[*] >> RIGHT NOW IN INIDANAPOLIS MEMBERS OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE CONVENING IN JOINT SESSION.

THEY WILL HEAR THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM GOVERNOR WES MOORE.

THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME THAT GOVERNOR MOORE DELIVERED A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS I'M JEFF SALKIN WELCOME TO MPT'S COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE STATE.

WE WILL BRING YOU THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH FOLLOWED BY A REPUBLICAN VIEW OF THE STATE OF OUR STATE TO BE DELIVERED BY SENATOR HERSHEY.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS FOUR WEEKS OLD.

LAWMAKERS PASSED BILLS BOTH CHAMBERS, REINING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO COOPERATE WITH I.C.E., WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION.

LAWMAKERS ALSO FACING ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT.

LAST YEAR RESOLVED WITH TAX AND FEE INCREASES.

THIS BEING AN ELECTION YEAR WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE CUTS AND FUND TRANSFERS.

WE ASKED A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR ADDRESS TODAY.

>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR HIM SAY HE IS ACTUALLY CUT THE OVER REGULATION, OVERFEES THAT REGISTRATION FEES THAT PEOPLE HAVE CAR PAYMENTS ON OR ADOPT MEANINGFUL, TANGIBLE OFFER UP TO A THREE-YEAR REGISTRATION FEE THOSE BENEFIT BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME PRICE.

IT'S NOT WORKING.

WE ARE LACKING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ELEMENT THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON AS SERVANTS AND STATE EMPLOYEES OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> I HOPE TO HEAR WHAT I'VE HEARD EVERY YEAR ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR STATE, HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

BUT ALSO VERY SPECIFICS ABOUT ADDRESSING COMMUNITYS' CONCERNS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT, COMMUNITYS' CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE WE DOING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THEN WE HAVE CREATIVE THINGS DOING, BUT I HOPE WE HAVE A VISION GOING FORWARD ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE CHALLENGE IN A DIFFICULT TIME.

>> .

>> I HOPE TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR WHAT MARYLAND IS DOING TO STAND UP TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO FIGHT BACK ON THE DAMAGE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO TO MARYLAND.

I MUST SAY THAT LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A MAJOR FLOOD IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

AND GOVERNOR MOORE ASKED FOR EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID NO.

WE WILL NOT DECLARE A EMERGENCY AND NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGES.

SO RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THAT DAMAGES ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR TO COMPENSATE TO FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

>> I KNOW THAT HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTANDS THE CRISIS THAT MARYLAND IS FACING.

WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING TO OUR COUNTRY BUT SPECIFICALLY TO MARYLAND, IS UNFORGIVABLE.

IT'S BIASED.

THEY ARE TOTALLY COMING FOR MARYLAND WHETHER IT'S LAYING OFF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES OR UNDOING IMPORTANT POLICY INITIATIVES.

I KNOW HE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT.

I HOPE HE UNDERSTANDS AND TALKS ABOUT THE ROLL OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR WHICH IS UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE MORE DEMAND, LESS FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE.

>> Jeff: BACK LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE WE'RE JOINED BY MPT'S SUE COPPIN WHO COVERED A FEW STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES AS HAVE I. ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT IN THIS SESSION IS A BIG FIGHT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND AT LEAST HALF OF THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TOPIC OF CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

NORMALLY HAPPENS AFTER A CENSUS AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR, WE'RE SEEING STATES REDRAW THEIR CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

INITIALLY REPUBLICANS AT THE BEHEST OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN MARYLAND?

>> WELL, THERE IS A NEW MAP AND IT WAS MOVED TO THE HOUSE IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THERE IN LIES THE PROBLEM BECAUSE SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON MADE IT CLEAR THIS PROBABLY IS NOT GOING TO STAND GIVEN THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED IN PRIOR SIMILAR SITUATION.

WHERE ONE OF THE STATE'S HIGHEST JUDGES IN REVIEWING IT SAID DIDN'T PASS MUSTER AND THEY WERE FORCED TO GO BACK AND IT INVOLVED A LOT OF CHALLENGES THEN HE FORESAW POSSIBLY HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SO, THE HOUSE BILL THAT CROSSED OVER INTO THE SENATE WAS REFERRED TO THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE AND I CHECKED THE SCHEDULE TODAY AND THERE IS NO SCHEDULE.

>> Jeff: THEN THE ROLE OF THE RULES COMMITTEE FREQUENTLY TO NOT HAVE A SCHEDULE.

GOVERNOR MOORE SIGNALED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN HE TESTIFIED ON THE REDISTRICTING BILL AND SUE COPPIN COVERED THAT HEARING.

>> MAKE NO MISTAKE, WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES IS DOING RIGHT NOW, IS POLITICAL RED LINING.

>> AND IN HIS PRESENTATION TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE, GOVERNOR MOORE SAID THE PROPOSED CHANGES SEEK TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> IT'S NOT LOST ON ME BUT I AM THE ONLY BLACK GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE THIRD ELECTED BLACK GOVERNOR IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.

AND DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE AND ALLIES IN THE STATES THAT HE SUGGESTED ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SILENCE THE VOICES AND TRYING TO ELIMINATE BLACK LEADERSHIP ELECTED LEADERSHIP ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC WAS IMPORTANT TO THE REVISIONS, RECOMMENDED BY HIS APPOINTED FIVE-MEMBER REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WAS SHAPED BY PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS, SHAPED BY PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IT WAS SHAPED BY PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

AND THAT IS HOW OUR DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

TO CREATE MORE COMPETITION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND NOT LESS.

>> DELEGATE CT WILSON IS THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REDRAW THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL LINES.

>> CHOOSE BETWEEN PROTECTING HISTORIC COMMUNITIES AND DEFENDING AGAINST THIS ADMINISTRATION'S PARTISAN ASSAULT.

WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DISTRICTS THAT LOOK GOOD AND DO GOOD.

THE MAP COMPLIES WITH CRITERIA.

>> THE PROPOSED MAP WOULD RESHAPE THE STATE'S FIRST AND THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THE FIRST DISTRICT SEAT IS CURRENTLY HELD BY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY HARRIS.

OPPONENTS OF THE REVISED MAP CLAIM IT COULD MAKE REELECTION MORE CHALLENGING FOR HARRIS CURRENTLY THE ONLY REPUBLICAN IN MARYLAND'S CAPITOL HILL DELEGATION A CONCERN RAISED DURING THE HEARING.

>> YOU GUYS DIDN'T TAKE INTO EFFECT WHAT THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF THE VOTES WOULD BE WHETHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN WOULD BE MORE LIKE WILL I TO WIN BASED UPON STATISTICAL DATA.

YOU ARE SAYING NO ONE DISCUSSED THAT NO ONE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION AND NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THAT COMMISSION DURING THE PROCESS?

>> MAKE NO MISTAKE IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED AS FAR AS MATHEMATICAL EQUATION ACCEPTED BY THE COURTS.

>> JASON BUCKEL SAID HE HOPED THEY WOULD SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES THE PROCESS.

>> WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS.

OUR APPROACH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTRICTS ARE COMPACT WITH CONTIGUOUS AREAS THAT REFLECT COMMUNITIES OF COMMON INTEREST THOSE ARE THE NORMAL STANDARDS APPLIED BEFORE AND WE DON'T WANT TO APPLY THEM NOW.

I MEAN, GOVERNOR MOORE AND THE MAJORITY DOESN'T WANT TO APPLY THOSE STANDARDS.

>> Jeff: BACK LIVE IN ANNAPOLIS AS WE AWAIT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES CHAMBER.

THERE IS A NEW PROVIDING OFFICER AT THE POD YUM, JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK, BECAME THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN, THE SECOND AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

SUCCEEDING ADRIENNE JONES WHO RESIGNED THE SPEAKERSHIP.

THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE A WARM WELCOME IN THIS HISTORIC HOUSE OF DELEGATES CHAMBER.

BUT HE RECENTLY FACED A DISINVITATION IF THAT IS A THING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE GOVERNOR IS THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION.

WHICH IS HOLDING A MEETING NEXT WEEK IN THE CAPITAL TRADITIONALLY THERE IS THE DINNER WITH THE GOVERNORS AND THE PRESIDENT.

APPARENTLY GOVERNOR MOORE WAS SPECIFICALLY DISINVITED ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR OF COLORADO.

>> YEAH, HE SENT OUT A RELEASE THIS PAST WEEKEND MAKING SPECIFIC NOTE OF THAT ON THE SUNDAY TALK SHOWS ONE MENTIONING THAT AS WELL.

INTERESTINGLY, I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION SAID NO ONE IS GOING TO BE GOING TO THAT TEAR NOT MAKING IT AN OFFICIAL EVENT.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT GROWING OUT OF ONE PERSON BEING DISINVITED.

>> Jeff: WE MENTIONED ELECTIONS COMING UP.

GOVERNOR MOORE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MILLER ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION THE APPROVAL NUMBERS IN RECENT POLLS HAVE BEEN AROUND THE LOW 50s.

THERE WAS A MORE RECENT POLL THAT HAD HIM AROUND 61%.

EITHER WAY, HE FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT HAS STRONG FOOTING HEADING INTO HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN AT ABOUT EIGHT MILLION IN CAMPAIGN MONEY IN THE BANK.

AND FORMER GOVERNOR HOGAN, THE REPUBLICAN WHO SERVED TWO TERMS IN THIS DEMOCRATIC STATE, HAS RULED OUT ANOTHER RUN FOR THAT OFFICE.

>> WELL, THERE IS ONE PERSON IN THE SENATE WHO HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FROM THE LEGISLATURE SEEKING THAT AND IT'S SENATOR STEVE HERSHEY FROM THE EASTERN SHORE AS WE ARE AWAITING THE ESCORTS TO GET THE GOVERNOR AND BRING HIM DOWN.

>> Jeff: WE MENTIONED ABOUT THE BUDGET DIFFICULTIES THE STATE IS FACING JUST CHRONIC SHORTFALLS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

A LITTLE OVER A BILLION THIS YEAR.

IT WILL GROW QUICKLY.

UNDER PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE YEARS TO TWO BILLION AND THEN THREE BILLION AND FOUR BILLION.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT RECENTLY WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE BUDGET AND TAX COMMITTEE.

>> WELL, IT INCREASES BY THREE MILLION BUT DECREASED SOME OF THE MANDATED SPENDING AND BROUGHT IT DOWN.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT ADDRESSES NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE REAL BIG ISSUE.

THIS WE WILL GET THROUGH I CALL IT A BAND-AID BUDGET WITH THREE CARDAMOMTY WHERE YOU MOVE THE BALL AROUND IN THREE CUPS, THIS BUDGET IS MOVING MONEY AROUND TO MAKE IT BALANCED AND NOT HAVE TAX INCREASES OR FEE INCREASES BUT THE PROBLEM IS NEXT MEAL THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH.

I'VE HEARD THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WE CANNOT BE DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOING FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR MERGING INDUSTRIES IS THE APPROPRIATE NEXT STEP AND MAKING THE INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MARYLAND, HOW WE ATTRACTING THESE BUSINESSES TO COME HERE AND SAY THIS IS OUR FOOTPRINT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DOMINATE THE SPACE AND I DO SEE SOME OF THAT WITHIN THIS BUDGET.

>> Mr.

PRESIDENT, MADAM SPEAKER.

>> Jeff: EVERYONE IS IN POSITION AND WE EXPECT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

LED BY AN ESCORT PARTY OF SENATORS AND DELEGATES.

SUE, PICKING UP ON THE BUDGET, THE NUMBERS CHANGE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THE ECONOMY RISES AND FALLS.

SO DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LEGISLATORS GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT REVENUES ARE EXPECTED.

>> YEAH, THE STATE BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES WILL BE MEETING EARLY IN MARCH.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STATE TAKES IN THERE OR NOT TAKE IN, HONESTLY, COULD DRAMATICALLY IMPACT WHAT GETS DONE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF 1.5 BILLION.

AND THAT COULD SEVERELY IMPACT SOME OF THE PLANS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY LAID OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

SO WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL MARCH 11TH IS WHEN THE BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES REVEAL WHERE THEY ARE GOING.

>> Jeff: IT DOES SEEM TO BE IN AN ELECTION YEAR, EVERYBODY SAYS THE IDEA OF FURTHER TAX INCREASES OR FEE INCREASES JUST A NONSTARTER.

>> WELL, I MEAN, ANYBODY YOU TALK TO THAT'S THE LINE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

AS THE REVENUES CHANGE AND THE DEMANDS ON THE STATE BUDGET BETWEEN MEDICAID ASSIST TENS AND OTHER THINGS, LACK OF HELP WHEN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE FEMA IS NOT PROVIDING THAT ASSISTANCE.

AND AGAIN SOME OF THIS FALLS ON THE COUNTIES AND THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE THEIR FUNDING FROM THE STATE MIGHT GET CUT.

IT HAS A REAL RESIDUAL EFFECT AS THEY LOOK AHEAD AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT BODY LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT.

A YEAR AGO AT THE END OF THE SPEECH THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO DO THE STANDARD FOR OWE OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF A CONVENTION WHERE EVERYBODY RAISES THEIR ARMS IN THE AIR.

HE MUST HAVE SURPRISED THE THEN PRESIDING OFFICERS AND THERE WAS A BIT OF AN ARM WRESTLING MATCH TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD RAISE THURSDAY HANDS.

THIS YEAR THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF TENSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN MANY DECADES HERE.

BACK TO THE SCHAEFER YEARS WHERE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM MAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, REPORTEDLY TO THE OPPONENT OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND HIS RACE FOR REELECTION.

SENATE PRESIDENT AS WE'VE DISCUSSED HAS BOTTLED UP THE REDISTRICTING BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO SEE APPROVED.

THE GOVERNOR HAS A LOT OF CARDS TO PLAY.

HE HAS NATIONAL POLITICAL FIGURES LEANING ON THE SENATE PRESIDENT TO MOVE THE BILL.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE COALITION SEEMS TO BE HOLDING AS WE AWAIT THE GOVERNOR'S INTRODUCTION.

AND ANOTHER FACTOR IN THIS DISPUTE IS THE CLOCK.

BECAUSE THE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION IS TWO WEEKS FROM YESTERDAY.

AND IF THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO MOVE A BILL IF THE SENATE IS GOING TO MOVE IT MIGHT MAKE CHANGES TO IT, TIME IS BEGINNING TO RUN SHORT.

>> AND THAT IS THE WAY IT USUALLY IS.

I THINK AT THIS POINT, AGAIN, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE SIDE EXCEPT FROM SENATOR ELLIS WHO HAS TAKEN HIS STAND IN THE SENATE.

AND FROM CHARLES COUNTY WHERE HE WAS REGISTERING HIS UNUNHAPPINESS WITH THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WILL NOT BRING OUT THE BILL FOR A VOTE.

>> Jeff: SENATOR LAMB WEIGHED IN SUPPORTING SENATOR ELLIS THERE ARE 34 DELEGATES IN THE STATE SENATE.

TWO BASICALLY, SUPPORTING A CHANGE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE WOULDN'T MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.

BUT IF THE NUMBER GETS MUCH HIGHER, IT BECOMES A THREAT AND WE HAVE SEEN IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS BUT WE'VE SEEN A LEADER OF THE STATE SENATE DEPOSED.

IT WAS NOT MID-SESSION.

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAST COUPLE SECONDS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT HIS NATIONAL PROFILE.

HE IS ON THE SUNDAY NETWORK TALK SHOWS ALL THE TIME.

WIDELY RUMORED TO BE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

BUT CONSISTENTLY DECLINES ANY NATIONAL AMBITIONS AT THIS POINT.

>> HE IS NOT SHOWING HIS HAND AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN TO SAY NO, NOT INTERESTED.

>> Jeff: NOW THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, GOVERNOR WES MOORE.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS MY FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE WHILE SERVING AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS MOMENT.

BECAUSE OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER IS HOUSE SPEAKER JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK.

[APPLAUSE] SHE IS THE FIRST AFRO LATINA TO SERVE AS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND IMPORTANTLY SHE IS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT MAKING HISTORY IS NOT THE ASSIGNMENT.

MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR ALL MARYLANDERS IS.

[APPLAUSE] IT'S THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS SET BY HER PREDECESSOR SPEAKER, ADRIENNE JONES: [APPLAUSE] AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE LEGACY OF THESE TWO PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOU WILL SEE A COMMON THREAD.

THAT THREAD IS THEY ALWAYS PUT MARYLAND FIRST.

AND THE SAME GOES FOR SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MILLER.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME FOR COMPTROLLER BROOKE LEARMAN.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR TREASURER DEREK DAVIS.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL ANTHONY BROWN.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES, SENATOR AND NOW OUR SECRETARY OF STATE SUSAN LEE.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF MY CABINET.

[APPLAUSE] ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AT THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS.

[APPLAUSE] AND ALL THE MEMBERS IN THIS CHAMBER IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

[APPLAUSE] THE SAME GOES FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVED THE ONES.

AND I WANTS TO THANK MY DEAREST LOVED ONE.

THE PARTNER IN MY LIFE AND MY BEST FRIEND AND OUR STATE'S FIRST LADY, DAWN MOORE.

[APPLAUSE] NOW, THREE YEARS AGO, WE SWORN SWORE AN OATH AND THE OATH WAS TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

THAT WE WILL FIGHT FOR THE FAMILY STRUGGLING TO GET BY.

WE FIGHT FOR THE WORKER.

WHO DESERVES A RAISE AND A FAIR WAGE FOR THEIR LABOR.

WE FIGHT FOR THE CAR MECHANIC IN ST.MARY'S.

WE FIGHT FOR THE RESTAURANT OWNER.

THAT WE FIGHT FOR THE TEACHER IN BALTIMORE.

AND WE FIGHT FOR THE FARMER ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

NOW, I CANNOT AND I WILL NOT STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT I'VE GOTTEN IT ALL RIGHT.

I AM MORE SELF-AWARE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I WOULD NOT GIVE MYSELF AN A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS.

MANY OF US MET ON MY FIRST DAY WHEN I WAS THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S TAKEN TIME TO 0 BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, IT'S TAKEN TIME TO LEARN INIDANAPOLIS I AM AN OUTSIDER AT HEART AND I DO NOT SEE THAT CHANGING.

I KNOW I HAVE NOT ALWAYS MADE LIFE EASY FOR THE HOUSE OR FOR THE SENATE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE NOT MADE LIFE EASY ON EACH OTHER.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S OKAY.

BECAUSE THAT'S DEMOCRACY.

IT'S MESSY, IT'S COMBATIVE, IT'S COMPLICATED AND IT'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

THAT IS NOT A FLAW, THAT IS A FEATURE.

AND IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

NOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I REESTABLISHED THE GOVERNOR'S REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMISSION.

BECAUSE AT A TIME WHEN OTHER STATES WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING I SAID MARYLAND NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

[APPLAUSE] AND AFTER MONTHS OF WORK, THE COMMISSION PRESENTED ITS RECOMMENDATION AND THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES DEBATED IT.

THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS, AND THEN THEY PASSED THE MAP.

NOW, I KNOW THERE'S DISAGREEMENT RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

SO MY ASK IS SIMPLE: DO NOT LET THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS DIE IN THE FREE STATE, DEBATE IT, DISCUSS IT, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF NECESSARY AND PUT IT TO A VOTE.

[APPLAUSE] BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE SETTLE OUR DIFFERENCES IN MARYLAND.

WE BATTLE IDEAS RIGHTS IN THIS BUILDING.

OFTENTIMES PASSIONATELY AND THEN WE GO ACROSS THE STREET, WE SHARE A DRINK AT HOWIE BROWN'S.

AND WE GET BACK TO WORK.

UNLIKE WASHINGTON WE HAVE TO BALANCE BUDGETS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE ARE SAFE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AFTER OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT HERE WE HAVE BIG GOALS LIKENING CHILD POVERTY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] AND HERE WE DO THINGS WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT LIKE KEEPING OUR GOVERNMENT OPEN.

NOW, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A VERY PRINCIPLED DISAGREEMENT THAT I HAVE WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT ON REDISTRICTING.

WE DIVERGE ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

BUT WE BOTH CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

WE BOTH CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE ISSUES THAT WE CARE ABOUT MOST, BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON US.

[APPLAUSE] MARYLANDERS ARE SEEING FIRSTHAND HOW THIS WHITE HOUSE AGENDA IS MAKING THEIR LIVES WORSE.

BECAUSE JUST IN THE PAST YEAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FIRED AROUND 25,000 MARYLANDERS WHO HAVE FEDERAL JOBS IN OUR STATE ALONE.

OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY.

IT'S THE BIGGEST FEDERAL JOB CUT OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S DOMESTIC POLICY AGENDA COULD KICK UP TO 180,000 MARYLANDERS OFF OF HEALTHCARE.

MORE THAN 680,000 MARYLANDERS COULD SEE THEIR FOOD ASSISTANCE TAKEN AWAY.

THAT INCLUDES SENIORS, THAT INCLUDES VETERANS, THAT INCLUDES OUR CHILDREN.

WASHINGTON IS USING THIS MOMENT TO ATTACK AND TO LIMIT AND TO RETREAT.

SO IN MARYLAND, WE WILL USE THIS MOMENT TO PROTECT, DELIVER AND LEAD.

[APPLAUSE] WE WILL PROTECT OUR PEOPLE FROM THE WORST OF WASHINGTON'S CRUELTY.

WE WILL DELIVER THE KIND OF RESULTS THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL IN THEIR HOMES AND FEEL IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE WILL LEAD OUR STATE AND OUR PEOPLE UNAPOLOGETICALLY IN A WAY THAT INSPIRES THEM TO HELP MOVE MARYLAND FORWARD.

PROTECT, DELIVER, AND LEAD.

THAT'S THE ASSIGNMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

I KNOW THAT, BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE MARYLAND'S ECONOMY WAS STAGNANT.

SO WE FOCUSED ON MAKING MARYLAND THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

WE CUT THE RED TAPE.

WE LAUNCHED PROGRAMS TO GET LIQUIDITY IN THE HANDS OF ENTREPRENEURS.

WE INVESTED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

INVESTED IN OUR UNIVERSITIES, INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WE BUILT PATHWAYS TO GOOD CAREERS.

LIKE OUR FIRST IN THE NATION SERVICE YEAR OPTION HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] WE PARTNERED WITH UNIONS AND TRADES AND EMPLOYERS TO GRADUATE OVER 5,000 APPRENTICES AND GRADUATING 4,000 HIGH SCHOOLERS WITH REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS EACH YEAR BY THE END OF MY SECOND TERM.

[APPLAUSE] SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE, OUR POLICIES HAVE HELPED TO CREATE NEARLY 100,000 NEW JOBS AND MARYLAND HAS SEEN OVER 35,000 NEW BUSINESSES OPEN IN OUR STATE.

[APPLAUSE] SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE, OUR STATE SUFFERED FROM A CRISIS IN VIOLENCE.

EVEN MORE DANGEROUS, WE SUFFERED OF A CRISIS OF APATHY TO THE VIOLENCE.

THE PAIN WAS NO LONGER PIERCING.

IT WAS CHRONIC.

BALTIMORE WAS AVERAGING ALMOST A MURDER A DAY.

MARYLAND FAMILIES FROM THE WESTERN MARYLANDS TO THE EASTERN SHORE DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE WORKED.

WITH OUR LEADERS WITH FANTASTIC CITY LEADERS BY MAYOR SCOTT IN BALTIMORE.

[APPLAUSE] WE WORKED WITH STATE LEADERS LIKE CHAIR SMITH AND CHAIR BALDWIN.

[APPLAUSE] WE WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.

WE BRIDGED THE GAPS BETWEEN POLICE AND PROSECUTORS.

WE BUILT STRONG BONDS BETWEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE LAUNCHED THE ENOUGH INITIATIVE.

SO WE CAN WORK HAND IN HAND WITH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND SURGE FUNDING TO NEIGHBORHOODS MOST AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY BECAUSE HERE IS THE FACT: YOU CANNOT ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME IF YOU ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE FAILED CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE VIOLENCE IS LIVING AT.

[APPLAUSE] AND THE RESULTS?

HOMICIDES ARE DOWN NEARLY 50% STATE-WIDE AND WE ARE DELIVERING HISTORIC DROPS IN CRIME IN EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF THE STATE AND, IN FACT, THE LAST TIME THE HOMICIDE RATE WAS THIS LOW IN BALTIMORE I WAS NOT BORN YET.

[APPLAUSE] WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, THE VETERANS HOME WAS IN A STATE OF COMPLETE DISREPAIR AND MORAL DECAY.

THE STAFF WAS ABUSING VETERANS.

THE FACILITY EARNED A ONE-STAR RATING.

FROM THE CENTERS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.

SO WE RALLIED VETERANS.

AND LAWMAKERS AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO TURN CHARLOTTE HALL AROUND.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT CHARLOTTE HALL HAS GONE FROM A ONE-STAR RATED FACILITY TO A FOUR-STAR RATED FACILITY.

[APPLAUSE] AND WE'RE NOT DONE.

BECAUSE WE CAN AND WE WILL GET BACK TO A FIVE-STAR RATED FACILITY OUR VETERANS NEED IT AND DESERVE IT AND WE ARE GOING TO PRODUCE IT FOR THEM.

[APPLAUSE] AND TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY TWO ADMINISTRATORS AT CHARLOTTE HALL WHO ARE GOING TO HELP US GET IT THERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF MAKING SURE AT THAT TIME WHEN WE SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING.

COULD EMILY AND DOREEN PLEASE STAND UP TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR WORK.

[APPLAUSE] SO, LOOK, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HOW POWERFUL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS.

BUT I NEED TO REMEMBER HOW POWERFUL WE ARE.

STATE LEADERS.

CITIZENS.

PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE WHO JUST SIMPLY WANT TO MAKE THEM BETTER.

BECAUSE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER CHANGE.

WE'VE REFORMED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, CUT WAIT TIMES TO RECEIVE A STATE CONTRACT FROM MONTHS TO WEEKS AND ADVANCED OVER 4.3 BILLION DOLLARS IN PROCUREMENT AWARDS TO CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE EXPANDED CHILDCARE ACCESS.

BY 70% TO SUPPORT OVER 41,000 CHILDREN.

WE'VE CUT OVERDOSE DEATHS EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE.

AND WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN TO A 10-YEAR LOW.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE CUT ROADWAY FATALITIES BY 18%.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME ANNUAL ROADWAY FATALITIES HAVE FALLEN BELOW 500 IN A DECADE AND I GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO ARUNA MILLER FOR HER WORK TO MAKE MARYLAND'S ROADS SAFER.

[APPLAUSE] SO WE'VE DELIVERED ENORMOUS PROGRESS TOGETHER.

BUT THERE'S WORK TO DO.

FIRST, WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE FROM THE DAMAGE THAT IS BEING CAUSED BY THIS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.

THIS YEAR MARYLAND IS FILLING THE 40 MILLION DOLLAR GAP IN S.N.A.P.

FUNDING, CREATED BY DONALD TRUMP'S DOMESTIC POLICY AGENDA.

IT'S GOING TO HELP ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO RELY ON NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE DO NOT GO HUNGRY.

[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE PROPOSED $14 BILLION FOR THE STATE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM.

IT PROVIDES HEALTHCARE FOR OVER 1.4 MILLION MARYLANDERS.

AND WE'VE MADE THESE INVESTMENTS WITHOUT COMPROMISING FISCAL DISCIPLINE.

FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, WE ARE GOING TO PROVE THAT WE CAN DO MORE WITH LESS.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I'VE INTRODUCED A BALANCED BUDGET WITH A GENERAL FUND THAT IS SMALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND IN THE MOMENT WHEN PRICES ARE GOING UP ON EVERYTHING OUR PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT RAISE TAXES OR FEES ON THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

[APPLAUSE] AND AS WE WORK TO FINALIZE HIS BUDGET IN ANNAPOLIS, WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT WITH THE PEOPLE.

THE ONES WHO GOT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

LAST MONTH, I STOOD WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CAPITAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

WASHINGTON THEY TOLD US IS MAKING THEIR JOBS HARDER BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WENT FROM DATA-DRIVEN RESEARCH TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE.

SO THIS YEAR, I'VE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO DECOUPLE THE STATE'S VACCINE AUTHORITY FROM A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S BECAUSE OUR VACCINE POLICY WILL BE LED BY SCIENCE AND NOT BY INTERNET CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

[APPLAUSE] THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN IDEOLOGY.

IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE.

GIVING THE SAME SUPPORT TO OUR PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO GIVE TO OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE WILL PROTECT THEM NO MATTER WHERE THEY CALL HOME AND NO MATTER HOW THEY VOTED IN THE LAST ELECTION.

AND IT IS A PHILOSOPHY THAT I WISH THE TRUMP-VANCE ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTOOD.

BECAUSE WHEN TOWNS IN ALLEGHENY AND GARRET COUNTIES WERE HIT BY HISTORIC FLOODING, MANY IN THIS CHAMBER WERE SOME OF THE FIRST BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE STOOD WITH SENATOR McKAY.

WE STOOD WITH DELEGATE BEHIND BAU.

AND TOGETHER WE ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US RECOVER.

AND THEY SAID NO.

I APPEALED THE DECISION DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND I LET HIM KNOW THE AREA THAT HE WAS NEGLECTING WAS ONE THAT VOTED FOR HIM.

AND, AGAIN, HIS ANSWER WAS NO.

SO MARYLAND STEPPED UP.

AND SO THIS YEAR, I HAVE PROPOSED $12 MILLION TO SUPPORT FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THAT INCLUDES $1 MILLION TO REBUILD THE WESTERN PORT LIBRARY.

[APPLAUSE] WHEN OUR PEOPLE ARE IN TROUBLE, WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM.

AND THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY ARE MARYLANDERS, THEY ARE GOOD.

[APPLAUSE] I WENT TO WESTERN MARYLAND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM.

AND THE PERSON WHO WAS BY MY SIDE EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY WAS MAYOR JUDY HAMILTON.

MAYOR JUDY, IS THE MAYOR OF WESTERN PORT.

MAYOR JUDY -- [APPLAUSE] MAYOR JUDY IS A REPUBLICAN.

I AM NOT.

[LAUGHTER] BREAKING NEWS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE'RE MARYLANDERS.

JUDY IS IN THE GALLERY TODAY AND JUDY IT WAS AN HONOR TO WATCH YOU LEAD.

AND I WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN PORT AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN MARYLAND, WE HAVE YOUR BACK TODAY, WE HAVE YOUR BACK TOMORROW, AND WE WILL HAVE YOUR BACK ALWAYS.

GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] SO WE ARE ALSO CLEAR IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME PUSHING BACK ON WASHINGTON.

WE'VE GOT TO PUSH FORWARD.

WE KNOW THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR MARYLAND IS RISING COSTS.

SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ENERGY PRICES ARE NOW UP 13%.

THE PRICE OF BEEF IS UP 19%.

THE PRICE OF FERTILIZER IS UP 15% AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S NOT IN MARYLAND.

THAT'S NATIONWIDE.

THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NOW, WE CAN'T CONTROL FEDERAL TARIFF POLICY.

BUT WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO CONTAIN PRICES WHERE WE CAN, TO GROW OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE WE MUST, AND BUILD NEW PATHWAYS TO WORK AND WAGES AND WEALTH.

SO AS PRICES GO UP, WE KNOW THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A GENERATIONAL CATASTROPHE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

LAST YEAR WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE $200 MILLION IN DIRECT ENERGY REBATES TO HELP MARYLANDERS WHO WERE STRUGGLING.

AND THIS YEAR, I'VE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION WITH AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION IN ENERGY REBATES.

THAT IS $100 MILLION THAT IS GOING DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF HARD-WORKING MARYLANDERS WHO NEED IT NOW.

[APPLAUSE] BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

AND TO ALL MARYLANDERS CONCERNED ABOUT SKYROCKETING ENERGY PRICES, I'M HERE TO SAY WITH A LOUD AND COLLECTIVE VOICE WE HEAR YOU.

AND HELP IS ON THE WAY.

THAT THIS YEAR LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A THRIVING ENERGY MARKET THAT GETS MORE ENERGY TO THE GRID THAT ADDS MORE JOBS TO THE ECONOMY, AND PUTS MORE MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF WORKING FAMILIES.

LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT HERE IN MARYLAND, TOO, SO WE DON'T NEED TO RELY ON OTHER STATES TO KEEP OUR LIGHTS ON.

[APPLAUSE] IT'S TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN ON SOLAR AND WIND AND ENERGY STORAGE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE JOBS ARE AND THAT IS WHERE MANY OF THE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS ARE AS WELL.

[APPLAUSE] THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION'S COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM IS ALREADY HELPING TO ADD 78 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR TO THE GRID.

IT'S GOING TO CUT UTILITY BILLS FOR AT LEAST 10500 LOW AND MODERATE INCOME MARYLANDERS.

SO NOW, WE JUST GOT TO SCALE IT UP.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONTINUE BUILDING A DIVERSE ENERGY PORTFOLIO THAT TAKES AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH INCLUDING NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR POWER BECAUSE WE NEED MORE ENERGY AND WE NEED IT NOW.

[APPLAUSE] BUT THIS CANNOT FALL ON OUR SHOULDERS ALONE.

LET'S ENSURE THAT ENERGY AND UTILITY COMPANIES ARE JUST AS WORRIED ABOUT MARYLAND FAMILIES AS THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.

[APPLAUSE] AND LAST MONTH, I LED A COALITION OF DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

TO SIGN A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES CALLING FOR ENERGY REFORM.

WE ARE CALLING ON THE GRID OPERATOR PJM TO CAP THE PRICE OF ENERGY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALSO CALLING ON THEM TO INSENT ADVISE NEW POWER GENERATION AND ENSURE THAT DATA CENTERS WILL COVER THE PRICE TAG WHEN THEY STRAIN THE GRID.

[APPLAUSE] AND TODAY, I AM ANNOUNCING THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MY SUPPORT, NEW DATA CENTER PROJECTS MUST HIRE LOCAL WORKERS, THEY MUST ENGAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES AND THEY MUST COVER THE COST OF THEIR OWN POWER NEEDS.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY AND INNOVATION.

WE CAN AND WE WILL LEAD IN BOTH.

BECAUSE THE WORLD IS CHANGING FAST.

AND WE NEED TO CHANGE WITH IT.

A FEW YEARS AGO, A.I.

COULD BARELY PUT TOGETHER A COHERENT SENTENCE.

AND TODAY, JUST TO PROVE A POINT, I WROTE THIS SPEECH IN CHAT GPT.

[LAUGHTER] I'M PLAYING I DIDN'T DO THAT.

BUT WE ARE STILL FIGURING OUT BOTH THE POWER AND THE PERIL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

IT CAN FEEL SCARY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED A BROAD-BASED STRATEGY.

NOT JUST FOR GOVERNMENT: BUT FOR ALL OF SOCIETY.

SO FIRST, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WORKERS ARE NOT BEING LEFT BEHIND BY A.I.

[APPLAUSE] MARYLAND'S LABOR MOVEMENT UNDERSTANDS THIS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T STOP TECHNOLOGY.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WORKERS ARING WITH SUPPORTED NOT SUPPLANTED.

[APPLAUSE] SO TODAY I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT MARYLAND IS INVESTING $4 MILLION TO GIVE OUR WORKERS HANDS ON TRAINING TO SUCCEED IN THE A.I.

ECONOMY SO THEY ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND.

[APPLAUSE] BUT WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.

WE NEED EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS AT THE TABLE TO HELP DESIGN THESE PROGRAMS AND BUILD THE PIPELINES TO OPPORTUNITIES.

ANNAPOLIS CAN HELP LEAD THE WAY BUT I'M CALLING ON OUR ENTIRE STATE TO GET INVOLVED INSIDE OF THIS WORK.

SECOND, WE MUST USE A.I.

TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.

MARYLAND IS LEADING ON THIS ISSUE.

A.I.

WILL SOON BE USED TO HELP MARYLANDERS NAVIGATE S.N.A.P., MEDICAID, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES.

LEADERS ARE TAKING NOTICE FOUNDATIONS ARE STEPPING UP.

AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO PROVE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN USE A.I.

TO DELIVER BETTER RESULTS.

AND THIRD, WE MUST ENSURE THAT A.I.

IS A TOOL TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

A.I.

COMPANIES WANT TO MOVE TO MARYLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN THE WORLD.

[APPLAUSE] AND SINCE WE HAVE ASSETS THEY WILL BRING THE JOBS.

THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO HELP US LIFT THE DREAMS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

AND IT MUST.

SUPPORT OF BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES LAUNCHED A NEW POWER TOOL TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS NAVIGATE THIS LAB RINT OF DATA, GRANT PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT RESOURCES THAT CAN MAKE STARTING A BUSINESS JUST A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

IT IS A CASE STUDY HOW WE CAN USE A.I.

TO MAKE OPPORTUNITY MORE ACCESSIBLE.

AND NOT LESS ACCESSIBLE.

THOSE ARE THE THREE PILLARS.

SUPPORT OUR WORKERS, BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND MAKE SURE THAT MARYLAND BENEFITS FROM THE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

A.I.

IS GOING TO HELP US TO DRO AND DIVERSIFY MARYLAND'S ECONOMY AND OUR FOCUS ON THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, IS PART OF A BROADER ECONOMIC AGENDA TO UPLIFT THREE LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES THAT MARYLAND IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO WIN AT.

IT, LIFE SCIENCES, AND AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE.

AND HERE IS THE THING... OUR STRATEGY IS WORKING.

IN THREE YEARS, WE HAVE ATTRACTED MORE THAN 10 BILLION DOLLARS IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE SECURED NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH MICROSOFT TO BUILD OUR $1 BILLION CAPITAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE, SOUTH KOREA'S LARGEST BIOTECH COMPANY IS BUILDING THE FIRST AMERICAN MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY ASTRAZENECA MADE THE SINGLE LARGEST PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY THE $2 BILLION COMMITMENT WILL CREATE 2600 JOBS IN FREDERICK AND MONTGOMERY COUNTYIES.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALSO PROUD THE NATIONAL HARBOR WILL BECOME THE THIRD LOCATION FOR THE NEW SPHERE PERFORMANCE VENUE IN THE WORLD AFTER LAS VEGAS AND ABU DHABI.

IT IS GOING TO CREATE AND GENERATE MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR WHEN IT IS COMPLETED AND EACH OF THESE PROJECTS HAPPENED BECAUSE INDUSTRY CHOSE MARYLAND.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE SPHERE TEAM.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS SPHERE PROJECT.

CONNIE EXECUTIVE BRAYBOY AND JOHN PETERSON WHOSE COMPANY OWNS NATIONAL HARBOR.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE.

[APPLAUSE] WE WILL NOT LOSE SLEEP HOW OTHER STATES ARE MOVING.

LET'S MAKE SURE THEY LOSE SLEEP OUT WE'RE MOVING.

WHEN WE GROW OUR ECONOMY, PEOPLE WILL WANT TO MOVE HERE AND LIVE HERE.

AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

MARYLAND'S POPULATION IS GROWING FASTER NOW THAN IT HAS IN A DECADE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

MORE PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING MARYLAND AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

YET, WE NEED A HOUSING SUPPLY THAT MATCHES OUR ASPIRATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] WE CANNOT AND WE WILL NOT GET THERE BY SIMPLY CAPPING PRICES AND PRAYING FOR THE BEST.

THAT IS NEITHER SUSTAINABLE NOR SMART.

THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE AND IT IS SINGULAR WE NEED TO BUILD.

LAST FISCAL YEAR WE PROVIDED FUNDING TO BUILD 4,000 NEW RENTAL HOUSING UNITS.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PRODUCTION SUPPORTED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC.

[APPLAUSE] THIS YEAR WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AS A PATHWAY TO OPPORTUNITY BOTH FOR INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO FOR OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY.

A KEYSTONE OF MY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS THE MARYLAND TRANSIT AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2026.

AND THE IDEA IS SIMPLE: MARYLANDERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FROM WHERE THEY LIVE TO WHERE THEY WORK.

[APPLAUSE] SO LET'S BUILD MORE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT.

AND LET'S INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES.

[APPLAUSE] SO RECENTLY, I SAT DOWN WITH U.S.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY AND WE BOTH AGREE THAT BUILDING BIG GREAT THINGS SHOULDN'T BE IMPOSSIBLE IN AMERICA.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE THE AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE.

I'M TALKING LIKE PROJECTS LIKE THE REBUILD OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE THE FASTEST LARGE REBUILD IN THE UNITED STATES.

[APPLAUSE] THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS FIRSTHAND IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

MAKING TRANSIT AND BRIDGES AND ROADS AND TUNNELS AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFER AND CLEANER AND STRONGER.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE I-81 AND U.S.

15.

I'M TALKING ABOUT SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ON 97 AND MARYLAND 5.

I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR HISTORIC $1.4 BILLION PROJECT TO MODERNIZE BALTIMORE'S LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM.

[APPLAUSE] THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO ACTUALLY DELIVER.

SO WE'RE DELIVERING.

ON ENERGY REFORM, EVEN WHEN WASHINGTON TRIES TO CUT CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS, WE'RE DELIVERING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION EVEN WHEN WASHINGTON SLASHES OUR LEGACY ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS.

AT A TIME WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS TEARING APART THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, MARYLAND IS DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISE TO HAVE THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

[APPLAUSE] AND THAT WORK IS BEING LED BY A VERY IMPORTANT MARYLANDER WHO GOES BY MANY NAMES.

SOME OF YOU KNOW HER AS THE ARCHITECT OF THE MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE.

MANY PEOPLE CALL HER THE LEBRON JAMES OF K-12 EDUCATION.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE SHE IS 6'8".

IT'S BECAUSE SHE IS OUTSTANDING.

I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, Dr.

CARRIE WRIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] UNDER HER LEADERSHIP ALMOST EVERY SINGLE GRADE IS MAKING MARKED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BOTH READING AND MATH.

MARYLAND'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE IMPROVED FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

OUR GRADUATION RATES ARE UP AND MARYLAND IS QUICKLY BECOMING A NATIONAL LEADER IN EARLY LITERACY JUMPING 20 SLOTS IN NATIONAL RANKINGS IN JUST TWO YEARS.

[APPLAUSE] AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER SUCH STRONG RESULTS, IS BY FOCUSING ON TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

IN THREE YEARS, WE HAVE CUT THE TEACHER VACANCY RATE IN HALF.

TODAY, WE ARE JOINED BY THREE MARYLANDERS WHO EMBODY THE PROMISE OF RECRUITING THE BEST EDUCATOR WORKFORCE IN THE WORLD.

DANIELLE IS A HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR WITH ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ME IS ON THE FRONTLINES OF PROVIDING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP TO THE STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

ALANA.

IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER IN FREDERICK.

BY THE WAY SHE DOESN'T JUST TEACH IN THE COUNTY SHOW KNOWS THE -- SHE KNOWS THE COUNTY.

SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELORS AND MASTERS DEGREE FROM HOOD COLLEGE.

[APPLAUSE] MANY AND Dr.

RYAN DOOR IS THE PRINCIPAL OF KNEE HIGH SCHOOL IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

HE IS COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND HAS INCREASED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS SCORES BY 13 POINTS.

[APPLAUSE] SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO DANIELLE, TO RYAN AND ALANA OUR NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR OUR MARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND OUR MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

[APPLAUSE] MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID THAT IF YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR, YOU'LL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR THEM.

SO LET'S KEEP FIGHTING FOR BOTH MARYLAND STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS.

WHERE THIS YEAR WE ARE PROPOSING AN HISTORIC $10 BILLION FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THESE ARE TARGETED INVESTMENTS THAT WILL DELIVER REAL RESULTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE FOUNDATION AND THE FOUNDATION OF OUR APPROACH IS A NEW ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM.

ANY GOOD TEACHER WILL TELL YOU THAT LEARNING IS A LIFELONG PURSUIT.

WE BUILD A TIGER TEAM OF COACHES THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT MARYLAND EDUCATORS HAVE THE TOOLS, THE LESSONS AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE OUR CLASSROOMS THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

[APPLAUSE] BECAUSE I WANT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE CAREER READY BEFORE THEY EVEN GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

AND WHEN YOUNG MARYLANDERS WALK ACROSS A GRADUATION STAGE, I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT OUR STATE IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THEM.

WHETHER THEY WERE BORN HERE, OR BORN HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW MARYLAND NEEDS TO LEAD IN THIS MOMENT, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE STANDING WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

[APPLAUSE] MANY MARYLANDERS ARE TERRIFIED.

THEY WORRY ABOUT GETTING DETAINED WHEN THEY SHOW UP FOR WORK.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT FEDERAL AGENTS ARE WAITING FOR THEM.

WHEN THEY DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL.

LET ME SAY THIS PLAINLY... MARYLAND IS A STATE OF IMMIGRANTS AND THAT IS NOT OUR WEAKNESS, THAT IS OUR STRENGTH.

[APPLAUSE] NEARLY ONE IN FIVE MARYLANDERS WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.

OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CAME TO AMERICA FROM INDIA WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN.

I'M STANDING HERE AS THE SON OF AN IMMIGRANT SINGLE MOM.

SHE CAME HERE AS A CHILD WITH A JAMAICAN ACCENT.

AND NOW SHE GETS TO WATCH HER SON SERVE AS GOVERNOR OF A STATE THAT HE LOVES.

[APPLAUSE] I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT MARYLANDERS FROM THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS OF SOME FEDERAL AGENTS THIS SESSION.

WORKING TOGETHER I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO HOLD FEDERAL AGENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION AND HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED TO MAKE SURE THEY ALSO GET THEIR JUSTICE.

[APPLAUSE] THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT I HAVE NO PATIENCE NOR TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

AND OUR EXTRAORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN IN MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING VIOLENT CRIMINALS OFF OF OUR STREETS.

BUT... [APPLAUSE] BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION.

[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STOPPING BAD ACTORS FROM PREYING ON IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

LIKE CON MEN WHO ARE POSING LIKE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.

AND GRIFTERS WHO ARE CHARGING FOR PHONY LEGAL ADVICE.

AND I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL ANTHONY BROWN FOR AGREEING TO WORK WITH US ON THIS PRIORITY.

Mr.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

[APPLAUSE] AND TODAY I'M ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF CITIZENSHIP MARYLAND.

IT BRINGS TOGETHER LAW FIRMS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND UNIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT MARYLANDERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CITIZENSHIP KNOW THAT THEY ARE.

AND CAN GET THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED.

IT'S ABOUT HELPING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR NURSES.

IT'S ABOUT HELPING OUR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS.

AND OUR PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

THE PEOPLE WHO HELP TO KEEP US FED, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING SMALL BUSINESSES, THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK AFTER OUR CHILDREN, THE PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER OUR PARENTS.

IT'S ABOUT HELPING THE 150,000 MARYLANDERS WHO JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT TO GET THEIR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.

THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS, THEY ARE OUR FELLOW MARYLANDERS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE DANIEL OMAR.

PASTOR OMAR FLED HONDURAS 24 YEARS AGO.

TO ESCAPE POVERTY AND VIOLENCE.

HE BUILT A LIFE HERE.

HE BUILT A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HERE.

AND HE STEPPED UP TO SERVE AS PASTOR AT A CHURCH IN THE EASTERN SHORE.

IN THE SPRING, PASTOR OMAR WATCHED HIS SON GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ALSO GAVE THE EULOGY OF ONE OF HIS SON'S BEST FRIENDS ALL WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

AND THEN SOON AFTER THAT, PASTOR OMAR WAS ABDUCTED AND DETAINED BY I.C.E.

THEY TOOK HIM FROM HIS FAMILY.

THEY PUT HIM IN A DETENTION FACILITY IN LOUISIANA.

THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME.

BUT THE COMMUNITY STEPPED UP.

THEY FOUGHT FOR HIS RELEASE.

AND PASTOR OMAR IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

PASTOR OMAR... [APPLAUSE] PASTOR OMAR, [SPEAKING SPANISH] YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN MARYLAND NOW AND ALWAYS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

[APPLAUSE] MARYLAND IS A MOSAIC OF BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES.

THAT HAS BEEN TRUE FOR 250 YEARS.

AND OVER THE NEXT 11 MONTHS, WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THAT HISTORY.

TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY MICHELLE JOHNSON, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 250 COMMISSION.

[APPLAUSE] SHE IS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS.

A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE, AND SHE'S DEDICATED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE CHASE THEIR DREAMS.

AND SHE'S HELPING US TELL MARYLAND'S STORY.

MARYLAND'S STORY THAT IS DEEPLY UNEVEN.

WE ARE THE NORTHERN MOST SOUTHERN STATE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE THE SITE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES.

CIVIL WAR IT WAS NOT IN TENNESSEE OR ALABAMA OR SOUTH CAROLINA IT WAS MARYLAND.

ENSLAVED PEOPLE BUILT THIS CAPITOL DOME.

[APPLAUSE] AND I LOVE OUR FLAG AND TO BE CLEAR IT AIN'T CHANGING.

[APPLAUSE] BUT NEITHER ARE THE FACTS.

OUR FLAG IS BY DEFINITION A CONTRADICTION.

A COMBINATION OF SYMBOLS AND IDEAS THAT WERE DIE METRICLY OPPOSED.

A CONTRADICTION.

IN THE CASE OF OUR FLAG, ONE CIVIL WAR AND THAT IS NOT A BAD THING.

IT'S JUST SIMPLY A REMINDER THAT MARYLAND IS COMPLICATED.

AND SOME THAT ARE TWISTING THE TRUTH TO DIVIDE US, USING A SYMBOL WE ALL LOVE?

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER MARYLAND CANNOT LOSE.

[APPLAUSE] EVERY TIME OUR NATION HAS BEEN TESTED, OUR STATE HAS ANSWERED THAT CHALLENGE WITH STRENGTH.

IT'S MARYLANDERS LIKE WILLIAM WILLIAMS WHO WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY IN 1793 AND ESCAPED BONDAGE DEFENDING AMERICA IN THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE AND FOUGHT FOR OUR NATION'S FREEDOM EVEN IF OUR NATION WAS NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR HIS.

IT'S MARYLANDERS LIKE AUGUSTUS BRADFORD, MY PREDECESSOR.

WHO WAS THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, RAIDERS BURNED HIS HOUSE TO THE GROUND.

BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T JOIN THE CONFEDERACY.

BUT MARYLAND HELD THE LINE.

AND THE UNION WON THE WAR.

IT'S MARYLANDERS LIKE GWENDOLYN GREEN, SHE RALLIED WITH STUDENTS FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY, MARYLANDERS' FIFTH HBCU.

AND STAGED A PROTEST IN THE PARK ON JUNE 30TH, 1960.

THE PARK WAS WHITES ONLY.

GREEN WAS ARRESTED.

BUT HER COURAGE EMBOLDENED CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT, SO MUCH, THAT FOUR YEARS LATER, PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT INTO LAW.

AND I KNOW MANY IN THIS CHAMBER PROBABLY KNOW HER BY A DIFFERENT NAME.

IT'S THE NAME THAT SITS BELOW HER PORTRAIT IN THE MILLER OFFICE BUILDING I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LATE, GREAT, SENATOR CAROLYN BRIT.

[APPLAUSE] I APOLOGIZE, GWENDOLYN BRIT I GOT FACT CHECKED FROM BOTH SIDES CHAT GPT WOULDN'T HAVE CAUGHT THAT.

THE STORY OF MARYLAND IS THE STORY OF COURAGE.

IT IS A STORY OF COURAGE IN THE FACE OF HARDSHIP.

IT IS A WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT IS DIFFICULT.

IT IS A FAITH THAT SERVICE DOES MATTER.

IT IS A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

IT CONTINUES IN THE SCIENTISTS WHO HELP US TO DISCOVER THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

IN THE FEDERAL WORKERS WHO HELPED TO KEEP OUR FOOD SAFE AND WHO HELP TO KEEP OUR PLANES IN THE AIR.

AND THE ENGINEERS WHO BUILT A TELESCOPE THAT CAN SEE PLANETS 13 BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY.

IT IS THE COURAGE OF THE FOUR MARYLAND OLYMPIANS WHO RIGHT NOW ARE REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS.

[APPLAUSE] THIS MOMENT HAS FOUND ALL OF US.

WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING TOWARD IT NOT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS BUT FOR THE PAST 250.

IT IS A MOMENT THAT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT 250 YEARS TO COME.

AND TOGETHER IF WE STAY TRUE TO THE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE, IF WE STAY TRUE TO OUR STATE, IF WE PROTECT, IF WE DELIVER AND IF WE LEAD, I KNOW WE WILL BUILD THE KIND OF FUTURE THAT THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US TAUGHT FOR AND THOSE THAT COME AFTER US THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ALL YOU DO.

LET'S KEEP UP THE WORK AND KEEP UP THE FAITH AND LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND IN THIS PROCESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.

[APPLAUSE] >> Jeff: NOW, THE REPUBLICAN VIEW OF THE STATE OF OUR STATE, FROM SENATOR STEVE HERSHEY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M SENATOR STEVE HERSHEY PROUD TO REPRESENT MARYLAND'S UPTER SHORE AND HONORED TO SERVE AS SENATE MINORITY LEADER ON BEHALF OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

EARLIER TODAY YOU HEARD GOVERNOR MOORE DELIVER HIS FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND OUTLINED HIS VISION FOR MARYLAND.

AS REPUBLICANS WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND BECAUSE VISION MATTERS.

BUT AS THIS GOVERNOR ENTERS HIS FOURTH YEAR IN OFFICE, MARYLANDER ARE ENTITLED TO MORE THAN VISION.

RESULTS MATTER MORE.

THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST STATE OF THE STATE WAS GRAND, THE SECOND AMBITIOUS, AND THE THIRD HOPEFUL.

NOW, MARYLANDERS ARE ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION: WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED?

THE FAMILIES MORE SECURE?

IS LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE?

IS IT EASIER TO WORK, LIVE, BUILD IN MARYLAND FOR MANYrd MARYLANDERS THE ANSWER IS KNOW.

ON THE EASTERN SHORE PEOPLE DON'T ASK MUCH FROM GOVERNMENT THEY WORK HARD, THEY BUDGET CAREFULLY AND PLAY BY THE RULES BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME SOMETHING I HEAR ACROSS OUR STATE THAT IT'S GETTING HARDER TO KEEP UP, HARDER TO PLAN AND HARDER TO STAY IN MARYLAND.

WHEN ENERGY BILLS SPIKE, WHEN GROCERIES RISE, WHEN TAXES GROW, FAMILIES FEEL IT IMMEDIATELY.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE MAKING LIFE HARDER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DOING FORT RIGHT.

GOVERNOR MOORE SAID DEMOCRATS CANNOT BE THE PARTY OF SLOW AND NO.

BUT MUST BECOME THE PARTY OF YES AND NOW.

THOSE ARE HIS WORDS AND THEY ARE THE RIGHT WORDS BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, ADDRESS HOUSING SHORTAGES, LOWER THE COST OF LIVING AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY, THEN GOVERNMENT HAS TO ALLOW THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN AND NOT STAND IN THE WAY.

BUT FOUR YEARS LATER, MARYLANDERS ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE THE YES, AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE NOW.

THE BARRIERS TO PROGRESS IN MARYLAND ISN'T A LACK OF SLOGANS, IT IS A LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH.

MARYLANDERS DON'T WANT HEADLINES THEY WANT RESULTS.

THEY WANT A GOVERNOR WHO CAN POINT TO REGULATIONS ELIMINATED, COSTS LOWERED AND OBSTACLES REMOVED THE THEY WANT A GOVERNOR TO SAY THIS IS WHAT I DID TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

NO ONE NEEDS' SPREAD SHEET TO KNOW MARYLAND'S BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE.

FAMILIES SEE IT ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS AND ENRAGED WHEN THEY RENEW A VEHICLE REGISTRATION THESE COSTS ARE NOT ACCIDENTAL THEY ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF DECISIONS MADE HERE IN ANNAPOLIS.

MARYLANDERS HAVE BEEN TAXED MORE THE COST OF LIVING IS HIGHER AND THE RELIEF IS PROMISED BUT RARELY DELIVERED.

AFTER THREE YEARS, MARYLANDERS ARE ASKING WHY DOES IT FEEL HARDER NOT EASIER TO GET BY?

ONE OF THE CLEAREST EXAMPLES OF FAILED DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS ENERGY POLICY.

MARYLANDERS NOW PAY SOME OF THE HIGHEST ELECTRIC RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

NOT BECAUSE OF STORMS, NOT BECAUSE OF GLOBAL MARKETS, BUT BECAUSE OF POLITICAL DECISIONS MADE IN ANNAPOLIS.

THIS ADMINISTRATION SHUT DOWN RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE GENERATION WHILE FORCING MARYLAND TO DEPEND ON OUT OF STATE POWER.

POWER WE NOW BUY AT HIGHER PRICES.

WE'VE REPLACED COMMON SENSE ENERGY POLICY WITH MANDATES THAT SOUND GOOD IN PRESS RELEASES BUT HIT FAMILIES IN THEIR WALLETS EVERY MONTH.

RELIABLE ENERGY WAS SACRIFICED, AFFORDABILITY WAS IGNORED AND MARYLANDERS ARE PAYING THE PRICE.

MARYLAND'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS TIED TO A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

SPENDING HAS GROWN FASTER THAN REVENUES, HARD CHOICES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED AND FISCAL DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY EMPTY ASSURANCES.

NOW WE FACE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WHEN THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL INHERIT LIGHTLY EXCEEDING $3 BILLION ANNUALLY.

AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND IT WON'T BE FIXED WITH SPEECHES.

MARYLANDERS DESERVE LEADERSHIP WILLING TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS NOT KICK PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

GOVERNOR MOORE HAS DESCRIBED MARYLAND ASSATEAGUE ISLAND SET RICH AND STRATEGY POOR.

HE'S RIGHT.

AFTER THREE YEARS IN OFFICE MARYLANDERS ARE LEFT ASKING THE OBVIOUS: WHERE IS THE STRATEGY?

MARYLAND IS STILL ASSET RICH, WE HAVE WORLD CLASS WORKERS, STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHY, TOP UNIVERSITIES, PORTS, AGRICULTURE, LIFE SCIENCES AND INNOVATION.

WHAT MARYLANDERS DON'T SEE IS A CLEAR PLAN TO GROW, PROTECT, AND LEVERAGE THOSE STRENGTHS.

BECAUSE IF WE HAD A STRATEGY, WE WOULDN'T BE FACING A MASSIVE BUDGET SHORTFALL, AFFORDABILITY WOULDN'T BE GETTING WORSE AND BUSINESSES WOULDN'T BE QUESTIONING WHETHER MARYLAND WANTS THEM TO STAY.

CALLING MARYLAND ASSET RICH AND STRATEGY POOR MAY HAVE BEEN HONEST ON DAY ONE.

AFTER THREE YEARS IT'S BECOME AN INDICTMENT OF INACTION.

IF MARYLAND WANTS TO COMPETE WE HAVE TO STOP MAKING IT HARDER TO SUCCEED HERE.

MARYLAND IS ALREADY AMONG THE MOST HEAVILY REGULATED STATES IN THE NATION.

UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN NOT SHRUNK.

SMALL BUSINESSES SEE UNCERTAIN TAX POLICY AND UNPREDICTABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND A GROWING DEFICIT.

AND THEY ASK A FAIR QUESTION: IS MARYLAND TRULY OPEN FOR BUSINESS?

REPUBLICANS BELIEVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO LESS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE, BUT BECAUSE MARYLANDERS ARE READY TO BUILD, INVEST AND GROW IF GOVERNMENT WILL SIMPLY STAY OUT OF THE WAY.

THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF REACTION TO NATIONAL HEADLINES.

LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT CHASING HEADLINES IT'S ABOUT DOING THE HARD WORK, CONSISTENTLY, RESPONSIBLY AND WITH CLEAR DIRECTION.

MARYLAND DOESN'T NEED A GOVERNOR FOCUSED ON WHAT IS NEXT POLITICALLY.

MARYLAND NEEDS A GOVERNOR FOCUSED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR MARYLAND NOW.

AFTER FOUR STATE OF THE STATE SPEECHES PEOPLE WANT PROOF NOT PROMISES.

MARYLAND STANDS THE A CROSSROADS.

WE ARE A STATE WITH EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, UNMATCHED ASSETS AND LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

BUT POTENTIAL ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.

WHAT MATTERS IS LEADERSHIP THAT MAKES HARD DECISIONS, LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS FAMILIES FIRST, LEADERSHIP THAT FOCUSES ON EVERYDAY CHALLENGES, MARYLAND FAMILIES FACE AFFORDABILITY, ENERGY COSTS, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY.

NOT HEADLINES.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT RISING COSTS AS INEVITABLE AND GROWTH GOVERNMENT THAT GROWS WHILE FAMILIES STRUGGLE AND WE DON'T TO ACCEPT A FUTURE WITH MARYLAND BECOMING LESS COMPETITIVE EVERY YEAR.

REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO LEAD WITH YES AND ACT WITH NOW.

YES TO AFFORDABILITY.

YES TO ACCOUNTABILITY.

YES TO RELIABLE AFFORDABLE ENERGY.

YES TO AN ECONOMY THAT GROWS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS IT TO GROW.

BUT YES AND NOW MUST BE AN ACTION NOT APPLAUSE LINES OUR BEST DAYS ARE NOT BEHIND US BUT THEY WILL ONLY BE AHEAD OF US IF WE DHUS A NEW DIRECTION.

MARYLAND DESERVES LEADERSHIP.

REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO LEAD WITH COMMON SENSE, REAL SOLUTIONS AND A FOCUS ON RESULTS.

MARYLANDERS DESERVE NOTHING LESS.

THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: WE WILL HAVE A FULL WRAP UP AFTER WE GET THE STATE HOUSE FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.