Friday, March 3, 2023

>> WE'VE WEAN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND IT'S OUR HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL COME FORTH WITH A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AND WE'LL WASHING CLASSIC HAVE COLLABORATIVELY.

>> IN THE MEANTIME SENATOR ZUCKER SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE LUNCH TO EVERY SCHOOLCHILD WILL HELP.

>> WE WANT TO LIFT UP THAT NO CHILD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER.

WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE AN EVICTION FUND TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

>> A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH THAT HOPES THAT PEOPLE LIKE WANDA WILL HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE LOFTION SNAP BENEFITS.

>> ALMOST 200 I WILL NOT RECEIVE.

THAT WILL MEAN I WILL HAVE TO GET MORE WORK.

MORE WORK TO ME MEANS THAT MORE TIME AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN.

>> A TOUGH REALITY FOR A MOM TRYING TO MAKE ENTSY ENDS MEET.

>> Jeff: A RALLY AT THE STEPS OF THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK TO SUPPORT LOWER INCOME MARYLANDERS.

THE GOVERNOR'S LEGISLATION IS AIMED A STRENGTHENING BOTH THE ESHED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE LEGISLATION WOULD HELP TO INCENTIVIZE WORK AND PROVIDE A TAX BREAK TO LOWER INCOME FAMILIES.

>> IT HAS HELPED MY FAMILY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THE EXTRA CREDIT DURING THE PANDEMIC HELPED REDUCE OUR GET.

ALSO BY HAVING THE EXTRA MONEY, IT HELPED US WITH PAYING MORE ON THE BILLS THAT WE WERE BEHIND ON.

>> A VICTORY FOR HARD WORKING FAMILIES OF EVERY BACKGROUND.

THIS VICTORY FOR MOTHER WHO NEEDS SOME RELIEF PAY TO PAY THE CLOTHES FOR THE KIDS.

>> Jeff: LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS PROJECT THE COST ON THE $170 MILLION.

THE BILL WOULD APPLY TO THE CURRENT TAX YEAR.

TESTIMONY WAS HEARD IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK ON WHAT SUPPORTERS CALL THE RECLAIM RENEWABLE ENERGY ACT.

CURRENTLY BURNING GARBAGE COUNTS AS RENEWABLE ENERGY AND IS SUBSIDIZED IN MARYLAND.

ADVOCATES SAY 20% OF CLEAN ENERGY ACTUALLY COMES FROM WHAT THEY CALL DIRTY SOURCES.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT GETTING LONG-TERM DECREASED EMISSIONS AND THE HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FROM SOME ENERGY SOURCES IN THE RPS, SUCH AS TRASH INCINERATION, FACTORY FARM METHANE, AND WOODY BIOMASS INCINERATION.

>> Jeff: A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION SAYS THE E. AO RECOGNIZES ADVANCED WASTE INCINERATORS HAS A RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE.

THE MOORE ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS TO REACHT THE STATE YEAR'S ALL GOAL OF A 60% CUT IN GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS BY 2031.

OUR SUE KOPEN HAS THE STORY.

>> Sue: WHEN IT COMES TO RIGGS ON ROAD, HEF DUTY TRUCKS ACCOUNT FOR JUST 4% OF ALL VEHICLES.

BUT THAT 4% IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR'S END EVER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHICH EXACT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND BUSINESSES AGREE THAT THERE IS A LONG-TERM COST SAVINGS AND BENEFITS THAT CAN BE CAPTURED BY DECARBONIZING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

>> Sue: WITH THE STATE JUST EIGHT YEARS FROM ITS GOAL OF CUTTING GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS BY 60%, THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE LEGISLATION PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR TRUCKING COMPANIES TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO ZERO EMISSIONS VEHICLES.

>> STUDIES SHOW THAT BY 2030 NEARLY HALF OF MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES WILL BE CHEAPER TO BUY, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AS ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES COMPARED TO THE TRADITIONAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLES.

AND SENATE BILL 548 THERE LEAD THE CHARGE?

>> EVER.

>> Sue: SENATE BILL 548 CALLED THE CLEAN ENERGY ACT CALLS ARE TO STENNING THE CURRENT ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY REBATE PROGRAM TO 2026 WREB MOVES AN ANNUAL NEARLY $1.8 MILLION CAP ON REBATES, EXPANDS THE CURRENT MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY ZERO EMISSIONS VEHICLE PROGRAM, PROICHEDZ TO 100 PERCENT OF INCREMENTAL PURCHASE COSTSCH ZERO EMISSION TRUCKS THROUGH REBATES AND GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PROVIDES UP TO 100% OF THE COST FOR CHARGING.

>> THIS BILL IS INTENDED TO BENEFIT ALL MARYLANDERS.

BY TAKING ON TRANSPORTATION-RELATED EMISSIONS THAT THAT HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE NOT ONLY IN THE STATE BUT ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Sue: ALLOWS CAMPEÓN IS WITH THE MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE ASSOCIATION.

IT REPRESENTS 1,000 TRUCKING COMPANIES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

HE SAID SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS ARE ALREADY TESTING ZERO EMISSIONS VEHICLES.

>> TRIEFERS LIKE THE VEHICLES.

THEY ARE QUIETER.

THEY OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS.

THEY RUN VIDEO SMOOTHLY, SO THEY'RE RESPONDING VERY POSITIVELY TO THOSE.

AND IF THE VEHICLES CAN MEET THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, IS UP AS LOCAL DELIVERY, AS I MENTIONED, OF THE COMPANY, THE TWO BIGGEST HURDLES THAT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM INVESTING IN LEC TRIF CAIRGS CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE VERY HIGH UP FRONT COST OF THE VEHICLES.

>> Sue: AND THAT COST CAN BE NEARLY THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS TRADITIONAL DIESEL POWERED TRUCKS, BUT WITH INCENTIVES THE HOPE IS MORE WILL MAKE THE SWITCH.

>> ULTIMATELY THIS WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR LOCAL ENTITIES TO PURCHASE ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES THAT WILL INCREASE THE DEMAND AND IN THE MARKET WHILE ENHANCING MARYLAND'S ECONOMY COMPETITIVENESS IN THIS REGION.

>> Sue: I'M SUE KOPEN FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> I, STATE YOUR NAME.

>>.DO AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> Sue: SOOTH SAILING FOR GOVERNOR MEARS CHOICES TO LEAD THE STATE'S VAIR JUST AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS.

20 CABINET SECRETARIES CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.

>> BEING ABLE TO PUT AN EYE ON MAKING SURE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY BUILD A TEAM THAT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WHERE EVERYBODY AROUND THE STATE COULD BE ABLE TO LOOK UP AT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND SAY, I SEE MYSELF.

I'M REPRESENTED.

I'M SEEN.

AND I'M HEARD.

AND I KNOW THAT IN ROOMS WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE, I'M NOT GOING TO BE FORGOTTEN.

>> Jeff: IS THE ONLY CONFIRMS STILL TO COME IS FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROLAND BUTLER NEWLY NAMED TO LEAD THE STATE PLACE.

THERE IS ONE HOLDOVER FROM THE HOGAN YEARS, RUSS STRICKLAND.

THE GOVERNOR WAS AMONG THE SPEAKERS AT MBE NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS.

THE ANNUAL EVENT CONNECTING LEADERS OF MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WITH LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATOR AND STATE OFFICIALS.

GOVERNOR MOORE REASONABLE ORDERED AGENCIES TO UPDATE THEIR REPORTING ON MINORITY BUSINESS GOALS.

ADVOCATES SAY ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF AGENCIES ARE MEETING THOSE GOALS.

JOINING US NOW FOR THE "ANNAPOLIS FACEOFF" DELEGATE SHAR CUEDIAN, DEMOCRAT OF MON MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

AND THE A REPUBLICAN FROM FREDERICK COUNTY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

YOU'RE BOTH ON ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE WHICH IS HEARING GOVERNOR MOORE'S MINIMUM WAGE BILL.

DELEGATE, YOU'RE SIGNED ON AS A COSPONSOR.

WHAT'S IN THAT BILLSOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.- I'M SO PROUD TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR IN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TBIM THE GOVERNOR IS COMMITTED TO LEAVING MOAN BEHIND AND THIS IS A CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT SPEEDS UP WHEN WE HIT $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE, AND THEN IT TIES IT TO INFLATION, AND THAT TYING IT TO INFLATION IS CRUCIAL TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE COST OF LIVING GOES UP, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU GO CENTERELING THE MOST, EARNING THE LEAST ARE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROCERY BILLS AND THEIR ENERGY BILLS.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE PIPPY, HOW DOES IT PLAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE REILLY?

>> ROOK, WOULD I SAY THAT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT MARYLANDERS TO EARN MORE MONEY, WE WANT THEM TO BE MORE PROSPEROUS.

I THINK WE DISAGREE ON HOW TO GET THERE.

AS WE SAW THIS PAST SUMMER WITH GAS PRICES THAT WERE TIED TO INFLATION, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

IT ACTUALLY HAD AN ADVERSE IMPACT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I SHARE WITH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT TYING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO INFLATION.

IT HASN'T WORKED OUT BEFORE.

AND WE HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT.

>> LET'S JUST BE REALLY CLEAR.

EVERY WE'VE NEVER TIED MINIMUM WAGE TO INFLATION BEFORE IN THIS STATE.

BUT 19 OTHER STATES DO TIE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO INFLATION, AND IF YOU ASK THE PEOPLE TO EARN THAT MINIMUM WAGE, I WOULD SAY THAT THEY DO THINK IT WORKS OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH GAS PRICES THAT ARE RISING, FOOD PRICES THAT ARE RISING, SO THERE'S NOT A REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY HARM FROM THIS, AND I THINK WHAT WE CAN SEE IS IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, LINES OF PEOPLE JUST THE PAST WEEKEND, I WAS AT A FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND THE LINES WERE AS LONG AS THEY WERE DURING COVID AS PEOPLE'S SNAP BENEFITS, THEY'RE ALONG THEIR SNAP PANDEMIC BENEFITS EVERYTHING IS COMING ALL AT ONCE, AND WE KNOW THESE ARE THE FOLKS TO WHO EARN THE LEAST, THESE ARE THE FOLKS MOST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED IF THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN WHEN WE ADJUST IT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE FIVE YEARS LATER BEFORE WE GET AROUND TO COMING BACK TO ADJUST IT.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE, WITHIN THE COMMITTEE, LOOKING AT THE DEMOCRATS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIVIDE BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR ON THE WISDOM OF HAVING THIS AUTOMATIC INDEXING.

WHAT DO YOU SEE WITHIN THE COMMITTEE WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> WELL, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A VERY THOUGHTFUL COMMITTEE, AND I THINK WE'RE GENERALLY VERY SUPPORTIVE GOVERNOR PERSONALLY.

I'M 100% BEHIND HIS BILL.

ABOUT IT ALSO RESPECT THE COMMITTEE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL CONSIDER THE BILL, CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL, AND I HONOR AND RESPECT THAT PROCESS.

>> Jeff: GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IS YOU'VE SEEN SOME CONCERN NOT ONLY FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT, YOU'VE SEEN SOME CONCERN FROM THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, AND THERE'S REASON TO HAVE CONCERN, SO THIS WOULD PUT MARYLAND AT THE MOST EXPWEFN STATE TO DO BUSINESS IN.

THIS WOULD PUT US HIGHER THAN DC IN THREE YEARS.

WHEN THE 5% INCREASE WEN IN.

WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE UNCOMPETITIVE, AND ANYONE WILL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO THESE BUSINESSES IN MCDONALD'S AND THEY HAVE KEY OKS THAT'S THE RESULT.

WHAT WE WANT IS WE WANT MARYLANDERS TO BE COMPETITIVE.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AMPLE EMPLOYMENT, TO HAVE JOB SECURITY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PREVENT BUSINESS FROM COMING IN, BUSINESS FROM STAYING, AND WE DON'T THAN THE WA BE TO UNCOMPETITIVE SO I THINK THERE'S VALID CONCERN OUT THERE.

>> Jeff: LET ME REFRAME THAT FOR A SECOND.

I WANT TO STAY ON THIS POINT FOR A SECOND.

MARYLAND'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN RUNNING HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

IS THIS A PART OF THAT?

AND THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, DELEGATE, AND IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT RURAL PARTS OF MARYLAND, AREAS THAT BORDER PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, WEST VIRGINIA AND SO FORTH, SHOULD THERE BE A SECOND TIER?

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHAT MAKES MARYLAND COMPETITIVE, WHAT MAKES THE STATE COMPETITIVE ARE THINGS LIKE GOOD TRANSIT SYSTEM, A GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WE WANT TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO THIS STATE THAT ARE PAYING HIGH WAGES.

SO WE NEVER WANT TO WIN THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM.

SO I WILL NEVER ACCEPT THAT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MARYLAND COMPETITIVE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPLOIT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING THE LEAST IN THE STATE.

100% WITH EVERYBODY WHO SAYS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE MARYLAND COMPETITIVE, AND WE KNOW WHAT MAKES MARYLAND COMPETITIVE AND WE NEED TO INVEST, AS I SAID, IN TRANSIT, IN TRANSPORTATION.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN EDUCATION, IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS.

WE NEED TO ATTRACT THE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE GOING TO PAY THE GOOD JOBS LIKE CLEAN ENERGY AND WE'VE GOT TO BIOTECH WORK THAT'S COMING IN.

BUT WE ARE NEVER -- I'M NEVER GOING TO ACCEPT THAT THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO BECOME COMPETITIVE IS BY OFFERING UP AND EXPLOITING THE LOWEST WAGE WORKERS, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT THE LOWEST WAGE WORKERS THROUGH THIS BILL AND THROUGH OTHER MECHANISMS WHILE WE WORK ALL THE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE MARYLAND COMPETITIVE.

>> Jeff: DOES IT OF HAVE THE EFFECT OF MOVING LOWER WAGE JOBS TO NEIGHBORING STATE'S?

>> IF RESEARCH DOESN'T CONFIRM THAT.

I HEAR THAT A LOT.

I APPRECIATE THAT CONCERN.

LIKE I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE GET GOOD JOBS IN THE STATE AND HOW DO WE KEEP GOOD JOBS IN THE STATE.

THE RESEARCH ON PLUNGE JUST DOES NOT BACK -- MINIMUM WAGE JUST DOES NOT BACK UP THAT IT INCREASES UNEMPLOYMENT.

IT JUST DOES NOT BACK UP THAT IT DRIVES BUSINESSES OUT OF STATE.

THERE'S JUST NOT RESEARCH THAT POINT TO THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE FEAR.

I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH FOLKS ON WHAT ARE THE POIFLTS POLICIES THAT KEEP GOOD JOBS IN STATE.

JIES DON'T SEE THAT IT'S THE MINIMUM WAGE RATES THAT ARE SORT OF DRIVING THOSE THINGS.

>> JEFF, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT SOME OF THIS RESEARCH THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE, OH ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, MARYLAND HAS ACTUALLY SEEN DECENT WAGE GROWTH IN OUR STATE, SO FREDERICK COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, 7% WAGE GROWTH.

BALTIMORE CITY 5.9 BERE AND ANN DRUNLD 3.9%.

SO DESPITE NOT TYING MINIMUM WAGE TO INACCUMULATION OR INDEXING, WE ARE SEEING A WAGE INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD IN MARYLAND.

SO SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU LET THE SYSTEM, IT WORKS ITSELF OUT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ARTIFICIALLY GET INVOLVED, WHICH COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT.

>> I WORN IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE INFLATION ADJUSTED OR NOT.

I DID THE MATH ON THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT -- WHEN INFLATION REALLY STARTED PICKING UP ALMOST EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS HAS THIS VERY NICE INFEDERATION INFLATION CALCULATOR.

IF YOU PUT IN $13 TWO YEARS AGO, $13 IS NOW EQUAL THAT $15 IN TERMS OF BUYING POWER.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING AGAINST JUMPING TO $15 IMMEDIATELY?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST THE $15.

I WILL SAY THAT MOST EMPLOYERS PAYING $15 OR MORE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

THEY WANT TO DO THAT.

I'M REALLY MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE INDEXING, AND I THINK I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT, I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMITTEE.

THAT'S THE BIGGER ISSUE IN THIS DEBATE IS THE INDEXING BECAUSE I THINK MORE EMPLOYERS TO BE COMPETITIVE ARE PAYING BEYOND THE $15 AND THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE,Y SORRY FOE MOOR THE MOST FOR EXAMPLE DWREEDGES PART IS THE INDEXING.

>> LET ME JUST BRING UP A CYNICAL PLOWBLG VIEW OF THE MINIMUM WAGE ISSUE.

IT'S A PERENNIAL ISSUE.

IT IS A WINNING ISSUE OR DEMOCRATS, SAYING THAT PEOPLE IN THE LOWER END OF THE WAGE SCALE NEED TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

SO BY INDEXING IT, WOULD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BE TAKING THIS ISSUE OFF THE TABLE FOREVER AND DOES MAYBE THAT CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF HESITATION?

AND PERHAPS ON YOUR SIDE, DELEGATE PIPPY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD LET THEM DO IT.

>> I GENERALLY HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE INDEXING, AND I'LL TELL YOU BAD POLICIES LEAD TONIGHT INFLATION AND I DON'T THINK THE REP DID I TO THAT IS THE TIE THE JUDGE R. MINIMUM WAGE TO INFLATION WHICH COULD THEN FURTHER ERODE OUR ECONOMY.

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE POLICIES AND THERE'S A RANGE OF POLICIES AND WE DECIDE ON THEM, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC SYSTEMS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING THE OUTCOMES ALL THE TIME, BUT THE REALITY IS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE INFLATION WE HAVE JUST SEEN, THE INFLATION THAT WE SEE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A WAR IN EUROPE.

THE INFLATION THAT WE SEE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PANDEMIC AND WITH SUPPLY CHAIN CHANGES.

THE INFLATION WE SEE IS NOT TIED TO MINIMUM WAGE DECISIONS THAT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS MADE.

>> Jeff: DELEGATES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE WE ARE JOINED BY REPORTER JEFF BARKER THE BALTIMORE SUN.

JEFF, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US YOU.

WERE ON HAND WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS IN BALTIMORE THIS WEEK SPEAKING TO CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AND HE GOT A GOOD RECEPTION, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, COMPARED TO HIS PREDECESSOR DONALD TRUMP WHO I REMEMBER WAS IN THE MOTORCADE WITH HIM AND I REMEMBER PEOPLE MAKING LEWD GESTURES AS WE WERE SPEEDING ALONG TO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

NO, THIS IS THE HOME TEAM FOR JOE BIDEN.

>> WHAT WAS THE TALK ABOUT?

>> BIDEN SPOKE NOR FOR ONLY ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO SAY WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT WAS A MORE COMPLICATED QUESTION THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE BUS I'LL BE HONEST, HE WAS EXPLAINING, HE WAS SORT OF ALL OVER THE BOARD AS IF HE DIDN'T HAVE A PREPARED SPEECH, WHICH I'M SURE HE DID, BUT TOLD STORIES, PEOPLE LAUGHED, KIND OF MADE IF YOU KNEW MAGA REPUBLICANS, BUT MOSTLY I WOULD SAY TALKED ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND INCLUDING THE TUNNEL NEAR PENN STATION THAT'S 150 YEARS OLD THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HELPING TO REBUILD.

>> GOVERNOR WES MOORE WAS ALSO ON HAND FOR THIS EVENT, AND MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MEASURE OF HIS EXPANDING STATURE WITHIN THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT I SAW ONE ACCOUNT% THAT PEOPLE WERE PRETTY MUCH LINING UP TO TAKE SELFIES.

>> THEY WERE.

IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTION THAT BECAUSE IT'S A WEIRD THING.

I'VE COVERED A LOT OF APPEARANCES BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND SO YOU HAD AT THIS EVENT, WHILE THEY- WERE WAITING FOR THE PRESIDENT'S MARINE HELICOPTER TO LAND AND FOR HIM TO COME TO THE HOTEL, YOU HAD STEN HOYER, THE FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, GIVING A LENGTHY INTRODUCTION NOT TO BIDEN BUT TO WES MOORE WHO SPOKE BEFORE THE PRESIDENT, BUT THIS WENT ON A LONG TIME AND IT WAS ABOUT WHAT A STAR WES MOORE WAS AND TALK ABOUT HIS BIOGRAPHY AND THEN PEOPLE LINING UP FOR SELFIES, AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, YOU ALMOST WOULD FORGET THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS ON HIS WAY BECAUSE THEY TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT WES MOORE, SO CLEARLY HE IS HELD NOT ONLY IN HIGH REGARD.

HE HASN'T BEEN IN OFFICE VERY LONG.

BUT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT HIM, I THINK, FOR THE FUTURE AS A NATIONAL CANDIDATE.

>> I JUST HAVE A MINUTE, BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR REPORTING ON THE HIGHWAY TO NOWHERE WHICH IS TECHNICALLY -- WELL, TECHNICAL IT WAS GOING TO BE INTERSTATE 170, I THINK.

ABOUT 50 YEAR AGO IT WAS CARVED THROUGH WEST BALTIMORE DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO NEIGHBORHOODS THERE AND ULTIMATE WAS NEVER CONNECTED TO INTERSTATE 7 P HAVE 70 SO IT SITS THERE.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO HELP THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO GO?

>> THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT.

RYAN THEY'RE THE IN PLANNING STAGE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF RELIEF THAT FINALLY THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UNFINISHED STRETCH OF HIGHWAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS FIGURING OUT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS THING NOW, AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, ALL KIND OF OPTIONS, BUT MOSTLY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S RELIEF.

I MEAN, 50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND BALTIMORE'S ALWAYS FELT, I THINK, PARTICULARLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, KIND OF NEGLECTED LIKE, HEY, YOU STARTED BUILDING THIS THING.

YOU STOPPED AND THEN EVERYBODY JUST FORGOT ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE READY TO BE IN PLANNING FOR SOMETHING NEW.

>> YOU CAN READ JEFF'S REPORTING IN THE SUN AND AT BALTIMORESUN.COM.

THE CIAA 2023 TOURNAMENT IS IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

JOINING US NOW, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOST SCHOOL, BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY.

DR. A AMINTA BREAUX.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE TOURNAMENT WAS NOT WON BY BOWIE STATE BUT STILL A WIN FOR THE REGION, BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> WELL, SAID, JEFF, AND I'M SO PLEASED TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN.

I'M SO PROUD OF MY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS.

YES, WE DIDN'T BRING HOME THE ATROPHY.

NONETHELESS, I'M SO -- OF OF THEM AND WHAT THEY PUT OUT ON THE COURT AND WHO THEY ARE AS STUDENT-ATHLETES.

YOU KNOW FOR US, JEFF, IT'S ALWAYS STUDENTS FIRST AND THE ACADEMICS FIRST.

OUR WOMEN HAD A GOOD SEASON WITH MEN HAD A GOOD SEASON, BUT THAT'S THE CIAA.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THAT ALSO BRINGS THE EXCITEMENT TO THE TOURNAMENT, TO WATCH THESE CLOSE GAMES THAT WE SAW THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK WAS JUST INVIGORATING, AND SO THERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT, A LOT OF FUN TO BE HAD NO MATTER WHETHER THE TEAMS BROUGHT HOME THE ATROPHY OR NOT.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW YOU WRAWCH THE WEEK'S ACTIVITIES.

>> WELL, WE WRAP UP BY CELEBRATING THAT CHAMPIONSHIP ON THAT SATURDAY, AND TO SEE THE CFG ARENA PACKED THE WAY THAT IT WAS, WAS TRULY HEARTWARMING.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR, TO PACK THE PLACE, BRING THAT EXPIEMENTD INTO THE ARENA, AND THEN IF YOU HAD A CHANCE, ANYONE HAD A CHANCE TO BE IN BALTIMORE ON THAT SATURDAY AND THE FRIDAY NIGHT, I APOLOGIZE, YOU PROBABLY HAD A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND THE CITY BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS ALL OVER AND PEOPLE ALL OVER CELEBRATING, HAVING A GREAT TIME.

SO THE WAY WE WRAP UP IS WITH ALL OF THESE FUN ACTIVITIES WITH THE FAN FESTS TO BE STEP SHOW, THE BANDS.

IT WAS JUST GREAT FUN.

AND THEN CELEBRATING THE TWO TEAMS THAT GAVE IT THEIR ALL.

WE CELEBRATE THEM.

>> DR. A AMINTA BREAUX OF BOWY STATE WHICH IS NO DOUBT GOING TO WIN THE 2024 CIAA TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN BALTIMORE.

>> I AM COMPETITIVE, AND SO YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT, SO WE'RE COMING BACK.

>> DR. BREAUX, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE ON THE CIAA TOURNAMENT, VISIT THECIAA..COM.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVERY WEEK AT THIS TIME AS WE BRING THE STATE HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION."

YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS.

JOIN US LIVE MONDAY NIGHT AT 7:00.

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