"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM ON LOCATION IN THE WETLANDS ALONG A TRIBUTARY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

TO BE CLEAR, THE TRIBUTARY IS THE PATAPSCO RIVER AND WE ARE ON LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM WHICH IS JUST OPENED THIS WETLANDS DPIBT.

WE EXHIBIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH CURATEDDER JACK COVER.

>> WHAT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM HAS DONE WE ARE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, WATERFRONT CITY, MANY OF THE ANIMALS THAT USED TO BE HERE STILL COME INTO THE INNER HARBOR BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR MICRO HABITATS.

WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTED A HABITAT OF A TIDAL WETLAND THAT IS BRINGING BACK MICRO HABITATS.

THIS IS WHAT BALTIMORE CITY'S SHORELINE WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THE CITY WAS BUILT.

>> Jeff: BEFORE THERE WAS A NATIONAL AQUARIUM AND THE DOCKS AND THES IT LOOKED LIKE THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SHALLOW WATER.

BUT AT SOME POINT WHEN BASICALLY YOU ARE GOING TO TRANSITION INTO A SHIPPING CITY, YOU'RE GOING TO DREDGE OUT ALL THIS MARSHLAND AND CREATE DEEP CHANNELS FOR SHIPS TO UNLOAD THEIR GOODS AND LOAD GOODS ON TO.

THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS THAT INDUSTRY CAME ON, YOU LOSE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION AND BASICALLY IT WAS TRANS FORMATTED.

AND BACK THEN THE MARSH WAS CONSIDERED WORTH BUILDING IT'S WHERE MOSQUITOES BIT YOU.

BUT WHERE OUR BLUE CRABS COME FROM AND OYSTERS AND EVERYTHING.

IT IS A CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>> Jeff: NEXT SUMMER YOU ARE BREEDING MOSQUITOES HERE?

>> HERE WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM, WE HAVE PLOWING WATER AND SMALL FISHES EATING THE LARVIE.

WE DIDN'T BRING THAT BACK.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE VEGETATION.

THE GRASSES.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> THESE ARE NATIVE IS GRASSES THIS IS SMOOTH GRASS BEHIND US AND SALT MEADOW HAY ANOTHER HIGH MARSH GRASS AND SLUSH SHRUBS IS.

IT LIVES IN BRACKISH WATER AND SLIGHTLY SALTY.

MOST PLANTS DON'T WANT TO GET FLOODED TWICE A DAY.

THIS IS THE CRITICAL HABITAT, AGAIN, WHERE ALL THE SMALL FISHES GET INTO, SMALL TERRAPINS IT'S CRITICAL HABITAT.

AND HERE IN THE INNER HARBOR IT'S DOING ANOTHER DUTY IT'S HELPING TO CLEAN THE WATER IN THE HARBOR.

WITH STORMWATER RUNOFF ON I IMPERVIOUS SURFACES A LOT OF FERTILIZER THE PLANTSDS ARE PULLING OUT ALL THOSE NUTRIENTS THAT FUEL BLOOMS HELPING TO CLEAN THE WATER UP AND YOU NEVER GET A BILL FROM THEM.

>> Jeff: IT IS A LIVING EXHIBIT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT IN FIVE YEARS.

>> A LOT OF THE SHRUBS WE PLANTED TO BE GROWING TALL AND WE WANT TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE FAMILIES AND FOLKS CAN COME DOWN, FORGET THEY ARE IN THE CITY AND FEEL SURROUNDED BY NATURE.

WE'VE DONE THAT WITH OUR FRONT AREA OF THE AQUARIUM.

GREEN SPACES ARE WHERE YOU GO AND SILT AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE GOES DOWN.

WE WERE NOT MEANT TO SIT IN TRAFFIC WITH EVERYONE BEEPING THEIR HORNS AT US.

WE WANT TOW CREATE THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COME AND RELAX AND SEE WILDLIFE.

YOU WANT TO SEE WILDLIFE YOU HAD TO GET IN YOUR CAR AND DRIVE TO A STATE PARK IN THE COUNTIES.

THERE'S LOTS OF WILDLIFE IN THE CITY AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THAT HERE IN BALTIMORE CITY.

>> Jeff: IS SOME OF THE WILDLIFE GOING TO BE UNDERNEATH WHERE WE CAN'T SEE IT?

>> THERE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS UNDER THE WATER.

ON A SUNNY DAY YOU CAN SEE LOTS OF SMALL FISHES.

BEHIND US THERE WAS A BLUE CRAB THAT MOULTED INTO A SOFT CRAB.

THERE'S GOING TO BE BLUE HERONS SHOWING UP.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE IF YOU WENT ON A FIELD TRIP TO A TIDAL MARSH.

>> Jeff: LOOKING AT THIS YOU DESCRIBED HOW THE NATURAL GRASSES IN A MARSH GET FLOODED WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN AND THE TIDE GOES OUT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S FLOATING IF I'M SEEING THE PILINGS RIGHT.

IS THIS DESIGNED TO GO UP AND DOWN?

>> IT'S FLOATING BUT WE'VE SAID WE DON'T HAVE IT FLOODED TWICE A DAY WITH THE HIGH TIDES.

WE'VE SETTLED THIS IS ON AN IDEAL TIDE WHEN THE HIGH TIDE WOULD BE MOVING OUT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE DEVICES MOVING WATER.

WE HAVE AIRLIFTS.

WE ARE USING AIR FROM A BLOWER INSIDE ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS THAT IS PUMPING HIGH VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE AIR OUT.

SO THAT'S MOVING THE WATER.

THIS IS JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE IN A NORMAL MARSH.

AGAIN, IN A NORMAL MARSH, THE SMALL FISHES GO UP IN THE HIGH TIDE AND LOW TIDE THEY GET FLUSHED OUT WHERE THE FISH ARE WAITING FOR THEM.

THIS IS INCREATIONING THE OXYGEN WHICH CAN BE LOW AT TIMES.

IT IS A REFUGE FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE RESEARCHED THE MARSHES AROUND THE BAY AND WETLANDS AROUNDED BAY, TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN.

DO THEY DIFFER WHERE YOU ARE?

SOUTH WHERE IT'S SALTIER IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM SOMETHING UP NORTH TOWARD?

>> THE SPECIES WILL CHANGE.

CONOWINGO IS FRESH WATER THERE'S DIFFERENT GRASSES UP THERE THAT YOU WON'T FIND IN THE LOWER BAY.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT CHANGES IN THE SPRING WHEN IT'S RAINING QUITE A BIT, IT CAN BE LOWER DURING OUR DROUGHT MONTHS, JULY AND AUGUST, THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.

THERE ARE SOME ANIMALS THAT ARE ADAPTED TO THE HIGH AND THEY DON'T COME UP THE BAY.

BUT THE BAY, AGAIN, IS A PLACE WHERE ANIMALS COME IN FROM THE OCEAN AND ONE CREATURE ARE AMERICAN EELS.

THEY ARE BORN ALL THE WAY OUT IN THE ATLANTIC.

THEY SWIM THOUSANDS OF MILES.

THEY SPEND ABOUT MAYBE 10, 15 YEARS GROWING HERE.

AND THEN THEY WILL RETURN TO THE SEA SPAWN AND DIE.

AND WE BRING UP TO THE SCHOOL KIDS THIS ANIMAL DOES THIS WITHOUT GPS AND THEY EARN OUR RESPECT AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM AROUND.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE DESIGNING THIS FOR VISITORS IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO HAVE A LOOK YOU CAN WALK BY AND HAVE A LOOK.

YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SCHOOL GROUPS COMING THROUGH, I'M SURE, DESIGNED WITH THAT IN MIND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BEFORE THIS, WE WOULD DO SCHOOL GROUPS LEARNING THAT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY OFF THE BULKHEADS.

NOW THEY CAN COME OUT HERE AND DO THE STUDIES AND LEARN ABOUT IT.

AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

THIS IS BRINGING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TO THE CITY WHERE IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WINTER?

>> IT WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESSES ALL THE MARSHES DO.

THE PLANTS WILL GET DORMANT AND TURN BROWN BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE FISH IN THE CHANNELS AND IT GOES THROUGH A CYCLE.

IN THE SPRING COME MAY, YOU WILL SEE THE GREEN ALL COME BACK.

SO IT'S A CYCLE OF THINGS BARNICLES, MUSSELS ALL THESE THINGS GO THROUGH THE YEARLY CYCLES.

YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS OUT ON THE NATURAL TIDAL MARSH.

>> Jeff: I SAW YOU HAD OYSTER SHELLS, YOU PLANNING TO GROW SOME?

>> WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF OYSTER SHELLS THAT WE GET FROM RESTAURANTS SO WE RECYCLE THEM AND WE PUT 100 BAGS OF OYSTER SHELL WITH SPAT, A JUVENILE OYSTER.

OYSTERS REPRODUCE THEY HAVE A FREE SWIMMING LARVAE AND IT HAS TO LAND ON A HARD SURFACE.

WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THESE REALLY TINY OYSTERS THAT ARE GROWING THAT ALSO HELPS FILTER THE WATER.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING AT THE AQUARIUM?

YOU HAVE WORKED HERE FOR JUST A COUPLE YEARS?

>> I'VE BEEN HERE 37 YEARS AND SEEN A LOT OF -- WE ARE ALWAYS PUSHING FORWARD QUITE A FEW YEARS TO DO A PROTOTYPE OF THIS AND WE FINALLY DESIGNED IT.

THE AQUARIUM IT IS A JOURNEY GOING TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

YOU CAN GR TO THE AMAZON, YOU CAN GO TO AUSTRALIA'S RIVER GORGES.

BLACK TIP REEF SHARKS.

IT'S REALLY A GREAT PLACE AND I ALWAYS SAY HAVING GOING OUT IN THE FIELD AND BIT BY MOSQUITOES YOU GET TO DO THIS IN AIR-CONDITIONING.

AND SEE THE UNDERWATER VIEWING OF THE ANIMALS IT IS QUITE AN AEXPERIENCE FOR A CHILD AND ADULT TO LOOK IN THE ANIMAL'S EYES AND HAVE IT LOOKING BACK AT YOU.

WE GET A CLOSE-UP ENCOUNTER WITH SHARKS AND PEOPLE HAVE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BUT THEY ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE OCEAN.

>> Jeff: IRONIC WE'VE BEEN STANDING IN THE RAIN TALKING ABOUT THE WETLANDS.

AND JACK APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING.

>> Jeff: AND NOW TO POLITICS.

MARYLAND VOTERS WILL DECIDE QUESTION ONE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

IT ADDS REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM TO THE STATE'S DECORATION OF RIGHTS.

WE -- DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

BROOKE LIERMAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WHY ARE YOU HOPING PEOPLE VOTE YES ON QUESTION ONE.

>> AS A WOMAN, MARYLANDER I FOR HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WOMEN HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

AND OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS.

WHETHER THAT IS ABORTION, BIRTH CONTROL, OR IN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND THIS AMENDMENT WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE CONSTITUTION ENSHRINES THOSE RIGHTS.

FOR ALL TIME TO COME.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT VOTERS WE KNOW 70% OF MARYLAND VOTERS SAID THEY SUPPORT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER HER OWN BODY.

AND THIS IS THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE CONSTITUTION HAS THAT IN IT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

I MEAN, STATE LAW IS CLEAR ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

WE HAD A REFERENDUM.

IT WAS A FEW DECADES AGO.

BUT IS THIS SORT OF A BELT IN SUSPENDERS APPROACH?

>> I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVERY YEAR, LEGISLATORS SHOW UP TO ANNAPOLIS AND EVERY YEAR THEY PASS NEW LAWS THAT SUPERSEDE OLDER LAWS.

WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS AND WHEN THEY ENSHRINE IT IN YOUR CONSTITUTION, IT SENDS A STRONGER MESSAGE AND IT IS A STRONGER PROTECTION.

SO THIS TIME AROUND THE COUNTRY WE SEE WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE RIGHTS BEING THREATENED, THIS IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT MARYLAND IS GOING AND DOING ALL IT CAN TO SAY NOPE WE SUPPORT WOMEN HAVING AUTHORITY OVER THEIR OWN BODIES.

IN MAKING THEIR HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.

AND SO MANY OTHER STATES AREN'T DOING THAT THEY ARE GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY.

>> Jeff: CYNICS AROUND THE STATE HOUSE MIGHT HAVE SPECULATED THAT THIS WAS PUT FORTH AS A WAY TO MAYBE INCREASE THE MOTIVATION FOR SOME DEMOCRATIC LEANING VOTERS TO GET OUT AND VOTE IN AN IMPORTANT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

IS IT POSSIBLE IT'S GOING TO DO THAT?

DO YOU THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

DO YOU THINK MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WILL VOTE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS PASSED WHEN IT WAS PUT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO IT COULD BE ON THE BALLOT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO BE RUNNING.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

I THINK THAT IS A VERY CYNICAL TAKE.

I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO MAKE SURE ONCE AND FOR ALL IN MARYLAND LAW THAT WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE CHOICES.

>> Jeff: AND ANOTHER POINT FROM THE OPPONENTS OF THIS, THEY SAY THAT THE TERM REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS VAGUE AND THEY BELIEVE IT COULD BE READ TO ALLOW GENDER RELATED SURGERY AND OTHER TYPES OF MEDICAL CARE FOR MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST A SCARE TACTIC, HONESTLY.

IF YOU READ THE LANGUAGE, WHICH I HAVE, IT'S CLEAR IT'S MANTS TO ENCOMPASS ABORTION, BIRTH CONTROL, AND IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE HOW IT WOULD BE INTERPRETED IN THE LANGUAGE.

SO I DO THINK THAT IS A SCARE TACTIC.

>> Jeff: IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY OVERTURNED THE ROE VS. WADE DECISION WITH THE DOBBS CASE AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN MARYLAND.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO FIND A STATE WHERE ABORTION RIGHTS HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED.

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> I SEE WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY.

WOMEN WHO MANY OF WHOM ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN, WHO NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR BODILY RIGHTS.

WE KNOW THAT IN 22 THIS IS NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES, 22 STATES NOW BAN ABORTION OR RESTRICT THE PROCEDURE EARLIER IN PREGNANCY THAN THE STANDARDS SET BY ROE VS. WADE.

22 STATES.

AND I MEAN I PERSONALLY FIND IT DEVASTATING.

WE SEE STORIES ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN BLEEDING OUT IN PARKING LOTS.

RENTSLY, JUST TRAGIC STORIES WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA TO TWO WOMEN MOTHERS WHO CHOSE TO END THEIR PREGNANCY EARLY AND COULDN'T GET THE CARE THEY NEEDED AND DIED.

AND IT'S TERRIFYING IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND IT'S TRAGIC THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN 2024.

AND SO CERTAINLY, I AM DOING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT I LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND THIS STATE MAKE SURE THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS MORE RIGHTS THAN RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE UNTIL I'VE RESTORED THE RIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SCARY RIGHT NOW THAT SO MANY RIGHTS FOR WOMEN ARE BEING RESTRICTED AND WE'RE BEING TOLD HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN TERMS OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

>> Jeff: IT'S PRETTY HARD TO CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MIND ON A MATTER OF MORALITY IF YOU WERE TALKING TO A VOTER WHO WAS MAYBE UNDECIDED ON THIS, MAYBE THEY ARE PART OF THE MAJORITY THAT SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE IN THE FIRST TRIMIDWESTERS BUT MAYBE THAT NOT IN YOUR IN PREGNANCY WHICH POLLS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT VOTER?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN TO VOTERS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOMEN HAVE FACED IN STATES WHERE THESE BANS HAVE BEEN ENACTED.

IT'S NOT THEORETICAL.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IF ROE VS. WADE IS OVERTURNED.

WE CAN LOOK AT STATES WHERE THAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENED TO WOMEN THERE.

AND HOW TRAGIC THAT IS.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN AND WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM IN STATES WHERE THEIR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY, IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S NOT A THEORETICAL ANYMORE.

>> Jeff: COMPTROLLER BROOKE LIERMAN WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US IS AN OPPONENT OF QUESTION ONE, DEBORAH BROCATO IS THE CHAIR OF HEALTH NOT HARM MARYLAND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS WITH QUESTION ONE?

>> YES.

WE FORMED THIS ORGANIZATION, IT'S ACTUALLY A BALLOT ISSUE COMMITTEE REGISTERED WITH THE MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO OPPOSE QUESTION ONE, THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AMENDMENT.

THE REASON THAT WE OPPOSE QUESTION ONE IS BECAUSE IT GOES WELL BEYOND ABORTIONS IN MARYLAND.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL IS VERY VAGUE AND IT IS ACTUALLY THE LAW THAT PUT THE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IS LESS THAN TWO PAGES.

THERE ARE NO DEFINITIONS AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BROAD WORDING INTO THIS AMENDMENT.

THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT SAYS THAT EVERY PERSON AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS TO LIBERTY AND EQUALITY HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ABILITY TO MAKE AND EFFECT DECISIONS TO END ONE'S OWN PREGNANCY AND THE STATE CANNOT INTERFERE.

IT SAYS EVERY PERSON.

IT DOESN'T SAY EVERY ADULT PERSON OR EVERY PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 18 AND USES THE WORD INDIVIDUALS.

AND INDIVIDUALS ARE MALE AND FEMALE AND ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

IT DOESN'T USE THE WORD WOMAN OR ABORTION.

IT DOESN'T SAY EVERY WOMAN.

AND WHEN THE SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS TRIED TO PUT IN LANGUAGE TO REALLY NARROW THIS AMENDMENT TO JUST BE ABOUT ABORTION, THAT LANGUAGE WAS REJECTED.

THEY TRIED TO PUT IN MINIMUM AGE LIMITS OR EXCLUDE MINORS OR REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT AND ALL OF THAT LANGUAGE WAS REJECTED.

WE SEE THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN BUT IT WAS NOT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FROM YOUR STANDPOINT IF IT IS ULTIMATELY INTERPRETED BY A COURT AS YOU SUGGEST?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THAT PARENTS MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO PARENT THEIR CHILDREN IS A PROBLEM.

BUT WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE PARENTS ARE LOSING CUSTODY OF THEIR KIDS IF THEY DON'T GO ALONG WITH THEIR WISHES.

AND SO OUR CONCERN IS THAT PARENTS WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT RIGHT OR FIGHT FOR CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN AND OUR CONCERN WITH THAT MINIMUM AGE LIMITS IS CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND OBTAIN DRUGS OR SURGERIES THAT PERMANENTLY ALTER THEIR BODIES.

NOW, CHILDREN ARE TOO YOUNG TO GIVE ACTUAL INFORMED CONSENT.

THEY DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK LIKE THE RISKS VERSUS THE BENEFITS, LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND WE SEE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT CHILDREN DID NOT HAVE THE SAME CAPACITY AS ADULTS TO MAKE DECISIONS SO THEY TREAT MINOR CHILDREN AS JUVENILES AS THEY SHOULD IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YET HERE THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE ACT AS ADULTS IN MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL PERMANENTLY ALTER THEIR BODIES.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND HAD AN ABORTION REFERENDUM BACK IN THE 1990s THAT WAS HOTLY DEBATED.

MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN THIS QUESTION IS GETTING.

PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS IN MARYLAND MIGHT HAVE DEGRADED OVER TIME?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

AND THAT LAW THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT WENT TO REFERENDUM IN '92 AND 62% OF MARYLANDERS VOTED FOR THAT LAW.

THAT LAW HAS ALLOWED ABORTION THROUGH BIRTH IN MARYLAND.

IT'S FULLLY INUNRESTRICTED.

WE HAVE TWOAL TRIMIDWESTER ABORTION CLINICS IN MARYLAND.

IN 2022 THE ACT WAS PASSED AND THAT REQUIRES THAT MEDICAID AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ALL EXPENSES FOR ABORTIONS.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE A VETO PROOF MAJORITY FOR ABORTION SUPPORT IN MARYLAND.

AND THAT SO A VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT WON'T CHANGE ANY OF THOSE LAWS AT ALL.

BUT A VOTE YES WILL GIVE CHILDREN THE SAME RIGHTS AS ADULTS TO PURSUE ANY TYPES OF DRUGS AND SURGERIES RELATED TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND ANATOMY.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH PEOPLE ON THE FENCE?

>> WE FEEL THIS IS A COMMON SENSE ISSUE FOR EVERYONE.

WHETHER YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE EVERYONE CARES ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERYONE THINKS PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION DECISIONS.

NO ONE WANTS OTHER PEOPLE OTHER RANDOM ADULTS INTERFERING WITH THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, THE POLLING ON THIS IS PRETTY CONSISTENT THAT SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE THIS DECISION IN THE FIRST TRIMIDWESTER.

THE NUMBERS CHANGE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE THIRD TRIMESTER AND IT GETS LESS POPULAR.

IF YOU HAD AN UNDECIDED VOTER IN FRONT OF YOU WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL THEM THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ISSUE THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T?

>> WELL, WHEN AN ABORTION OCCURS IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE IN MARYLAND BECAUSE IT IS UNRESTRICTED.

ABORTION THROUGH BIRTH IS PERMITTED IN MARYLAND.

AN UNDECIDED VOTER I WOULD ASK THEM IF THEY THINK IT'S OKAY FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO GO AND GET A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM HER PARENTS OR A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY GETTING PUBERTY BLOCKERS WITHOUT GUIDANCE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE PARENTS.

>> Jeff: WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT BORINGS.

>> THIS AMENDMENT IS REALLY ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND PARENTAL RIGHTS.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

DON'T FALL FOR THE BAIT AND SWITCH.

THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD GET THIS THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE CENTIMENT IN MARYLAND THAT ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL AND SHOULD BE UNRESTRICTED.

IT ALREADY IS.

SO WE DO NOT WANT PRO-CHOICE VOTERS TO BE TRICKED INTO VOTING AWAY THEIR PARENTAL RIGHTS.

THAT IS SOMETHING, AS I SAID, THAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON WE CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT PARENTS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO DIRECT THE DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

>> Jeff: IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE ROE VS. WADE DECISION.

AND AS YOU SAY, NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN MARYLAND.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN OTHER PLACES EVEN SOME NEARBY STATES.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CHANGES IN WEST VIRGINIA FOR EXAMPLE?

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY SAID THEY WANTED.

THEY WANTED THESE DECISIONS PUT BACK IN THE STATES.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IN WEST VIRGINIA IS UP TO WEST VIRGINIA RESIDENTS.

WE'RE HERE IN MARYLAND AND THE RESIDENTS OF MARYLAND DECIDED IN 1992, THEY WANTED THIS ABORTION LAW AND SUPPORT FOR THAT ABORTION LAW HAS GROWN IN MARYLAND.

THE LAST POLL PUTS SUPPORT FOR ABORTION IN MARYLAND AT 80%.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT IS IN MARYLAND.

BUT I WOULD SAY IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH SPREADING THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT, IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS OF MARYLAND BELIEVE IN PARENTAL RIGHTS.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] SECRETS FROM THE PARENTS ABOUT THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU A DISTRICT COURT RULED AGAINST THE PARENTS AND IN FAVOR OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM KEEPING SECRETS FROM THE PARENTS.

WHEN APPEALED TO THE FEDERAL COURT, THE FEDERAL COURT RULED AGAINST THE PARENTS.

I THINK WHEN PARENTS FIND THIS OUT THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT IT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

OF THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WHEN THEY ARE FINDING OUT IN SOME SCHOOLS THEY ARE CHANGING ROOMS FOR CHILDREN WHERE CHILDREN WILL LEAVE THEIR HOME DRESSED ONE WAY IN THE MORNING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND THEY GET TO SCHOOL AND THEY ARE PROVIDED AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN CHANGE AND ASSUME ANOTHER IDENTITY WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL AND THEN CHANGE BACK BEFORE THEY GO HOME AND THE PARENTS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS THE REALLY THE NEW MANTRA THEY ARE TRYING TO CLAIM THAT CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO PRIVACY THAT SUPERSEDES A PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW.

THAT IS ODD.

WHY WOULD IT BE AT RANDOM ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL WOULD BE ALLOWED TO KNOW PRIVATE PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT A CHILD THAT THE PARENTS MIGHT NOT KNOW.

THAT IS BACKWARDS.

>> Jeff: DEBORAH BROCATO IS CHAIR OF HEALTH NOT HARM MARYLAND.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU AND WE URGE PEOPLE TO VOTE NO ON QUESTION ONE TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND PRESERVE PARENTAL RIGHTS.

>> Jeff: FOR MORE OF OUR POLITICAL COVERAGE VISIT MPT.ORG/VOTE 2024.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD