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

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: WHO DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE?

>> YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GRACE LET THOSE FAMILIES HAVE THAT GRACE.

>> I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT OPPOSE A JUDGE LOOKING AT THESE FACTORS >> Jeff: CUTS OR TAXES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

>> THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET TO BALANCE.

>> TRYING TO TAX OUR WAY FORWARD, IS NOT A SOLUTION.

>> Jeff: AND POWER PROBLEMS.

>> TO SAVE RATEPAYERS MONEY WE WANT TO HAVE IT.

>> THEY WANT TO SEE RELIEF TO RATEPAYERS.

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

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

THE BIG STORY AROUND "STATE CIRCLE" THIS WEEK IS DOWN TO THE WIRE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING A FINAL AGREEMENT ON SPENDING CUTS AND TAX INCREASES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

AS SUE COPPIN REPORTS BOTH BODIES MUST RATIFY THE DEAL BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION ON MONDAY.

>> THIS BUDGET AND WHAT I'VE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS THAT THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE WILL DO THIS YEARN THIS IS THE HARDEST CHOICE WE WILL HEADACHE BECAUSE IT IS A DOWN PAYMENT ON OUR FUTURE.

>> BILL FERGUSON CALLING THE BUDGET PROCESS A HERCULEAN MOMENT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PRINTING OUR OWN MONEY WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD CHOICES TO PAL THE BUDGET.

>> THE SENATOR SAID WHILE REPUBLICANS DID VOTE FOR THE BUDGET IF RECENT YEARS.

>> THIS IS A YEAR I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET BUT WE APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED WORK IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE $68 BILLION INCLUDED 2 BILLION IN CUTS AND 1.6 BILLION IN NEW TAXES A NEW 3% SALES TAX ON DATA, AND SOFTWARE PUBLISHING.

>> PUBLISHING THIS IS LIKE LAUNCHING THE NEW COKE.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE HUGE IMPLICATIONS WE WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR SAYING YEAH, YOU KNOW THAT CODE THAT WE PASSED WE NEED TO FIX THAT AND FINE-TUNE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE DRIVING THE BUSINESSES OUT OF THE STATE.

>> TRYING TO TAX OUR WAY FORWARD IS NOT A SOLUTION.

WE'VE GOT THIS RESOURCES THERE'S A LOT OF STRONG BUSINESSES, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.

IGNORING THOSE AND RELYING ON TAXES IS NOT A WAY INTO THE FUTURE.

>> BUT SENATOR ARGUED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE IS A FOCUS OF THIS BUDGET.

>> WE KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

WHICH IS WHY IN THIS BUDGET WE PUT IN THE TRUMP TRIGGERS AND THE TRUMP RECESSION TRIGGERS.

SO THAT AS MORE FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS COME, AND THE ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN, AND OUR FISCAL PROBLEMS GROW, WE'VE ASKED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OUR ADMINISTRATION IN ANNAPOLIS, THE SECRETARY OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT IDENTIFY THE ATTACKS ON MARYLAND'S BUDGET AND ECONOMY AND COME TO THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE WITH PLANS TO DEAL WITH THEM.

>> WE ARE IN A NEED CRISIS WE NEED TO FOCUS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE NOT OUR WANTS.

WHEN WE CAN DO THAT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A BUDGET AND BALANCE A BUDGET THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT TAXES AND WITHOUT INCREASES.

AND THAT'S WHAT MARYLANDERS ARE EXPECTING US TO DO.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON.

>> THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET THERE TO BALANCE?

FUNDAMENTALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY UNLIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE MARYLAND MUST BALANCE ITS BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD CHOICES TO GET THROUGH THIS YEAR TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

>> THE SENATE DID MUCH BETTER THAN THE HOUSE.

I BELIEVE WE DID A GOOD JOB.

BUT DID WE DO ENOUGH?

MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE WE COULD HAVE DID MORE.

>> AT THE STATE HOUSE SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: CONSTITUENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIGH UTILITY BILLS ARE BEHIND A PLAN TO OFFER SHORT-TERM AND LONGER LEARN RELIEF.

CHARLES ROBINSON WITH THE STORY.

>> PROVISIONS THAT ARE CENTERED ON RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, IN STATE ENERGY AND IT LOOKS TO DO SO IN THE NEAR TERM, THE MIDTERM AND THE LONG-TERM.

>> YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE INCREASE IN UTILITY COSTS AS WE SAW AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.

AND THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK TO JUST TRADITIONAL RATE MAKING.

>> MARYLAND ONCE THE LEADER IN ENERGY CREATION, HAS TAKEN A BACKSEAT.

SENATE PRESIDENT 937, THE -- SENATE BILL 937, WOULD LIKE FOR THE STATE TO GET BACK IN THE CREATION OF ENERGY.

ACCORDING TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT, THE BILL IS ONE OF THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL LOOK AT HOW.

THE BILL HAS BEEN A MAGNET FOR THOSE WANTING TO MODIFY OR KILL THE MEASURE.

THIS WEEK ALONE, A GROUP CLAIMING TO WANT MORE OPTIONS ON CHOOSING UTILITIES WITHIN ANNAPOLIS.

A MOOD TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR RATEPAYERS GAINED TRACTION IN THE LAST WEEK.

THE BIGGER QUESTION: WOULD RATEPAYERS GET A ONE-TIME BREAK OR BREAK OVER SEVERAL YEARS?

>> THE CONCERN, I THINK, FROM THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT, ARE THEY WANT TO SEE SOME TYPE OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO RATEPAYERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE REALITY OF THIS IS, THIS IS MONEY THAT THE RATEPAYERS HAVE ALREADY PAID INTO THE SYSTEM THROUGH HIGHER RATES.

AND THEY ARE RETURNING BACK THESE OVERPAYMENTS TO THE RATEPAYERS.

AND ONCE WE'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT THE NUMBER ACTUALLY WOULD BE, IT BECOMES ABOUT $40 TWICE A YEAR.

A TOTAL OF $80 BUT IT'S NOT PERMANENT.

IT'S NOT ANNUAL AND NOT RATE RELIEF THE RETURN OF OVERPAYMENTS THAT UTILITY CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY MADE.

>> COLLEAGUES I ASK THAT WE RESIST THIS AMENDMENT FOR THE REASONS THAT IF IT IS DONE IN THE PROPER WAY, IN THE SAME WAY WE DO THIS IN OUR OWN HOMES, IF WE ARE ABLE TO PLAN FORWARD OVER THE COURSE OF A SET OF THREE YEARS, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PLANS RIGHT, ABLE TO SAVE MONEY VERSUS US BEING IN A REACTIVE MODE.

WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IS FOR THEM TO SORT OF USE US AS A PIGGY BANK BUT IF THEY ARE ABLE TO USE IT IN A RIGHT WAY WE WANT THE TOOL ON THE TABLE BECAUSE IF THEY CAN SAVE RATEPAYERS MONEY WE WANT IT.

>> WHAT IS IN AND OUT ON THE ENERGY LEGISLATION?

THE STATE WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY SUBSIDIES FOR TRASH INCINERATORS.

TRANSMISSION LINES WILL ALSO GET UPGRADES.

OUT: THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO USE RECONCILIATION TO CHALLENGE RATE INCREASES.

IN ANNAPOLIS I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: A SMALL CRACK IN DEMOCRATIC UNITY ON A CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE TO ALLOW THE EARLY RELEASE OF CERTAIN INMATES CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

NANCY AMATA REPORTS.

>> THOSE WHO ATTACK, THOSE WHO WOULD MURDER OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

>> SENATOR JACK BAILEY IMPLORES LAWMAKERS TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND LOOK BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE INCARCERATED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO ASK A JUDGE TO REVIEW AND POSSIBLY REDUCE THEIR SENTENCES.

SENATOR BAILEY'S AMENDMENT WOULD EXCLUDE ANYONE WHO KILLED A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR FIRST-RESPONDER.

>> THIS AMENDMENT IS MEANT TO RESPECT THE JOB OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, THEIR FAMILIES, TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS, TO PROTECT THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS, SO THAT THEY NEVER HAVE TO RELIVE THIS TRAGEDY.

>> THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

>> SENATOR BAILEY'S AMENDMENT PASSED DESPITE THE SPONSOR ARGUING HIS BILL WAS NOT AN AUTOMATIC SENTENCE REDUCTION AFTER TWO DECADES.

A JUDGE WOULD HAVE A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO CONSIDER.

THE PERSON HAS TO BE 18-25 YEARS OF AGE WHEN THE ACT WAS COMMITTED.

A JUDGE WILL LOOK AT THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE AND THE HISTORY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE PERSON'S BEHAVIOR WHILE INCARCERATED.

>> NUMBER FOUR WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL HAS COMPLETED AN EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL OR OTHER PROGRAM.

NUMBER FIVE, WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL HAS DEMONSTRATED MATURITY, REHABILITATION, AND FITNESS TO REENTER SOCIETY SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY A SENTENCE REDUCTION.

>> SEX OFFENDERS AND ANYONE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO GET A SECOND LOOK.

PROPONENTS SAY THE BILL WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD REFORMING A SYSTEM WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ARRESTED AND INCARCERATED AT FIVE TIMES THE RATE OF WHITE AMERICANS.

>> THIS IS ABOUT GRACE.

AND AT SOME POINT, THE FORGIVENESS THAT -- I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT MYSELF BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT -- BUT I WOULD HOPE AT SOME POINT FORGIVENESS WOULD OVERCOME ME AND I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT OPPOSE A JUDGE LOOKING AT THE FACTORS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS MADE GOOD ON THE 20 YEARS THAT THEY WERE INCARCERATED.

>> I BELIEVE IN MERCY AND I BELIEVE IN GRACE.

BUT ALSO I BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GRACE?

LET THOSE FAMILIES ADVOCATE FOR THAT GRACE.

THESE ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS OF THE DANGEROUS.

>> REPUBLICANS TRIED BUT FAILED TO ADD TWO OTHER AMENDMENTS WHICH WOULD HAVE DISQUALIFIED ANYONE WHO KILLED A CHILD UNDER 13 OR PROBATION OFFICER FROM BEING CONSIDERED FOR A SENTENCE REDUCTION.

THE BILL ULTIMATELY PASSED THE SENATE 31-13.

I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: AND THE HOUSE THEN ACCEPTED THE SENATE AMENDMENTS SENDING THE BILL TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> A RALLY FOR A MAN DEPORTED IN ERROR BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HE WAS SENT TO A GANG PRISON IN EL SALVADOR DESPITE HAVING A WORK PERMIT HERE.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ADMITS HE WAS DEPORTED DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR BUT RESISTED DEMANDS FOR HIS RETURN.

A FEDERAL JUDGE HEARD ARGUMENTS TODAY WHILE IN ANNAPOLIS LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING RESTRICTING COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

>> ♪ [♪♪] >> Jeff: OUR NEWSMAKER IS HARRY COKER, HE IS MARYLAND'S NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR DISCUSSION.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND IT IS A BIG BIOGRAPHY.

YOU STARTED AT THE NAVEL ACADEMY, YOU ARE A RETIRED NAVEL OFFICER.

YOU SERVED AS THE CYBERDIRECTOR UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

YOU'VE HAD SENIOR POSITIONS AT THE CHIVMENT AND THE NSA.

HOW DOES THAT CONNECT TO THE PORTFOLIO THAT YOU HAVE NOW?

>> WELL, I WILL START BEFORE MY TIME AT THE NAVEL ACADEMY.

I AM A NAVY DEPENDENT.

MY LATE MOTHER WAS A NATIVE SPOUSE AND GAVE BIRTH TO AND WITH MY FATHER RAISED NINE CHILDREN.

MY FATHER WAS A NATIVE CHIEF SUBMARINER.

AND AFTER MY FATHER'S MILITARY CAREER BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN EDUCATION.

SO THAT GAVE ME A FIRSTHAND VIEW OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE GREAT BENEFITS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE DONE FOR ALL OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

YOU MENTIONED THE NAVEL ACADEMY.

I MANY MORE AND MORE PROUD OF MY CLASS EVERYDAY.

THE CLASS OF 1980 AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT CLASS, THAT IS THE FIRST CLASS THAT HAD WOMEN IN SERVICE ACADEMY CLASSES.

I TELL YOU IT WAS SUMMER OF 1976 WHEN WE REPORTED TO ANNAPOLIS.

AND I SCRATCH MY HEAD TO THIS DAY ON HOW IT TOOK OUR GREAT NATION SO LONG TO GET IT RIGHT.

BUT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THAT IS THE NATION GOT IT RIGHT.

AND WE ARE ALL SAFER AND BETTER BECAUSE OF WOMEN BEING ABLE TO ATTEND HE SERVICE ACADEMIES.

THEY HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AGAIN, WE GOT IT RIGHT.

AND WE GOT IT RIGHT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

>> Jeff: NO DOUBT.

SO YOUR POSITION NOW, THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU RUN, THE MISSION THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU TAKE THE HELM?

WHAT ARE OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND HOW CAN YOU BUILD WHAT WE HAVE IN MARYLAND WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF CYBERJOBS.

>> IT DOES.

AND THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, I'VE JUST BEEN BLESSED.

I REALIZED IN MY 40 PLUS YEARS IN NATIONAL SECURITY, THAT ECONOMIC STRENGTH FEEDS INTO ACTUALLY FEEDS INTO EVERYTHING OUR NATION DOES BUT IT CERTAINLY IS IMPERATIVE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

A NATION IS NOT SECURE WITHOUT A STRONG ECONOMY.

AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN AND GROW MARYLAND'S ECONOMY AND IT'S THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING WE DO.

THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING WE OWE OUR RESIDENTS.

SO I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FULL OF CHALLENGES.

BUT FRANKLY THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S WHY GOVERNOR MOORE ASKED ME TO COME ONBOARD TO HELP TAKE ON THE TOUGH CHALLENGES.

MARYLAND IS BLESSED WITH A MYRIAD OF ASSETS THAT ARE UNSURPASSED THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

WE HAVE FEDERAL FACILITIES, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, GREAT ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, TOURISM, AGRICULTURE, AND A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

AGAIN, UNMATCHED BY ANY NATION IN THE STATE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE ASSETS, LEVERAGE THEM TO GROW THE ECONOMY.

AND IT'S NOT A MATTER OF SPEND.

IT IS A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THAT COMPANIES THAT INDIVIDUALS, THAT INVESTORS KNOW ABOUT THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE HERE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT AND ENSURING THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT MARYLAND IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, RAISE A FAMILY, WORK AND GROW A BUSINESS.

>> Jeff: IT'S SO INTERESTING WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CYBERREALM WHERE YOU HAVE THE NSA ON THE FOREFRONT AT FORT MEADE AND SO MANY PEOPLE USED TO WORK THERE AND WENT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND STARTED COMPANIES, GREW COMPANIES A WHOLE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN AROUND TAT.

CAN THAT BE FURTHER DEVELOPED, DO YOU THINK?

>> YES.

AND IT MUST BE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER KEY LESSONS THAT I LEARNED IN THAT CYBERSECURITY IS AN IMPERATIVE.

WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A DIGITAL AGE.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, FRANKLY FROM WORK AND PLAY IS CENTERED ON THIS DIGITAL FOUNDATION.

AND MY LAST POSITION AS THE NATIONAL CYBERDIRECTOR FOR OUR GREAT NATION WE ISSUED A REPORT CYBERSECURITY POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT WAS SUMMER OF 2024.

BUT WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DIGITAL FOUNDATION CYBERSPACE THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL OF US.

THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT OF CYBERSPACE.

WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED.

NOT JUST HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BUT GLOBALLY.

IT IS A VERY COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT IN CYBERSPACE.

THE AND IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

WE WERE FOCUSED ON OUR GREAT POWER COMPETITORS WHEN WE SAY IT'S COMPETITIVE BUT IT'S COMPETITIVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL.

SO IT'S COMPLEX, IT'S COMPETITIVE AND WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED.

ALONG WITH THAT POSTURE REPORT WE NOTED FIVE KEY TRENDS.

NUMBER ONE, OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDER CONSTANT ASSAULT BY OUR GREAT POWER COMPETITORS AND BY CYBERCRIMINALS.

THAT IS NUMBER ONE.

CONSTANT ASSAULT OF OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

NUMBER TWO, COMMERCIAL SPYWARE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE NOW.

MY BACKGROUND IN INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY THERE WAS SPYWARE THAT WAS THE DOMAIN OF ESPIONAGE AGENCIES.

TODAY ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN BUY COMMERCIAL SPYWARE THAT IS THE SECOND DISTURBING TREND.

THE THIRD TREND THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE CONCERNED WITH IS THE INCREASE IN CYBERCRIME TO INCLUDE RANSOMWARE.

IT IS, AGAIN, NATION STATE ACTORS AND NONNATION STATE ACTORS AS WELL.

THAT IMPACTS US ALL.

THE FOURTH CHALLENGING TREND IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN, THE VULNERABILITY OF CYBERSPACE TO SUPPLY CHAIN.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR UNDERSTAND THE HERITAGE OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND THE LAST TREND IS ARTIFICIAL INTEL ALPHONSO VILLA.

AND I -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE FIRST REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY THAT IS IN THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S ALSO IN THE HANDS OF COLLECTIVES.

BUT INDIVIDUALS HAVE NEVER HAD THE POWER THAT THEY HAVE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

SO THOSE TRENDS GIVEN THAT STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT IN CYBERSPACE, JUST EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY INDUSTRY THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT IS COMING OUT OF FORT MEADE, WHAT IS HERE IN MARYLAND, NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED AND PROVIDED AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY AND FRANKLY AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND MARYLAND IS SPECIFICALLY POSTURED TO HELP ON THAT FRONT.

>> Jeff: IN JUST THE MINUTE WE HAVE LEFT, YOU'VE REFERRED AS ONE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE SECTORS.

TELL ME WHAT THE OTHER LIGHTHOUSE SECTORS ARE?

>> GREAT.

AND MARYLAND HAS TO GROW ITS ECONOMY.

WE'VE HAD A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM AND SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS.

THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE LEADING US, IS HAVING THREE LIGHTHOUSE SECTORS.

THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSE SECTOR IS FROM THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE.

AND IT'S QUANTUM COMPUTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE SECOND IS LIFE SCIENCES.

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON COMPUTATION ALIBIOLOGY TO USE ANALYSIS ON DATA SETS TO UNCOVER ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS AND DISCOVERIES.

AND THE LAST OF THE THREE LIGHTHOUSE SECTORS IS THE AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGY SIDE AND IT'S POSITION, NAVIGATING AND TIMING.

HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE CRUDE PLATFORMS AUTONOMY AND ROBOTICS.

BUT THE THREE LIGHTHOUSE SECTORS IS WHERE WE WILL FOCUS BUT WE WILL NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE TRADITIONAL THE INCUMBENT BUSINESSES IN MARYLAND.

TOURISM, AGRICULTURE, THEY WILL REMAIN TOP OF MIND AS WELL.

>> Jeff: HARRY COKER IS MARYLAND'S NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

BE WELL.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: AND NOW FOR THE ROUNDTABLE WE'RE JOINED BY PAMELA WOOD OF THE BALTIMORE BANNER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

HEADING INTO THE LAST WEEKEND FINAL DAYS OF SESSION WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THE MOST SUSPEND IS RIGHT NOW?

>> THE BIGGEST THING I'M WATCHING RECORDING FRIDAY AFTERNOON IS BUDGET.

THE BUDGET IS STILL NOT FULLY RESOLVED.

GOING INTO TO MONDAY.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE WORKING TO WORK ON THE FINER DETAILS AND PRESENT A PLAN FOR MARYLANDERS HOW THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

>> Jeff: WHERE DO YOU THINK THE STICKING POINTS ARE?

>> THE FREE MARKET ESTABLISHED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IS LARGELY IN TACK BUT IT'S IN THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF THE DETAILS.

ONE DIFFERENCE IS A NEW FEE ON TIRES.

$5 PER TIRE AND WHERE THAT MONEY SHOULD BE SENT.

THERE'S DIFFERENTS OVER THE SALES TAX ON CARS.

THEY WANT TO RAISE IT AND DIFFERENT IDEAS HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD RAISE IT BY.

AND CUTS.

THERE ARE CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD THROUGH STATE AGENCIES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

AND ONE CHAMBER WILL DO FIVE MILLION AND ONE TWO MILLION.

A LOT OF THINGS THEY ARE WORKING OUT.

>> Jeff: A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

FROM A CONSUMER STANDPOINT FROM A CITIZEN'S STANDPOINT THE ONLY INCOME TAX INCREASE IS GOING TO AFFECT HIGH EARNERS.

BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO PAY MOREOVER ALL BECAUSE OF SOMETHING CALLED COMBINED REPORTING WHICH HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOREVER.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER BIG ELEMENTS?

>> SOME PLACES WHERE REGULAR FOLKS LIKE US BUT NOT RICH FOLKS WILL SEE IT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TAX ON VENDING MACHINE SALES.

YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE 6% TAX.

THERE IS A NEW TAX ON IT AND DATA SERVICES.

LIKE ME YOU HAVE A WEBSITE WITH A DOMAIN YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY THE TAX ON THAT.

AND THAT MAY GET PASS ADD LONG OTHER BUSINESSES WHO HAVE TO PAY THAT.

THERE'S INCREASED FEES YOUR VEHICLE EMISSION FEE IS GOING TO GO UP.

A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE WILL IT HIT THE POCKETBOOKS OF MARYLANDERS.

>> Jeff: RELATED IS THE CONTINUING DEBATE OVER CHANGES THAT GOVERNOR MOORE PROPOSED TO THE BLUEPRINT THE EDUCATIONAL PLAN TO INCREASE SPENDING AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES TO TRY TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

THE GOVERNOR LAST SUMMER HAD PROPOSED TAPPING THE BRAKES A LITTLE BIT ON THE PACE OF SPENDING INCREASES, THE HOUSE DID NOT GO ALONG WITH THAT AND THAT'S IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

CHANGES TO THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE ARE IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

IT IS ALSO GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE WIRE.

THE BIGGEST PART IS COLLABORATIVE TIME.

THIS IS ALLOWING TEACHERS MORE TIME OUT OF THE CLASSROOM TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER TO DO THEIR PLANNING.

RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THEY DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE THAT EXTRA TIME.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HIRE MORE TEACHERS FOR IT AND THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS OVER WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OR WHETHER TO PAUSE IT FOR A YEAR, TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE FINAL DAYS.

>> Jeff: ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS, ENERGY POLICY AND THE IDEA THAT MARYLAND IMPORTS A TON OF ELECTRICITY.

A LOT OF THE GREEN POWER THINGS ARE STARTING TO RAMP UP.

WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO STORE THE POWER.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE AND COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.

AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS A PLAN TO SORT OF ADDRESS THAT PART OF IT?

>> THERE'S LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH THAT TRIES TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE COMPLICATED FACTORS ABOUT ENERGY POLICY.

ONE THING WE WILL ALL SEE IS THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH A REBATE PLAN THAT AVERAGE CUSTOMER ELECTRIC CUSTOMER WOULD GET $80 SPREAD OVER TWO PAYMENTS, ONE IN THE SUMMER ONE IN THE WINTER AS A REBATE ON YOUR BILL FROM BG AND E OR PEPCO AND IT'S BASED ON HOW BIG YOUR BILL IS.

PEOPLE WITH BIG HOUSE ALSO SEE MORE.

FOLKS WITH SMALLER HOUSES MIGHT SEE LESS.

IT'S THAT GOING TO MAKE A BIG DENT BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO TURN THERANOS WITH $40 EXTRA BUCKS IN THEIR POCKET.

>> Jeff: THE A ROUTINE EVENT THAT SEEMED TO GO OFF SCRIPT.

>> A ROUTINE IT WAS THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY.

GOVERNOR MOORE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

BUT WHEN A PERSON LEE BLENDER WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF TRANS MARYLAND GOT UP TO SPEAK, THEY HAD SHARP WORDS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND SAID THE GOVERNOR YES, SUPPORTIVE IN THE PAST UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CONCERNS HASN'T DONE MUCH FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THE POINTS OF CONCERN IS THERE IS A BILL TO MAKE CHANGING BIRTH CERTIFICATES EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO TRANSITION AND IT'S STALLED IN ANNAPOLIS AND THE GOVERNOR IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN ON THIS.

IT WAS A REMARKABLE MOMENT.

>> Jeff: ANY REACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM?

DID THEY PUSHBACK ON THE COMPLAINTS THE ALL?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM DID PUT OUT A LIST OF WAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SUPPORTED TRANS MARYLANDERS AND THE BROADER LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS.

BUT THAT WASN'T IN DOUBT FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY SAID HE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND COMPASSIONATE BUT THEY WANT TO SEE MORE AND MORE NOW.

>> Jeff: PAMELA WOOD OF THE BALTIMORE BANNER.

PAM HAS A BIG WEEKEND OF WORK PLANNED WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN READ THE REPORTING AT THE BALTIMORE BANNER.COM.

MONDAY ON "DIRECT CONNECTION" GOVERNOR MOORE JOINS US LIVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

MONDAY EVENINGALITY 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]