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

THANK YOU.

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

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

THE 2025 SESSION OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

FOR A PREVIEW OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING MARYLANDERS WE SAT DOWN WITH SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON.

Mr. PRESIDENT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WELL, THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE FACE IS A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY.

AS WE COME INTO SESSION THIS YEAR, IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BE THE STABILIZING FORCE IN A VERY UNCERTAIN TIME.

WE KNOW WE HAVE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT ARE LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCREASED COSTS FOR ENTITLEMENTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS THAT HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR PEOPLE THAT USE MEDICAID HAVE COME IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WE PROJECTED.

AND THAT'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

FOR INSTANCE IN COVID PEOPLE WERE DELAYING CARE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP TO THE HOSPITAL THEY ARE SHOWING UP SICKER AND THE PROCEDURES THEY NEED ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE'VE SEEN CHILDCARE COSTS SKYROCKET WHICH WAS A POLICY CHOICE BECAUSE WE WANTED PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE THOSE COSTS INCREASED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES, AND THE DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION HAS SEEN COST INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF CARE.

THAT HAS CREATED A BUDGET CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS SESSION AND WILL DRIVE A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE WAYS IT COULD BE ADDRESSED AND THE GOVERNOR IS SURE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO THIS IN A SPEECH RECENTLY, IS PAUSING SOME OF THE PLANNED INCREASES IN EDUCATION SPENDING.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN THIS?

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY WE SHOULD BE ADJUSTING ANY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TO MATCH IMPLEMENTATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING.

THERE IS A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHERE EDUCATION FUNDING AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE CURRENT BUDGET CHALLENGES.

IN FACT, IT IS ALL OF THE INCREASES FOR EDUCATION ARE FULLY FUNDED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THROUGH 2027.

IF WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FORMULA TODAY IT DOES SPREAD OUT THE PERIOD IN WHICH SPECIAL FUNDS COVER THOSE COSTS.

BUT EVEN IF WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA THIS SESSION IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR BOTTOM LINE BUDGET GAP.

THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE MISINFORMATION ABOUT MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT HOW EXACTLY EDUCATION IS IMPACTING THE CURRENT BUDGET CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE TO COVER THE GAP ABSENT WHAT WE DO IN EDUCATION.

SO IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE ADJUST THE BLUEPRINT OR NOT.

>> Jeff: LAST YEAR, THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WAS MORE OPEN TO NEW REVENUES, TAX INCREASES THAN THE SENATE.

IN THE END THERE WAS A BIT OF A COMPROMISE YOU GAVE ON A COUPLE OF RELATIVELY SMALL ITEMS.

DO YOU EXPECT THE SAME DYNAMIC THIS TIME?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TOUGH CHALLENGES AHEAD AND I THINK IT'S EARLY TO SAY FOR SURE WHERE WE WILL LAND.

BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A MASSIVE UNCERTAINTY COMING WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND TAKE POLITICS ASIDE, IF WE JUST LOOK AT THE PROGNOSTICATIONS WHAT IS COMING A 50% TO FEDERAL SPENDING A CUT TO FEDERAL GRANTS, WELL MARYLAND RIGHT NOW ABOUT 9% OF ALL W2 EMPLOYEES ARE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE 45 BILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL CONTRACTS THAT COME INTO MARYLAND SMALL BUSINESSES IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATES NATIONALLY, AND THERE IS A COUGH IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MARYLAND CATCHES PNEUMONIA.

SO WE WILL KNOW THE FIRST 60 DAYS OF THE ADMINISTRATION A LOT MORE THAN WE KNOW TODAY ABOUT HOW MARYLAND'S ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT THE GAP IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE, EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.

WE WILL BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

WE WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT KEEPS US COMPETITIVE AND DOES NOT FORCE US TO GREATLY CUT OUR VALUES AND THE THINGS WE KNOW MARYLANDERS CARE ABOUT.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE KNOW COMPETITION FOR TALENT AND PEOPLE AND SKILLS IS GREATER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

>> Jeff: ENOUGH ABOUT FINANCES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WINE AND BEER.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ENDORSED THE IDEA OF GROCERY STORES BEING ABLE TO SELL WINE AND BEER WHICH FOR THE MOST PART THEY CAN'T.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND THE LEGISLATURE LOBBIED, DOES THE GOVERNOR'S STANCE ON THIS MAYBE MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE BIG ISSUES.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, ENERGY CRISIS AND HOUSING COSTS.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS ON THE TABLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THERE IS ALWAYS A BILL ABOUT IT.

THIS YEAR I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE PARTIES WOULD SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT.

MAYBE THE GOVERNOR'S PRONOUNCEMENT HELPS THEM TO GET TO THE TABLE.

I DON'T SEE US MAKING THIS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE SESSION IF THERE IS A BILL THAT EMERGES WONDERFUL.

BUT OTHERWISE WE HAVE BIG THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE COMPROMISE?

YOU CAN GET THE BUDWEISER AT THE GIANT OR NO?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> BIG LARGE CORPORATE GROCERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SELL TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WHERE THEY ARE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND THERE ARE SOME LICENSEES WHO WOULD LIKE TO RETIRE AND SELL THEIR LICENSES NOT NECESSARILY FOR SOMEBODY TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT OPERATIONS.

IF THERE WAS ZONED IN SPECIFIED PLACES GROCERS COULD PURCHASE A NUMBER OF LICENSES TO ALLOW THOSE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE TO RETIRE AND COMBINE THEM INTO ONE LICENSETHAT IS THE COMPROMISE THAT COULD HAPPEN.

THERE WAS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT IN COLORADO.

BUT, OF ALL THE EU67 USES THIS IS NOT THE TOP ONE.

>> Jeff: A COUPLE THINGS ON THE TABLE REGARDING UTILITIES.

ELECTRICITY, NATURAL GAS.

WE GENERATE SOME ELECTRICITY WITH AN INCINERATOR NOT FAR FROM YOUR DISTRICT.

>> IT IS IN MY DISTRICT.

>> Jeff: IN BALTIMORE AND THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED RENEWABLE ENERGY.

YOU SEE THAT DIFFERENTLY?

>> RIGHT.

IT'S INTERESTING WE ARE IN A DYNAMIC SPACE IN THE ENERGY MARKETS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF ENERGY AND THE COST OF ENERGY RISING BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUPPLY OF GENERATED ENERGY HERE IN MARYLAND, THE INCINERATOR GETS AN EXTRA BUMP NOT ON THE COST TO SELL THE ELECTRICITY BUT RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS THEY RECEIVE.

I'VE NEVER SUPPORTED THIS POLICY OF THE EXTRA RENEWABLE CREDITS BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DISRUPT ENERGY MARKETS IN A WAY THAT DISRUPTED HOW THE CITY OF BALTIMORE OPERATES AND HOW THE REGION OPERATES.

WITH THE INCREASED COST OF ENERGY RATES IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THE INCINERATOR TO RECEIVE RENEWABLE CREDITS.

AND SO THE PLAN I WILL HAVE A BILL THAT WILL MOVE THAT EXTRA INCENTIVE.

WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE WIND AND SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL AND HYDRO THINGS WE KNOW THAT ARE GOING TO HELP SOLVE OUR LONG-TERM ENERGY SUPPLY CRISIS.

AND WE DON'T NEED TO FURTHER INCENTIVIZE THE BURNING OF TRASH TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

>> Jeff: DOES THE LEGISLATURE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSED POWER LINE THAT WOULD GO ACROSS NORTHERN MARYLAND TOWARDS VIRGINIA IS THAT LEFT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER DO YOU GET INVOLVED?

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S LEFT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IT IS A PERMITTING PROCESS A CERTIFICATE FOR PUBLIC NEED AND USES IS AN OBVIOUS PROCESS.

YOU WILL SEE OTHER AREAS MAYBE NOT ON TRANSMISSION BUT SITING AND HOW WE SITE AND DECIDE TO PUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN OPERATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

BUT FOR THE TRANSMISSION LINE, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE FACING AN ENERGY SUPPLY CRISIS.

THAT IS HAVING A HUGE IMPACT ON THE COST OF ELECTRICITY HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

PARTICULARLY IN THE BG AND E TERRITORY.

AS WE LOOK AT THIS CRISIS TO INCREASE SUPPLY MEANS YOU HAVE TO TRANSMIT THAT ENERGY.

THAT HAPPENS ON TRANSMISSION LINES.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS AND COSTS OF ELECTRIFICATION AND I THINK THIS TRANSMISSION LINE WE'RE SEEING WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DONE -- THE PROCESS HAS BEEN HORRIBLE BUT IT IS A VERY REAL ISSUE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT OVER THE NEXT FEN YEARS HOW DO WE GET ELECTRICITY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO AFFORDABLE TO MARYLANDERS.

THESE PROJECTS ARE REQUESTING TO BE MORE COMMON MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WE SEE REPLICATED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BROADER EDUCATION AROUND WHY THESE PROJECTS ARE NECESSARY.

MAYBE NOT THIS PARTICULAR ONE, BUT GENERALLY THESE PROJECTS HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT IT COSTS TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU FLIP THE SWITCH THAT THAT OF THE LIGHTS DO UNDER ON.

>> Jeff: WE ARE SHUTTING DOWN THE OLD COAL-FIRED PLANTS, WE'RE ADDING WIND TURBINES AND ADDING SOLAR BUT NOT IN AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD MAKEUP FOR WHAT WE'RE LOSING.

ARE WE GOING TO BE A NET IMPORTER FOR ELECTRICITY FOREVER?

>> WE HAVE BEEN A NET IMPORTER WHICH IS OKAY.

AND WE CAN MODERATE IT.

THE CHALLENGE IS WITH THE ADD VENTED OF A.I.

AND DATA CENTERS IN THE GRID IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER AND HARDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO IMPORT ENERGY IT WILL JUST COST MORE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN JUNE OF 2025 THE CAPACITY MARKET AUCTION SAW A MASSIVE INCREASE FOR MARYLANDERS IN OUR ENERGY PRICES THAT WILL TRICKLE DOWN INTO BILLS OVER TIME.

IF WE DO NOT INCREASE SUPPLY OF DOMESTICALLY MARYLAND GENERATED ENERGY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HUGE COST INCREASES AND THAT IS NOT TOLERABLE.

IT'S GREAT WE'RE TAKING COAL OFF LINE.

I WISH IT WASN'T A PRIVATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN A PRIVATE EQUITY OWNED COMPANY AND THE SIERRA CLUB.

IT DIDN'T ALLOW US TO PLAN AND WE WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED HERE IN MARYLAND.

NOW, WE'RE FORCED TO BE IN THE SITUATION TO FIND ALTERNATIVES AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY SO WE DON'T FACE SKYROCKETING COSTS.

>> Jeff: THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE CHANGES TO JUVENILE JUSTICE LAWS AND OVERALL, SERIOUS CRIME LEVELS HAVE BEEN TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT'S DOWN A BIT.

BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY WHEN YOU WATCH THE 11:00 P.M. NEWS AND YOU SEE REALLY HIGH PROFILE, HORRIBLE CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON JUVENILES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS AT AGAIN?

>> LOOK, I THINK, AS I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND THEY MUST BE SAFE AND FEEL SAFE.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

JUST THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DOES A PERFORMANCE AUDIT ON THE SERVICES RENDERED BY STATE AGENCIES.

THEY JUST AT THE END OF DECEMBER PRODUCED A REPORT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES.

AND ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS AND TAKEAWAYS WAS THAT THERE IS NOT A GAUGE CURRENTLY TODAY THAT THE TOOLS EXIST BUT THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT ASSESSING WHAT PROGRAMS WORK AND WHAT PROGRAMS DON'T.

WHEN THEY REFER A CHILD FOR SERVICES, THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED OR EVEN IF IT'S THE TYPE OF SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED FOR THAT CHILD TO NOT -- TO GAIN THE SKILLS TO NOT REOFFEND.

IT WAS A SOBERING REPORT THAT THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PUT FORWARD.

THAT'S ALL OPERATIONS.

THE TOOLS ARE THERE.

THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK IS THERE.

WE HAVE PASSED THESE BILLS.

WE'VE MADE CHANGES TO BILLS.

IT IS ABOUT ALL OF THE AGENCIES COORDINATING AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVELY.

THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE KEY.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE ENHANCED THOSE TOOLS THAT IS WHAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR.

I DON'T SEE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE TOOLS THAT ARE NEEDED.

WE NEED TO SEE PEOPLE DOING THEIR JOBS AND IMPLEMENTING THE LAW.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND ALSO A SENATOR FROM BALTIMORE CITY.

WHAT DO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT THE 2025 LEGISLATURE TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR VALUES.

WE ARE MINDFUL OF PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL COSTS, THE COSTS OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND GOING OUT TO EAT.

AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE THE STABILIZING FORCE IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME.

WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHERE WE KNOW THAT BALTIMORE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF EXPOSURE TO THE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND MINDFUL OF THE GREAT FEAR AND RISK THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE REGION HAVE ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE THE THOUGHTFUL MINDFUL LEADERS THAT PROVIDE A PATH AND A VISION FOR HOW TO BE STABLE IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME.

>> Jeff: SENATOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

HOPE IT IS A GREAT, SUCCESSFUL 90 DAYS.

>> THANK YOU IT WILL BE AND I APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONGOING CONVERSATION THIS SESSION.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO PRESIDENT FERGUSON WE ARE SCHEDULED TO INTERVIEW SPEAKER JONES FOR NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM.

>>> THE YEAR END HOMICIDE NUMBERS FOR BALTIMORE ARE A GRIM REMINDER OF A TRAGIC PROBLEM AND A CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM.

THE DELL TOLL WAS 2 HUNDRED FOR THE CITY DOWN FROM 300 TWO YEARS AGO.

A NEW EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO GO AFTER THE SOURCE OF MANY OF THE GUNS INVOLVED.

WE SPOKE WITH C.E.O.

NEIL MELTZER.

>> WE ARE CALLING THIS THE IRON PIPELINE AND IT BEGAN AS AN OUTGROWTH OF INFORMATION WE WERE RECEIVING FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

WHEN WE DO OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

TYPICALLY WE GET THE CLINICAL ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT WE ALSO GET SOCIAL ISSUES THAT THEY FEEL ARE IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS GUN VIOLENCE.

AND THIS IS NOT ONLY GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

THIS IS GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CARROLL COUNTY OR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE ALL SAYING THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL IF NOT OUT OF CONTROL.

SO WE FELT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT.

AND WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THIS HONESTLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS TRYING TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS THAT WASN'T A RED OR A BLUE ISSUE THAT WASN'T A THIRD RAIL ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAN CLEARLY GET FOLKS A LITTLE HYPERACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH GUNS.

SO WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE AFTER EFFECTS OF GUN VIOLENCE FOR A LONGTIME.

AND WE REALIZE WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE RESEARCH THAT MARYLAND IS THE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO STATE FOR GUNS TRAFFICKED IN AND OUT OF STATE.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE GUNS WERE COMING UP THE ROUTE 95 CORRIDOR FROM FLORIDA OR GEORGIA ALL THE WAY INTO MARYLAND.

PART OF THE REASON THAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE GUN LAWS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND ARE STRICT WHICH I'M PROUD OF, I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC BUT IT'S EASIER TO PURCHASE A GUN ILLEGALLY THAN IT IS TO PURCHASE A GUN LEGAL WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEING A HIGH NUMBER OF GUNS.

>> Jeff: MORE BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT THE INITIATIVE IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

YOUR HOSPITALS THAT YOU OPERATE ARE WEST BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST BALTIMORE, OUT END OF BALTIMORE COUNTY AND ON INTO CARROLL COUNTY.

YOU SEE A LOT OF TRAUMA CASES TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

I'M CURIOUS WHEN WE SEE THAT THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS THE SHOOTING NUMBERS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING, ARE YOU SEEING THAT REFLECTED IN YOUR EMERGENCY ROOMS?

>> YES.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PARTLY BECAUSE SINAI HOSPITAL IS A TRAUMA CENTER WE SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS FROM THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION.

AND I CREDIT SOME OF THAT REDUCTION TO OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM IN OUR SAFE STREETS PROGRAM.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT LIFE BRIDGE HEALTH RUNS 50% OF THE SAFE STREET PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE CITY.

WE'VE SEEN APPROXIMATELY A 34% REDUCTION IN GUNSHOT WOUNDS COMING INTO SINAI HOSPITAL.

AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE NOT GOING ELSEWHERE.

THERE IS AN ACTUAL REDUCTION OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

I LOVE TO SAY SAFE STREETS TAKES CREDIT FOR ALL OF THAT.

I CAN SAY IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING.

THERE ARE A LEAST THREE SAFE FROM SITES THAT HAVE GONE 100 DAYS WITHOUT A MURDER.

SO WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING THERE IS WORKING.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED ON VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.

WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM THAT IS VERY LARGE.

A SEXUAL CHUB AND ELDER ABUSE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE PEOPLE WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS WHO MIGHT THINK THAT WE'RE DOCTORS WE'RE NURSES, WE'RE REHAB PEOPLE WE ARE NOT POLITICIANS.

THIS SEEMS OUT OF OUR LANE?

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT US TAKING SUCH A VISIBLE APPROACH TO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY HEALTHCARE.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PURPOSE, CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES OUR PURPOSE AS AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS A FILTER THROUGH WHICH WE MAKE ALL DECISIONS, REALLY INVOLVES THINGS WELL OUTSIDE THE FOUR WALLS OF THE SPACE.

AND IN CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TELLING US THIS IS AN ISSUE SOMEONE HAS TO GRAPPLE WITH IT AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT BEING DEALT WITH AT THE LEVEL IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AND WE DECIDED WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND.

WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING IT'S TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP.

THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY AREAS FOCUSED ON ITS RESEARCH AND WE FELT WE NEEDED ACTION.

WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AN ACTION ORIENTED APPROACH TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ACTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

>> WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS RAISE THE ISSUE TO THE STATE TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE CRIMES THAT ARE PROMULGATED WITH GUNS IN THIS STATE ARE FROM GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

GUNS ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY SURPASSING ACCIDENTS, AND WE KNOW THAT GREATER THAN 50% OF ALL KIDS WERE SURVEYED SAY THEY WORRY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO AS AN APPROACH, WE DECIDED TO RAISE THE PROFILE, RAISE THE ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO STATE WITH TRAFFICKED GUNS COMING IN FROM OUT OF STATE.

I'VE SPOKEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE ON TWO OCCASIONS THEY HAVE PROVIDED US INFORMATION.

THEY CAN PINPOINT SOME OF THE GUN SELLERS OUTSIDE THE STATE THAT ARE SELLING GUNS TO TRAFFICKERS.

WHAT WE WANT OUR STATED OUR GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WE WANT THEM FOCUSING ON BEGINNING TO WORK WITH OTHER STATES AND TRYING TO STOP THE FLOW OF GUNS ILLEGAL GUNS INTO THE STATE.

WE HAVE ASKED FOR FOLKS TO SIGN A PETITION.

I THINK WE HAVE 847 SIGNATURES AND THAT WAS 10 MINUTES AGO, I LOOKED.

AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO RISE.

THIS HAS BEEN A CAMPAIGN THAT WE STARTED JUST ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO.

RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

WE ANTICIPATE THIS WILL PICK UP IN TERMS OF ITS PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

BUT WE WANT -- WE KNOW THAT JAMES IN NEW YORK WAS ABLE TO SUE THE GHOST GUN MANUFACTURERS AND WIN.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR STATE COULD OR OTHER STATES COULD SUE SOME OF THESE GUN SELLERS WHO ARE SELLING TO TRAFFICKERS AND PERHAPS BEGIN TO SHUT THAT PIPELINE DOWN.

AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOLKS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES SHARE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE ON-LINE.

WE'VE WORKED WITH A RAP ARTIST FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHO HAS ROUGHLY, 16.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS AND AS A RESULT OF THAT HE HAS PUT A SPECIFIC SONG THAT HE CREATED FOR A VIDEO THAT WE'VE CREATED WHICH GOES FROM GEORGIA INTO MARYLAND, THE ROUTE THAT THE TRAFFICKERS ARE TAKING.

AND SHARING THAT WITH HIS AUDIENCE.

AND IN ADDITION TO SHARING THE SONG, HE IS SHARING THE WEBSITE STOP THE IRON PIPELINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN THE PETITION AND SHARE THEIR STORIES.

>> Jeff: AS YOU POINTED OUT WE HAVE FAIRLY RELATIVELY STRICT GUN LAWS IN MARYLAND.

AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL IT CHANGES THE SUPREME COURT TAKES A FRESH LOOK AT SECOND AMENDMENT CHALLENGES ALL THE TIME.

IS THERE SPECIFIC LEGISLATION ON A STATE LEVEL THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE?

>> WE THINK THE LEGISLATION IS MORE FOCUSED ON GETTING AFTER THE GUN SELLERS AND GETTING AVID STATES WHO ARE ALLOWING THAT TO OCCUR.

WE THINK THE STATE OF MARYLAND ITSELF IS IN A NICE JOB IN TERMS OF ITS LAWS AND REGULATIONS WITH GUNS.

BUT WE DON'T THINK OUR SURROUNDING STATES HAVE DONE A SUFFICIENT JOB IN TREATING IT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE DO IN MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: IS THE IRON PIPELINE A NEW PHRASE?

I HADN'T HEARD THAT GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> THE IRON PIPELINE CAME OUT OF AN ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN BY BALTIMORE MAGAZINE SOMETIME AGO.

AND I WANT TO SAY IT IS A YEAR OLD OR SO.

THAT'S WHERE THE TERM, I BELIEVE, WAS COINED.

BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK BACK, THE HISTORY OF THE TRAFFICKING OF THE GUNS GOES WELL BEYOND THAT ARTICLE.

SO WE THINK THIS PIPELINE IS SOMETHING WHICH IS CATCHY ENOUGH HONESTLY, TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO NEIL MELTZER.

>> FUNERAL SERVICES FOR FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER BEGIN TOMORROW IN GEORGIA.

Mr. CARTER PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 100.

WHEN PRESIDENT CARTER ENTERED HOSPICE CARE WE LOOKED BACK ON HIS WORK FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK JIMMY CARTER WAS THE FOUNDER OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

HE IS NOT THE FOUNDER BUT OUR MOST FAMOUS VOLUNTEER.

AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE ORGANIZATION WAS VISIBILITY.

AND ATTENTION.

AND THAT WAS TRUE WITH RESPECT TO HIS VISITS TO MARYLAND AS WELL AS HIS WORK AROUND THE WORLD.

JIMMY CARTER CAME TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AFFILIATES TWICE ONCE IN 2002 WHEN HE VISITED THE SAND TOWN AFFILIATE THEN INDEPENDENT.

THEY HAD SET OUT TO BUILD 100 HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND HIS ATTENTION, HIS PARTICIPATION ALLOWED THE ORGANIZATION TO INCREASE THEIR GOALS DRAMATICALLY.

HE DID EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.

WHICH WAS BRING VISIBILITY ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.

ONE OF THE NOTABLE THINGS ABOUT PRESIDENT CARTER'S VISITS, HOWEVER WAS THAT HE SHOWED THIS AMAZING CAPACITY TO RELATE TO INDIVIDUALS.

THAT IS THE HOME BUYERS, THE VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS.

IN SAND TOWN HE TOUCHED THE HOME BUYERS SO DRAMATICALLY WITH HIS ATTENTION AND HIS KINDNESS THAT SHE OVERCAME HER FEAR OF FLYING AND PARTICIPATED WITH JIMMY CARTER AND BUILDS AROUND THE WORLD.

IT WAS TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR HER.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE SAYING THIS WASN'T LIKE WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT EXPECT OF A POLITICIAN PHOTO-OP WHERE HERE I AM WITH A HAMMER AND EVERYBODY GOT THEIR PICTURE AND GOOD-BYE.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT DIDN'T LIMIT HIS INTERACTIONS TO DIGNITARIES OR OFFICIALS OR TO HIGH LEVEL DONORS.

HE RELATED VERY ACTIVELY TO THE HOME BUYERS.

JIMMY CARTER WAS NOTABLE BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO PICK UP A HAMMER AND A SAW AND LEND HIS SWEAT TO THE EFFORT AS WELL AS BRING VISIBILITY AND ATTENTION.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WITH WHOM I'VE SPOKEN ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW HE RELATED DIRECTLY TO THEM.

HE SPOKE TO THEM.

HE ENGAGED THEM.

HE LEARNED ABOUT THEM.

AND THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY SIGNIFICANT TO WHAT HE WAS DOING.

>> Jeff: Mr. CARTER WILL LIE IN STATE AT THE U.S. CAPITOL BEGINNING NEXT TUESDAY.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

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