eastern on c-span. >> during a visit to new hampshire, maryland governor larry hogan said he was seriously considering a run for the white house in 2020 amid speculation of a possible primary challenge to president trump. the republican governor made that comment at a "politics and college.saint anselm from manchester, this is just over one hour. morning,n: -- >> good everyone. can you please take your seats.

thank you. my name is dr. steve, i am the president here at saint anselm college. we had a busy night last night so we are tired. not one, not to, but five town halls here on campus that concluded at about 12:30 this morning. so, if anybody wants to contest the fact that we are the center of the political universe, go and try. hosting sethbe moulton tomorrow at the bedford village in as part of our partnership with new england council. we are thrilled to have governor hogan here this morning. delighted that he could be here with us. we are all interested in hearing his message. overl now turn the podium to my good friend, jim brett. i am so tired, i cannot give him a needle. come on up, jim. [applause]

jim: good morning. i want to thank the good doctor for those wonderful, wonderful words of welcoming. [laughter] jim: i really appreciate it. now i know why you look the way you do. you are someone that i have got to know for many years here at this wonderful institution. i am saddened to learn that the good doctor will be departing saint anselm. but we are very pleased that he has just been named the president of another new england councilmember. that is and a caulk college and the commonwealth of massachusetts. he will take over the reins there the next few months. i know i speak for the community that the good doctor has done an

outstanding job here in his leadership, vision, standby] -- jim: and so many other national news outlets come here. they don't come here by accident. it's called leadership and he has demonstrated it. we want to wish him the very, very best. i want to thank neil levesque and his team for being incredible partners to the new england council as we have the "politics and eggs" series. we have seen a lot of each other, i have a feeling we will see even more in the next several weeks. as the good doctor just eluded

to, tomorrow will be another "politics and eggs" for a member of the nash at you should -- massachusetts delegation. we will speak at the bedford village. on wednesday afternoon we will be back in boston for another college campus. that is northeastern university for our first higher education policy conference. we hope that many of you will join. we have over 125 people that have signed up. we hope to see you at our washington as that at may 8 and may 9 known as a washington leadership conference. it will be an exciting two days. of the house, the 12 united states senators. we have members of the president's cabinet speaking to the new england council. we have a medium -- a media for him. -- forum. it will be a very exciting two days. today we are very honored to

welcome to the granite state, the governor of the old lie in state, larry hogan -- lion state, larry hogan. he is the 62nd governor of the great state of maryland. just reelected to a second term last fall by a very large margin. receiving the most of votes of any maryland gubernatorial candidate, and becoming the only second republican governor to be reelected in the 242 year history of the state. as of this january he was ranked -- i have to emphasize this because i spoke to the governor of the state to the south -- he was ranked as the second most popular governor in the united states. with a 68% approval. truly inote that he is very good company at the top of that list. our good friend, charlie baker. just two spots ahead of new

hampshire's own governor chris sununu. looking ahead at his record in office it is easy to understand why. avernor hogan has made it priority to create a more business friendly climate in the state. with tax relief, balanced budget, and long-term fiscal responsibility to his state. he reformed only 850 regulations, reduced or eliminated 250 fees across state government. he cut holes that everything will state facility for the first time in more than 50 years. result of these efforts, maryland's private sector has seen tremendous growth. our good friend the governor's first year in office was the most successful in total job creation and private sector job growth in the last 15 years. after previously losing over

100,000 jobs, maryland has created nearly 120,000 jobs. that's under his leadership. amid all this, he was also diagnosed and treated with stage three non-options lymphoma -- non-hodgkin's lymphoma. thankfully today he is cancer free. [applause] jim: and now he is thinking about what his next challenge might be, as he considers whether he might challenge the incumbent president as he seeks reelection next year. we are very pleased, and has his very first visit in the primary state, one of his first stops is "politics and eggs." welcoming the in

second most popular governor in the united states, governor larry hogan. [laughter] [applause] gov. hogan: good morning. thank you, thank you very much. it is great to be here in manchester. i want to thank jim for that wonderful introduction. thank you for making sure that everybody knew i was the second most popular. i want to thank you jim and everyone at the new england council, along with neil levesque and the new hampshire institute of politics. the president here at saint anselm. it truly is an honor to be here with all of you this morning to speak before this very distinguished group. i want to thank you all for being head this morning, especially those of you who were up late last night. and the students particularly. it is great that you are here 8:00 in the morning. thank you all for being here. let me start by saying for my

friends in the media that are here this morning, that i am not here to make any official announcements today. i just thought that april would be a beautiful time to visit new hampshire. [laughter] i know you have those five democratic candidates here doing the cnn town hall last night. guess there are 19 democratic candidates in the race for president already. what joe biden jumping in the race tomorrow, or maybe the next day. even more that are still considering throwing their hats into the ring. at least 20 democratic candidates are going to be descending on the state of new hampshire. i thought it was important to do my part and bring a little bit of political diversity to "politics and eggs." i have been asked to sign just about everything. bobble heads, t-shirts, baseballs, crab mallets, but i

was excited to finally get the chance to sign those famous wooden eggs. thank you very much for the invitation. governor chris sununu also invited me up here for a visit. he said he could really use some advice about how to deal with the democratic legislator, a new phenomenon for him. i had lunch with the most popular governor in america. your famous governor of massachusetts. charlie baker, i told them i am coming for him. i am always one point or two points behind him. he text me and says, you are nipping at my heels. you are a tough guy to catch up with. i said the next one that comes out i will be number one. he said, bring it on. arelie and i talked and we willing to come up. and share our experiences with governor sununu about dealing with legislators. it's great to be back here in

the beautiful granite state. i spent a little bit of time here during the 2016 presidential election. wearingristie had been a lime green hogan strong wristband. are stillelieve those in circulation, but thank you for wearing that this morning. throughout my battle with cancer mentioned, chris christie had their wristband off throughout the presidential campaign. he pledged that he would not take it off until i was cancer free. i called him what the good news and i said, you can finally take that wristband off. he said, i'm not that it take it off. you have to come to new hampshire and cut it off my wrist. at a very emotional town hall in peterborough. i really appreciated the kind gesture by governor christie. i think it was just a ploy to get me to campaign for him.

i traveled around on his campaign bus. i was here for the republican debate and for election night where i introduced him. chris had helped me two years earlier and 2014 when he was chairman of the republican and when association, absolutely no one gave us any chance whatsoever to win the state of maryland. iryland is arguably -- and had this argument with the governor of massachusetts -- but is the most liberal state in america. voter registration more than 2-1, democrat to republican. by five to stead one. just before the election, famed clinical process to cater -- hadnosticator make silver accurately predicted every single electoral vote in the before a couple of weeks the election. he said i had a 94% chance of

losing by between 12 and 16 points. instead we pulled off the greatest surprise upset in america. the new york times lead a story who?"larry called it a nuclear explosion in maryland. i became the second republican elected in 50 years because our state was way off track and headed in the wrong direction. our economy was floundering. too many people were struggling just to get by. 43 consecutive tax heights -- an additionaln $10 billion out of the pockets of struggling families and small businesses. our unemployment rate had nearly doubled. our overall economic performance was 49th out of 50 states. showed that nearly

half of all marylanders wanted to leave the state. as a lifelong maryland or that broke my heart. it made me angry enough to want to try to do something about it. and step up and run for governor is what i decided i had to do. that was the first elective office i ever held. i said we would try to get the government off our backs and out of our pockets so that we can grow the private sector and put people back to work and turn our economy around. our common sense bipartisan republicans, democrats, and independence with a unifying message that resonated with people all across our state. i committed to usher in a new era of bipartisan cooperation. one filled with hope and optimism where the best ideas rise to the top based on merit,

regardless of which side of the aisle they come from. i pledged to govern with civility and moderation, and to avoid the attempts to drive us to the extremes of either political party. to put maryland on a new have to clean up the mess in our state, and to bring fiscal responsibility and common sense to our state capital. not usuallydoes happen in politics, but for a little more than four years we have been doing exactly what we said we were going to do. challengesr fiscal , and eased resolve the tax burden on hard-pressed americans. the very first budget that i submitted a laminated a 5.1 billion dollar structural deficit. both houses of our legislator are more than two thirds

democratic majority. we have worked together to pass balanced budgets every single year without raising taxes. in fact, we have cut taxes for years in a row by $1.2 billion. back into that money the pockets of hard-working families, retirees, and small businesses. growing into our economy. and cleared away the tangle of regulatory undergrowth and paved the way for historic economic growth and record job creation. ,ore businesses are now open and more people are working than ever before in the history of our state. we have had one of the best economic turnarounds in america. we had made record and historic investments in education every single year. to give our schools the

resources needed to prepare our children for the opportunities of the future. we protected the health care coverage of hundreds of andsands of marylanders, achieved lower insurance rates for the first time in a decade. we met our transportation challenges head on by rebuilding our infrastructure. scaled practiced stewardship of the environment, which has resulted in clean air standards that are stronger than 48 other states, and a chesapeake they which is cleaner than it has been in recorded history. our state is only 26% republican. but, after four years of bipartisan success, and economic progress, last november, in our deep loose state, in a big blue year, with a huge blue wave, we

rode a purple surfboard to an overwhelming double-digit victory. while my party was racking up losses all across the country, and our stay, where hillary clinton won in 2016 by 26 points, as jim mentioned, i got more votes than any previous gubernatorial candidate ever, and i became the second republican governor reelected in the entire 243 year history of our state. state rejectedur divisive politics. and voted instead for civility. bipartisanship, and common sense. they sent a loud and clear message to washington that they .eard, across the country as a young man i worked for ronald reagan.

who once said that there is no limit to the amount of good that you can do if you don't care who gets the credit. if that kind of commonsense pragmatism has guided our past. we found a way to disagree without being disagreeable. we stood side-by-side with our democratic legislator, our clearlyt views acknowledge, but not obstructing our path forward. we spent four years working together to unshackle the and potentialise of our state. we debated, discussed, and reasoned together. honestly and productively, with integrity and sincere purpose. we argued without acrimony. negotiated without hidden agendas.

withoutromised political posturing. we did not demand republican solutions are democratic solutions, we sought out bipartisan commonsense solutions that worked for the people of our state. we did not surrender our principles, we simply practiced the art of the possible. we trusted the voters to appreciate the distinction. rather than engaging in mere rhetoric, we delivered real results. for the people who elected us. we have put people's priorities before partisan interests. problemsed our common by excepting our shared responsibility to solve that. we have repudiated the debilitating politics practiced elsewhere, including just 30

miles down the road from our statehouse in washington. insults substitute for debate. for compromise. -- we are the only results and where the only result is divisiveness and dysfunction. we are getting something done -- were getting something done for the people no longer seems to be a priority. there is plenty of blame to go around. people on both sides of the aisle refused to give up even a little to get a lot done. neither side really wants to make progress, they just want to make demands and win arguments. that is not governing. that's just political theater. and most americans are sick and

tired of all that drama. to stand upilling and fight for the things that really matter. but not for status quo politics. perpetuate polarization and paralysis. i come from the get to work and get things done school about things. i will work with anyone who wants to do the people's business. worries, stress and drama in our private lives, don't we? child, orave a sick an elderly parent to care for. problems at work or in school. , orouse who has lost a job a close friend who is hurting. maybe we recently received a tough diagnosis, or lost someone

we love to. challengeser enough that give us plenty to worry about. but you should not have to worry , or constantly obsess over, or argue constantly about angry and divisive politics. you should be able to have confidence in the character and the confidence in the people you elect to office, regardless of their party affiliation. and trust that they will do their best to achieve real solutions. us who are blessed by your trust, we should give you a government that does not act as if it is something apart from you, but one that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

a government that appreciates that no one of us has all the answers or all the power. toleratesnt that contrary views among a diverse citizenry without making them into enemies, or doubting their patriotism. a government that can discuss and debate with as much civility is passion. and with a view to persuade, not intimidate, to encourage, not demonize or defeat. that is exactly what we have succeeded in providing to the people of our state over the past four years. a humble, tolerant, respectful, and affect his government. that has worked together and

found bipartisan commonsense solutions. a government that took on big problems and actually made things better for the people we serve. a government that we could all be proud of. years ago, more than two thirds of all marylanders thought our state was way off track and headed in the right direction -- in the wrong direction. after all the progress we have made together, more than two thirds of all marylanders think we are headed in the right direction. while partisanship and dysfunction have literally consumed washington, just write down the road, right next door, in maryland we have chosen a completely different path. we have been standing up for who areausted majority

completely fed up with all the angry and divisive politics. i think, i believe that what people really want is for their elected officials, in both parties, to stop all the fighting and just yet to work and get things done. wedge politics and petty rhetoric, which is used so often today to cause and to incite anger on the right and the left. i still believe that what unites us is greater than that which divides us. are notlems we face easily remedied. overcomeve faced and more dotting challenges before.

as individuals, and as a nation. my experiences over the past withyears have blessed me optimism. not burden me with dread. and i know from personal fearience that hope, not ,s the most powerful emotion and the author of humanity's greatest achievements. say that our is too brokenem and that it cannot be fakes, -- cannot be fixed, i would argue that we have already shown a better path forward. in ouran accomplish it state, then there is no place in

america where these very same principles cannot succeed. thank you, god bless you, and may god continue to bless the united states of america. [laughter] -- [applause] >> we have a few minutes for questions. we have some students who have the microphone. if you can just wait until the microphones come. maybe identify yourself. aarp always ask a question on day care? >> some grandparents are concerned about day care. >> i am emily from the executive council of the aarp. our question has to do with prescription drugs. americans today continue to pay

the highest drug prices of anyone in the world. one should have to choose between feeding their families and taking the drugs that are necessary. do you agree the drug prices are too high, and if so, how would you were to lower those prescription drug costs, and how would you make them affordable for all americans? gov. hogan: i appreciate the whole table of aarp members being here and thank you for your work on behalf of retired people and your passion on these issues. yes, i agree. prescription drug pricing is definitely too high. it is a major issue in the country, and one that we have to find bipartisan consensus on. seems to be people talking at each other and not with each other. we have to find real solutions, as we have done in maryland.

we are still working on trying to solve the prescription drug price problem. we just passed a bill to try to address the issue. we appointed a commission to try to study how we will solve it. we don't have all the answers yet. it is not just pharmaceutical , there are middlemen, pharmacies, the insurance companies. everybody has a part of this problem. we have to look at it holistic way, but there's no question that has to be addressed. we came together on health care in our state. the washington post said we had the most and abate of solutions of any state in the country. with washington failing on these issues, it should be addressed in washington. they have not been able to get almost anything done on health care or prescription drugs. our state on insurance rates, which was another big issue

about paying insurance or put food on the table or pay other bills. we came together and protected coverage and lowered rates for the first time in a decade since the informal care act. with a to come up similar solution where we get democrats and republicans together on pharmaceutical prices. it is affecting not just the elderly and retired folks, but people across the board. thank you. questions for the governor question mark -- governor? in 2014, the year you were elected, the freddie gray protests really put baltimore on a national stage and brought abouta larger discussion policing, especially in cities like baltimore. what have you done in your tenure to address some of the concerns that were raised during these protests, and also, what

would be your plan for a national stage to try to heal the divides in our criminal justice system? first of all, with the riots that broke out in baltimore, i had been governor for 89 days. the death of freddie gray sparked unrest in baltimore city. within the first few hours we had 400 something businesses and homes destroyed. 147 police and firefighters were injured. the city was out of control. -- gotten ourt in team together. we sent in 4000 members of the national guard. i moved my entire operation to the city of baltimore. i walked the streets for a weekend talked with people in the communities, faith-based leaders and folks that were upset, i walked the streets of

every corner of baltimore and talked with them. we restored peace and calm to the city of baltimore. i now teach a course at the national governors association. over just other governors with how did you like a crisis -- deal with a crisis like that. that was just the immediate crisis to bring law and order back. then you have to address the issues. we passed criminal justice reform in our state, and, working with democrats. one of the most innovative in america. it was a real bipartisan effort that we got things done. it fromrying to adjust a criminal justice standpoint, but there are other issues. we are trying to bring in job training, put more money in education. we have a removal program where many people were saying, look at the boarded buildings were they

are dealing drugs. we have removed 3000 boarded-up holdings. the work on 50 years of things out of caused all the issues, but we had to fix the immediate crisis and what we will do long-term to solve the problems. america haveross similar issues that have to be addressed. it is not just a policing issue or or -- or urban unrest issue. you have to look at everything. >> other questions for the governor? >> i appreciate you being here today. alzheimer's is the fifth leading cause of death in the united whats [indiscernible]

would you suggest we do? it is a terrible crisis, and probably one of the cancer, there to are a lot of things out there that are terrible diseases, but this is one of the most tragic, alzheimer's. i lost a first cousin to early-onset alzheimer's who died at age 60 from this. younger than i am. it was just tragic. i don't know the exact numbers in marilyn, but we are as state.d as every other thank you for being involved in trying to raise awareness with this issue. we have a commission in maryland that is helping to raise awareness and get more people involved. i would love to hear from you about the things you think can be addressed. obviously raising awareness and more money towards finding solutions. in maryland we have headquarters for nih and johns hopkins and university of maryland medical.

new potential drugs and discoveries i think may be part of the answer. but getting people focused on the problem because it is a tragic and terrible disease. >> the gentleman in the back. thank you, larry hogan for coming. you talked about washington not getting anything done and you get a lot done in maryland. when do you think you will decide to run or not run? you talked about a lot of democrats jumping in that race. when will you make your decision? gov. hogan: this was not something that i was really focused on. a lot of people have been approaching me, probably since the time of my inauguration in late january. people have asked me to give it serious consideration. it tok it oh it -- iowa

those people to do just that. that is what i am doing, i am listening, coming to new hampshire and listening to people is a part of that process. i have been to 10 states in the past few months. 16 more are on my schedule. where -- i the point have said i will not launch some kind of a suicide mission. i have a real day job that is important to me. the people of maryland. unless i thought there was a path to victory. i talked to bill before he launched, but he is not a sitting governor. i have strong concerns about the future of my party and the future of the country. take as much time as i need to make the decision. i think you know better than deadline ise november. there is more time than most people think. we have democratic candidates that announce almost every week.

people think that you have to make those decisions early now. i don't think that's true. i think you can do them later in the fall. there's no real timeline. what did you think of the republican national committee passing the resolution earlier this year giving the president undivided support? gov. hogan: i was pretty critical of that. not that the republican national committee does not have the right to support the sitting president, but to change the rules and to insist 100% royalty to theleader, -- loyalty leader, it did not sound like the republican party i grew up in, working for ronald reagan and supporting george bush. i am for return to a more traditional republican party. but changing the rules and stifling debate. we can't even have a open discussion about the future of

the party and the country. it's to me very shortsighted and the republicanr national committee. it does not represent the average voter. there is a small group in washington that makes these decisions. are not really representative of the average person. >> do you have a question? brad.ntleman behind >> thank you, governor. if you were to decide to run for president how would you balance the budget? gov. hogan: i would just have a magic wand. in much the same way -- it's not easy. to say i have a magic solution. we have to start working across party lines. we balance the budget every single year for four years were

two thirds of the house and the senate are democrats. many of them want to raise taxes .hen i want to not raise taxes we found a way to reach agreement. in washington, i don't think passed a fullly budget with continuing resolutions. they have not passed a budget since 1996. i don't know when the last balanced budget was. we have to work on reining in spending. we have to work with democrats and republicans together. states do it all the time. governors are governing. republicans and democrats. but washington is not. washington is broken and dysfunctional. one person cannot fix it by themselves. president up to the when i disagree with him on particular issues and i've said certain things that i didn't

like, like his tone or the way he was conducting himself. are notissue is we getting anything done. we are not getting congress to do anything. there is no real leadership. we are not bringing people together. it is just constant finger-pointing, name-calling and we are gridlocked. we have to fix that. >> the gentleman behind brad. >> thank you for being here today. northern new england, like many other parts of the u.s., is suffering from an issue involving infrastructure. you haveering what done to fix infrastructure in your own state, and what you would do if you ran for president to solve the issue? gov. hogan: that is an excellent question. in maryland we had crumbling roads and bridges and the worst traffic in america when i was elected governor. we have focused on it like a laser beam.

we have now moved forward on the top priority road projects in every single one of our counties and every single jurisdiction. we have now moved forward on a new transit system in baltimore and washington area. in with stops and ties the washington metro system, amtrak. i have invested more in transit than any previous governor. and more on roads. three the largest piece public/private transit system in america. on roads we propose that largest new highway project in the world. fix the traffic situation in the washington area connecting washington and baltimore. as the incoming chair of the association,rnors every governor, not just knowing when maryland, every state is dealing with this.

it is another example of washington failing to lead. not doing anything on infrastructure. we are going to bring all the governors together of all the counties in congress and white house, there is disagreement about how to solve these problems and different solutions, but first is bringing the stakeholders to the table. nobody is even focused on it. we are not even having discussions. i will try to lead those whether i amnd see running for president or not, i will do something about infrastructure across the country. >> gentleman to the right. is brandon, i am a student here. i had the opportunity over winter break to go on a solidarity trip. i spent the week and baltimore city working with the homeless population. is there anything you have done

as governor to help alleviate that huge problem in more urban areas in maryland? gov. hogan: we put more money into assisting organizations providing help for the homeless. make lessied to homeless people by investing in drug treatment programs. put six under $40 million into addiction programs. they often go hand-in-hand. toare working on trying focus on poverty by providing job-training opportunities to help people get into an opportunity where they can get out of homelessness and poverty. and find a place to live. i think we're making some real progress. >> if i can ask a question on the politics. bill wells is the only candidate in the republican primary. i you encouraging other candidates who think on your

line of thinking to get into the primary, or are you just happy to be where you are and be a person of counsel? gov. hogan: bill well call me before he announced. i had a great conversation with him. i wished him well and encouraged up and run. he was a wonderful governor from massachusetts. -- if youo believe are supportive of the president ,r not, i believe that debate discussion, and talking about the issues is good. i think having the ability to have different viewpoints is good. that's why they are cutting off any discussion. it could make him a stronger candidate. if other people are waiting to see who he will run against. i think the more the merrier. you have 20 people on the democratic side and we will see

about that for the next year and a half, or until they select somebody next year. but we have nobody on the other side. i want to thank bill well for stepping up. i think others ought to consider as well. i am really concerned. in maryland, we won in a blue state. we won because i one suburban women overwhelmingly. i went over a third of the africa -- african-american voter. no other republican is doing that. i am for building the republican party into a bigger tent. that can appeal to more people. i think we are doing the opposite. i think the republican party is shrinking the base down to only a certain percentage of white males. nationalnot win elections are state elections. having more voices that are saying more things and showing that the republican party is

, itrse and not monolithic is healthy for the party and country. i am am hoping others will consider as well. >> one final question because i know the governor has a schedule. do you want to wait for the microphone. the piece cross was important to me growing up in high school. i was wondering if you can give any insight into your thinking, depending on which way the supreme court decides if there is way to preserve peace cross. gov. hogan: for those of you who are not marylanders, thank you. we are sorry we lost you to new hampshire. i grew up not too far from their. i went around the piece cross every day going to school.

cross was a memorial that was put up by the american to buy the families, the widows and children of heroes in world war i. in -- i don't know exactly when the year was. of courage,ross thou are an for heroes in world war i. they put it in this location. in, the years roads came and roads go around it. somebody said because it was a cross they wanted to take it down. we stood up and fought for it. it is now in federal court. we are not going to let them take down the piece cross that has been there for all most a decade honoring the world war i veterans. i understand it's a religious

symbol, but it's just to honor those men. just as having the star of david or a cross at a cemetery. we have been leading the fight and we will win the fight. they were to somehow win that court case, we still won't take it down. a will find a way to set up privacy group that we can transfer the property to and we will keep that in perpetuity. >> we want to think the governor , again, the second most popular governor. gov. hogan: soon to be number one after today. [applause] >> very nice. quick tomorrow -- >> tomorrow, we are back in new hampshire with congressman seth moulton, who announced his candidacy for president this week.

he was first elected to the house of representatives in 2013. we will bring you remarks at 7:45 a.m. eastern on c-span two. >> sunday night, president trump is holding a campaign rally in green bay, wisconsin, skipping the annual white house correspondents dinner. watch live coverage of the at --ent's rally, sunday saturday at 8:00 a.m. -- 80 club p.m. eastern. 8:00 p.m.0 p.m. -- eastern. at 9:30, thet, white house correspondents dinner. >> the supreme court heard oral argument about whether the trumpet ministration could proceed in adding a question about citizenship to the u.s. census. attorney karenon