THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING FROM THE STATE HOUSE ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE ARE COMING TO YOU FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN ANNAPOLIS JOINED BY THE GOVERNOR OF AMERICA, WES MOORE THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> Jeff: A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE NEWS TO TALK ABOUT.

I WANT TO START WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

IN A COUPLE OF DAYS YOU ARE LEAVING ON A TRADE MISSION TO ASIA.

AND THE BIG STORY NATIONALLY, THE PAST FEW DAYS HAS BEEN THE TRUMP TARIFFS AND THE REACTION IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR YOUR TRIP?

>> WE'RE EAGER TO GET THERE AND BRINGING A COLLECTION OF BUSINESS LEADERS WITH US TO GO TO JAPAN AND KOREA.

AND IT'S REALLY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LIGHT STATE HOUSE INDUSTRIES THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN.

LIKE LIFE SCIENCES AND A.I.

AND QUANTUM.

PLACES WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ASIA AND PLAN ON BUILDING OUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE WHERE TARIFFS ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO BE USED.

BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS USING LIKE AN IDEOLOGY.

AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW SEEN WE'VE SEEN RETIREMENTS OBLITERATED IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

THIS IS IMPACTING SMALL BUSINESSES FROM FARMERS IN THE EASTERN SHORE WHO ARE NOW WATCHING EVERYTHING FROM BARLEY TO GRAPES TO POULTRY NOW SKYROCKETING THROUGH THE ROOF IN TERMS OF COSTS.

AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN HOW THIS TYPE OFS DISTRACTION AND LACK OF THOUGHTFULNESS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW ARE YOU USING TARIFF POLICIES IS CAUSING ECONOMIC CHAOS THAT IS TAKING PLACE.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE UNDERSTAND AND UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AS WE'RE HEADING TO ASIA.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND OUR PARTNERS SUCH AS JAPAN, KOREA, MEXICO, CANADA, THAT ARE PARTNERSHIP AND OUR TRADE RELATIONSHIP HAS GOT TO BE STRONG AND MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO GENERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

>> Jeff: THE STATE HOUSE IS A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY.

THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS IN LESS THAN FIVE HOURS.

ANYTHING YOU ARE FOLLOWING IN THE LAST HOURS OF THE SESSION?

>> WELL, WE STILL HAVE BILLS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND WE DEEPLY BELIEVE IN.

WE CAME IN WITH A VERY AMBITIOUS AGENDA OVER THE PROCESS OF THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE SAID WE'VE GOT TO MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS WITHIN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY BUT THAT ALSO MEANS MAKING SURE YOU ARE GETTING THE BLUEPRINT DONE MEANS MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BLUEPRINT AS WELL.

WE HAD TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT AND THAT MEANT THINGS LIKE YES WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TAX REFORM.

BUT THAT MANTS IT CANNOT BE ON THE BACKS OF MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND THEY NEED TAX RELIEF AND FOCUS ON MAKING SURE WE'RE GROWING THE ECONOMY.

DIVERSIFYING OFF OF WASHINGTON D.C. TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT RELY ANSWER ON WHO SITS IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

WE HAVE BILLS THAT WILL GROW OUR ECONOMY, GIVE THE MIDDLE CLASS A TAX CUT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET TO A COMPLETION ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> Jeff: OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHENEVER YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT THE FISCAL SQUEEZE THAT WAS COMING TO MARYLAND WITH THE COST OF THE BLUEPRINT BEING PHASED IN, YOUR ANSWER WAS THAT YOU HAD A HIGH BAR FOR ANY TAX INCREASES.

WHAT HAPPENED?

BECAUSE ALL SORTS OF THINGS HAVE BEEN CLEARING THAT BAR IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.

THE INCOME TAX, THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

YOU WANTED A CORPORATE TAX CHANGE THAT I DON'T BELIEVE HAS HAPPENED.

MARYLANDERS WILL SEE HIGHER FEES FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION, GETTING YOUR EMISSIONS CHECKED NEW TAX, I BELIEVE, ON TECH.

HOW DID WE CLEAR THE BAR WITH ALL THAT STUFF?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT PEOPLE SEE AND A APPRECIATE AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE WATCHING CHAOS FROM WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE WE HAVE SEEN ESSENTIALLY WHAT THESE TARIFFS ARE, ESSENTIALLY A NATIONAL SALES TAX.

EVERYTHING JUST GOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE OF THESE TARIFF POLICIES AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE SEEING THE ELON MUSK DOGE CUTS WHERE YOU ARE FIRING FEDERAL WORKERS WHOSE JOB IS TO MAKE SURE OUR FOOD IS SAFE AND HOMELAND IS PROTECTED AND VETERANS CAN GET A PROPER BURIAL AND THEY ARE TOLD THEIR JOBS ARE NOT USEFUL ANYMORE.

AND THE TIME WHEN WE'RE SEEING ALL THAT CHAOS, PEOPLE'S RETIREMENTS BEING WIPED OUT, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM STATE OF MARYLAND?

THE MIDDLE CLASS IS GETTING A TAX CUT.

THAT THE MAJORITY OF MARYLANDERS ARE ABOUT TO GET A TAX CUT.

THAT 94% OF MARYLANDERS ARE EITHER GOING TO GET A TAX CUT OR SEE NO CHANGES AT ALL.

WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING OUT OF CONTROL, WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND YOU ARE SEEING HOW WE INHERITED STRUCTURAL DEFICIT INTO A SURPLUS.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WE'RE MAKING HISTORIC INVESTMENTS.

AND WE HAD TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS IN THIS BUDGET WHERE WE HAVE CUT HAD THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF CUTS IN A MARYLAND STATE BUDGET WE HAVE SEEN IN 16 YEARS.

THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WHERE WE'VE LANDED WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION WHERE THE GENERAL FUND IS SMALLER THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

WE CONTINUE TO SHRINK THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME STILL MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, IS THIS IS A REMARKABLY FISCALLY DISCIPLINED BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE CHAOS THAT IS TAKING PLACE WITHIN WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE ERRATIC NATURE OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY OF WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE AT A TIME WHEN WASHINGTON IS TELLING THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND HEY MIDDLE CLASS GET READY TO PAY MORE.

IN MARYLAND PEOPLE ARE SAYING OUR GOVERNOR IS GOING TO GIVE US A TAX CUT AND I THINK THEY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR PROPOSAL TO BROADEN THE CORPORATE TAX?

RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THEY MAY SAVE A LITTLE BIT ON THE INCOME TAX BUT IF THEY BUY TIRES OR REGISTER THE CAR THEY WILL SEE HIGHER BILLS.

YOU WANTED TO APPLY SOME OF THAT PAIN TO THE CORPORATE SECTOR AND THE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T GO ALONG.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I KNEW WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

PART OF THE THINGS WE SAW WITH MY PREDECESSOR IS ANY INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT WAS ESSENTIALLY CLEANED OUT.

AND SO IT'S THE REASON WE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR ROADS AND OUR TUNNELS.

AND SO WE'VE COME IN AND SAID YOU'VE GOT TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN THIS BUDGET, I SAID WE HAVE TO INVEST IN 81 AND 15, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE TUNNELS WITHIN OUR STATE.

AND GETTING PEOPLE TO MOVE SAFELY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE TO WHERE THEY WORK.

AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO FORTIFY THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND IN A WAY IT WAS DELETED IN THE YEARS BEFORE I BECAME GOVERNOR.

I DO STILL BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE MARYLAND MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

I BELIEVE AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO ON THINGS LIKE PROCUREMENT REFORM AND REGULATORY REFORM AND PERMITTING REFORM MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO COME AND GROW IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

IN OUR BUDGET WE WILL HAVE $180 MILLION GOING TOWARDS INVESTMENTS IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES OUT SIZED GROWTH.

AND I STILL DO BELIEVE EVEN THOUGH WON'T MAKE IT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I STILL BELIEVE THAT AND MY GOAL IS FOR THE LONG-TERM WE HAVE GOT TO LOWER THE CORPORATE TAX RATE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT GETS DONE THIS YEAR, I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR WE WILL GET THIS DONE AND IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

>> Jeff: A VIEWER QUESTION ANDREW IS CONCERNED ABOUT COAL DUST AND THE COAL SITUATION IN AROUND THE BALTIMORE HARBOR.

ARE YOU SURE THAT WE NEED TO BURN MORE FRACKED GAS WHEN SOLAR AND BATTERIES ARE THE SAME COST OR CHEAPER?

AND THERE'S LEGISLATION MOVING ON SOLVING A SHORTAGE IN ENERGY PRODUCTION IN THE STATE.

>> YES.

THERE IS.

AND I AM A BIG BELIEVER AND FIRST ANDREW, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, ANDREW.

I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN CREATING ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR OUR PEOPLE.

BECAUSE WHAT THAT IS ALSO GOING TO DO IS HELP TO LOWER COST AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON CLEAN ENERGY OPTIONS.

I INTRODUCED A BILL THIS YEAR THAT FOCUSES ON NUCLEAR AND HOW TO CLASSIFY NUCLEAR.

ALSO AS A CLEAN ENERGY OPTION BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH CLEANER ENERGY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT MAKES COMMUNITIES MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ADDRESSES THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH I BELIEVE IT IS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT TO RELEASE THE PRESSURE THAT IS SITTING ON OUR RATEPAYERS RIGHT NOW.

THE GROWTH WE HAVE SEEN IN THE WAY THAT THESE BIG UTILITY COMPANIES HAVE BEEN GOUGING PEOPLE ON PRICES, IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE.

AND YOU ARE SEEING IT NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND BUT ALL THE PJM STATES IN VIRGINIA THEY HAVE DOUBLED THE RATE OF UTILITIES.

WHETHER YOU SEE IT IN WASHINGTON D.C.

IN PEPCO.

YOU HAVE SEEN A JUMP IN TERMS OF ENERGY PRICES OR BGE HERE.

THE CORPORATIONS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT YOU CAN GOUGE THE TAXPAYER AND WE ARE CALLING FOR CHANGE ON THAT.

WE BOTH HAVE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF OPTIONS ENERGY OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE AND ALSO DECREASE THE PRICES.

AND URGE THESE BIG UTILITY COMPANIES WHICH ARE DOING VERY WELL TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE SAME ITEM THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR SIX MONTHS AGO.

>> Jeff: LET ME ASK YOU A POLITICAL QUESTION.

I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IT'S IN THE NEWS TODAY BECAUSE BALTIMORE SUN HEADLINES SAYING THAT WES MOORE SAYS HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

ASKED ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL NATIONAL AMBITIONS, MOORE SAID TWICE HE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

THE GOVERNOR DID NOT SAY YES OR NO WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT RECENTLY ON "CNN".

IS THERE A CHANGE?

PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION EITHER YOU ARE A U.S.

SENATOR OR GOVERNOR GET ASKED ALL THE TIME.

YOU GET ASKED WEEKLY IF NOT DAILY.

HAS THERE BEEN MOVEMENT ON YOUR ANSWER?

>> NO, I TOLD "THE BALTIMORE SUN" THEY WROTE A HEADLINE HOW I WAS LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN AND I SAID THAT WAS SILLY.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

THE ANSWER IS I'M NOT INTERESTED I'M NOT RUNNING.

I'M FOCUSING ON REELECTION IN '26.

AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL IN THE TWO YEARS THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS COME ONBOARD WE HAVE HAD HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENT CRIME AND MARYLAND IS HELPING TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF DROPS IN VIOLENT CRIME.

WE HAVE SEEN HISTORIC LOWS IN UNEMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT WE'VE SEEN NEW BUSINESS STARTS INCREASE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE.

AND LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE.

WE HAVE HE ABEEN ABLE TO BRING MORE MARYLANDERS ONBOARD AND INCREASING MA MINIMUM WAGE HAVING ENHANCED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE LEADERSHIP WE ARABILITY TO SHOW DURING THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A GREAT STORY TO TELL FOR REELECTION AND THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS IS.

>> Jeff: AND AFTER THAT, IF IN THE WINTER OF 2028, YOU ARE NOT IN A DINER SOMEWHERE IN MANCHESTER OR IOWA, I WILL OWE YOU A BEER.

>> WE WILL BE MAKING SURE IT IS MARYLAND'S DECADE AND I THINK WE ARE ON A GREAT PACE ON IT.

>> Jeff: YEARS AGO BEFORE YOU WERE IN POLITICS THE ALL YOU WROTE A BOOK AND THIS WAS A BOOK ABOUT FREDDIE GRAY.

IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE FREDDIE GRAY DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY IN BALTIMORE.

BASED ON YOUR RESEARCH AND THE BOOK, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE OCCASION AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, HAS CHANGED OVER THAT DECADE?

>> YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER SO MUCH ABOUT WHERE I WAS WHEN EVERYTHING WAS UNFOLDING AND HOW FAST IT ALL UNFOLDED.

BUT ALSO WHEN YOU SAW IT, HOW DEEPLY UNSURPRISED FOR MANY OF US IN BALTIMORE WERE WHEN THEY SAW HOW THIS THING BEGAN TO TURNOUT.

I THINK ABOUT OUR WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

WHERE THE THING THAT ALWAYS GOT ME ABOUT FREDDIE GRAY IT WAS THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HIS DEATH.

HOW IT HAPPENED, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE.

BUT I ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME TALKING ABOUT HIS LIFE.

THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A PERSON WHO WAS BORN UNDER WEIGHT TO A MOTHER WHO IS EXPOSED TO HEROIN.

>> Jeff: I REMEMBER OUR CONVERSATION.

HE WAS BORN ADDICTED AND HE GREW UP BASICALLY IN A BOX OF LEAD PAINT.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WHERE HE HAD SIX TIMES THE LEVEL OF LEAD.

ANY EXPOSURE OF LEAD IN THE HUMAN BODY CAN CREATE LONG-TERM NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE.

AND HE HAD SIX TIMES WHAT PEOPLE SAW WHATEVER YOU WOULD CONSIDER THEM TO BE SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE CHALLENGED BECAUSE OF LEAD BASED POISONING.

HE NEVER HAD A SHOT.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THE TRAGEDY OF HIS LIFE, THAT IN MANY WAYS GOT ME AS MUCH AS THE TRACK OF HIS -- TRAGEDY OF HIS DEATH.

AND THAT IS THE THING WE TRY TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EVEN IN THIS WORK WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE NEVER WANT TO SEE FREDDIE GRAY HAPPEN AGAIN.

I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A PERSON WHO DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY I'M TALKING ABOUT WHY WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GROWING UP WITHOUT A SHOT OF BEING A LARGER PART OF THE MARYLAND CONVERSATION.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT THE ENOUGH ACT IS ABOUT PASSED LAST YEAR.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND ALSO THE FISCAL CHALLENGE FOR IT THIS COMING YEAR.

>> I BELIEVE SO DEEPLY IN THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS -- WE MADE MARYLAND THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT NOW HAS A STATE LED PLACE BASED STRATEGY HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF GENERATIONAL CONCENTRATED POVERTY.

AND IT'S URBAN, RURAL AND SUBURBAN.

AND THE WORK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH OUR ENOUGH COMMUNITIES THUS FAR, YOU KNOW WHETHER IT IS PLACES IN WESTERN MARYLAND LIKE HAGERSTOWN OR IN PLACES LIKE PARK HEIGHTS IN BALTIMORE, IS BEING ABLE TO SAY THE COMMUNITY COMES UP WITH THE SOLUTIONS.

THE STATE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHILANTHROPY COMES UP WITH THE SUPPORTS AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

AND WATCHING HOW THE COMMUNITIES ARE WORKING WITH EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WORKING WITH EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE INTENTIONS TO HAVE REAL SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY IF POVERTY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING.

IT IS A CORE PRIORITY FOR WHAT I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IN AS A STATE BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE IF YOU CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITIES AND ALLOW THEM TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LIFT EVERYBODY'S PROSPECTS WITHIN THE STATE.

SOMETHING WE'RE WATCHING OTHER STATES LOOKING TO MODEL.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM GOING TO BE CONSISTENTLY URGING FOR OUR STATE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

>> Jeff: VIEWERS NOT SURPRISINGLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT TAXES FROM ROGER.

WHY NOT RAISE THE INCOME TAX RATE BACK TO 5%, RATHER THAN SURCHARGE AND FEE US TO DEATH?

YOUR PLAN HURTS LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE TO ABSORB THE NEW FEES.

AND GOES INTO A CALCULATION FOR A FAMILY OF 100,000 DOLLARS.

I KNOW YOU ARE GIVEN A SMALL CUT TO PEOPLE THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME TAX SCALE.

I'VE HEARD IT'S 40 OR 50 BUCKS.

DOES IT NOT GET EATEN UP WITH THE FEES?

>> AND THANK YOU ROGER FOR THE QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS THAT ONE THING I DID NOT WANT TO DO IS PUT TOGETHER A COLLECTION OF REGRESSIVE BROAD-BASED TAXES ON PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY THE WAY WE'VE STRUCTURED IS ACTUALLY GIVING A TAX CUT TO THE MAJORITY OF MARYLANDERS.

WHERE WE'RE SEEING HOW FOR ANY MARYLAND HOUSEHOLD MAKING UNDER $200,000 A YEAR YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY FORMS OF RAISE WHATSOEVER.

THAT 94% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE GETTING A TAX CUT OR SEEING NO CHANGE AT ALL.

WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING AND WATCHING THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE INSIDE OF COMMUNITIES IT'S ACTUALLY MAKING INVESTMENTS SO PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO OTHER LONG-TERM CHALLENGES OR ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES.

THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING.

WHY YOU HAVE THINGS LIKEN HANSING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

SO THE IDEA THAT THERE IS HUNDREDS OF NEW FEES THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, HONESTLY, IT'S FACTUALLY INCORRECT AND MORE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

REALLY WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING ON A LION'S SHARE OF THE REVENUE THAT IS COMING ONBOARD, FRANKLY ARE PEOPLE WHO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE DONE VERY, VERY WELL.

WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE WHO MADE OVER $750,000 A YEAR TO INVEST AROUND $1600 MORE.

TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LAYING OFF TEACHERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS.

SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE REALLY BEING FISCALLY DISCIPLINED ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE MANAGING PEOPLE'S DOLLARS.

THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO DO THESE BROAD-BASED AND FRANKLY MANY CASES REGRESSIVE TAXES ON INDIVIDUALS.

THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX CODE IS NOT JUST MODERNIZED BUT CONSISTENT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND MAKING SURE THAT FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES THEY ARE GOING TO GET A TAX CUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN PUTTING MORE MONEY BACK IN MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY'S POCKETS SPHOOR WHEN YOU START MEETING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS IN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN ENCOURAGING THEM TO INVEST IN MARYLAND, THEY ARE GOING TO READ THE PAPERS, TOO.

THEY KNOW THAT HIGH INCOME EARNERS ARE GOING TO SEE THEIR TAXES GO UP.

AND THERE IS AN UNUSUAL CAPITAL GAINS SURTAX WHICH I BELIEVE TWO OTHER STATES EVER PUT IN.

SO THAT IF ONE OF THESE COMPANIES HITS IT BIG, AND THEY HAVE STOCK TO SELL, THEY ARE GOING TO PAY A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER TAX ON THAT IN MARYLAND MAYBE IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS BUT FROM A MARKETING STANDPOINT, IT DOESN'T HELP, DOES IT?

>> ONE THING THEY ARE SEE SOMETHING THAT BUSINESSES WILL CHOOSE THE STATE OF MARYLAND NOT BECAUSE OF THE BIPS ON THE TAX RATE.

THEY ARE CHOOSING THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSIDE THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE CHOOSING THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WORKS.

THEY WILL CHOOSE THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSING INVENTORY.

THEY ARE CHOOSING THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSIDE THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THE THING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE AND WHY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES THAT WE HAVE, IT, LIFE SCIENCES, AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE THESE COMPANIES WE ARE MEETING WITH IN JAPAN AND KOREA NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO SEE THE ASSETS THE STATE HAS BUT THEY WILL SEE FOR THOSE COMPANIES AND THE INDUSTRIES THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM ANY OF THESE REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS.

I THINK THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS ITSELF.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, MARYLAND IS WATCHING NEW BUSINESS STARTS ACTUALLY GO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE.

MARYLAND IS NOW SEEING THE POPULATION OF OUR STATE GO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAD WAS A LACK OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE HAD TO GET OUR ECONOMY GROWING.

AND I THINK THIS PACKAGE BY BEING ABLE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND STOP THE RELIANCE ON WASHINGTON D.C., OUR ABILITY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO REFORM THE TAX CODE, THAT IS ACTUALLY HELPING TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE THE TREND OF SEEING MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHICH IS GOING TO SPUR MORE GROWTH FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE PLACES DRORT WAS EXPECTED TO COME FROM A NEW F.B.I.

HEADQUARTERS APPROVED UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING IT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.

DO YOU THINK IT'S DEAD?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S DEAD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

HE MIGHT THINK HE DOES BUT OWE DOES NOT THAT BUILDING WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN IT WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE GSA WHICH WENT THROUGH A 10-YEAR PROCESS AND DETERMINED MARYLAND WAS NOT JUST THE BEST PLACE TO BUILD IT THERE BECAUSE WE WERE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND THE BEST ASSET IT IS COULD SUPPORT THAT WE HAD TRANSPORTATION ASSETS ONBOARD AND THE ONLY SITE THAT WAS BUILD READY.

THAT IS WHY GSA PICKED THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THE PRESIDENT THEN GOT UP AND SAID A COLLECTION OF JUST FACTUAL ERRORS.

MARYLAND IS NOT THREE HOURS AWAY FROM WASHINGTON D.C. AS THE PRESIDENT INDICATED.

>> Jeff: TRAFFIC IS REALLY BAD.

>> MAYBE ON SOME DAYS.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS WHEN HE SAID IT'S NOT GOING TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE MARYLAND IS A LIBERAL STATE.

YOU CANNOT POLITICIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES JUST DID.

POLITICIZING PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO WE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT F.B.I.

BUILDING COMES TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

IT'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 7,000 JOBS $4 BILLION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

WE WILL FIGHT FOR THIS BUILDING.

AND WE DO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO UNILATERALLY JUST DECIDE WHERE THE F.B.I.

BUILDING IS GOING TO GO THAT IS NOT IN HIS JURISDICTION WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FIGHTING HIM ON IT.

>> Jeff: A QUESTION ON HIGHER EDUCATION FROM SHARON AS A PARENT DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO [AUDIO INTERRUPTION].

>> SHARON, I FIRST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

ACCEPTANCE TO ONE OF OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IS A VERY BIG DEAL BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS WITHIN THE COUNTRY.

AND THE THING YOU WILL SEE IS THE INVESTMENTS WE ARE MAKING IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION THESE ARE SOME OF THE LARGEST INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND'S HISTORY.

AND WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR GRAD PROGRAMS OR WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT UNDERGRAD PROGRAMS WE ARE SEEING HOW WE ARE INVESTING NOT JUST IN THE RECRUITMENT OF TOP QUALITY EDUCATORS BUT FOLKS MAKING SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES AND TRAINING ENTITIES ARE WORLD CLASS AND CAN COMPETE WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

IF YOU LOOK AT NOT JUST THE GRADUATION RATES IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSITION RATES OF GOING FROM GRADUATION TO EMPLOYMENT I WILL PUT MARYLAND INSTITUTIONS AGAINST ANYONE ELSE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WE WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR MARYLAND FAMILY AND KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT, GREAT DECISION FOR THE LONG-TERM CAREER.

MY WIFE IS A UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK GRAD.

>> Jeff: THAT BRINGS ME TO COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

THE TWERPS LOST TO ARE PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST THE TEAM THAT TOOK DOWN DUKE WHICH GET AS [APPLAUSE] AROUND THESE PARTS.

WHO YOU GOT?

>> I GOT FLORIDA.

I THINK HOUSTON IS A REALLY GOOD TEAM AND A TEAM THAT DOES NOT STOP FIGHTING.

I CAME INTO THE TOURNAMENT BELIEVING THAT FLORIDA WAS THE MOST COMPLETE TEAM IN THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE BEAT FLORIDA THAT WE WOULD BE IN OUR PATH IN THE FINAL FOUR.

BUT FLORIDA IS A REALLY GOOD AND COMPLETE TEAM.

ALL FOUR FLORIDA STARTERS ARE AVERAGING DOUBLE-DIGITS.

I THINK FLORIDA IS GOING TO BE TOUGH TO BEAT.

CLAYTON IS PLAYING OUT OF HIS MIND RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT.

>> Jeff: ALL KINDS OF TURMOIL IN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AT COLLEGE PARK.

YOU CARE WE ALL CARE.

AND I'VE GOT 10 SECONDS FOR THIS.

YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE WAY IT TURNED OUT.

>> I'M DISAPPOINTED IN WILLARD AND NOT JUST WHAT HE DID BUT HOW HE DID IT.

AND I ALSO KNOW GOOD RIDDANCE AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND A GREAT HEAD COACH AND A WONDERFUL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WHO IS GOING TO LEAD US TO NEW PLACES.

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR MOORE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "DIRECT CONNECTION".

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]