD COAL-FIRED PLANTS.

SO THERE WAS A BIG ISSUE WITH OUR LABOR AND THE JOBS UP THERE HERE WE WERE SHUTTING SOMETHING DOWN AND GOING TO ANOTHER STATE FOR THAT ENERGY.

I AM OKAY WITH IT, TO BE OPENED UP AS LONG AS WE TRANSITION IT TO MORE GREEN ALTERNATIVES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: CONGRESSWOMAN APRIL MCCLAIN DELANEY RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH Mr.

TRONE AS WELL THAT INTERVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT VIDEO@MPT.TV AND SELECT THE MAY 29TH, "STATE CIRCLE" PROGRAM.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

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

[♪♪]