Blevins is the Key.
In the battle to petition HB5 out of the Executive Committee, we need 11 Senators to sign on.
We have eight at this moment. The current thinking is that is Majority Whip Patty Blevins signs on, she may bring with her Hall-Long and Katz. So email and Senator Blevins (Patricia.Blevins@state.de.us, (302) 744-4133)
And let’s work to convince the following Democrats that Democrats stand for equality for all:
Harris B. McDowell (Harris.McDowell@state.de.us; (302) 744-4147)
Robert I. Marshall (Robert.Marshall@state.de.us; (302) 744-4168)
Michael Katz (Michael.Katz@state.de.us; (302) 744-4286)
Bethany Hall-Long (Bethany.Hall-Long@state.de.us; (302) 744-4286)
David McBride (David.McBride@state.de.us; (302) 744-4167)
Bruce Ennis (Bruce.Ennis@state.de.us; (302) 744-4310)
Indeed, if Blevins wants support to be the next Majority Leader or, dare I say, the President Pro Tem once Uncle Thurm resigns in protest, this is her chance to move up.
The key to BHL is to tell her this move will do nothing but make her career longer. She’ll jump on board faster than she can finally show up at a community meeting a month before election day.
El Somnambulo’s not so sure about the ‘calculus’. Blevins cut a deal in order to be in the leadership equation, which puts her on the inside. She’d need to be real sure that Karen had 10 other strong votes before she’d throw in with them.
He believes Katz is a likely signer in any event.
He cannot overstate BH-L’s ties to Thurman. They’re real (and they’re not spectacular).
On this issue, he could see a lot of pressure put on McDowell, and it’s possible he could be swayed.
Marshall’s in a tough spot b/c the Diocese is so prominent and vocal in his district. ‘Bulo believes that, if an 11th vote were required to PASS the bill, Marshall might vote yes. But, he’d be risking a firestorm to vote to petition the bill out of committee. Still, he’d be worth a shot.
In the past, McBride likely could have been counted on. But he had a ‘born again’ experience around 1998 (‘bulo is not making this up), and he’s spent a lot of time quoting religious scripture since then. He may be out of reach now, unless Mars has installed phone service.
Even Bruce Ennis is not as intolerant as some have suggested. He would need to be lobbied by people in his district, and people in his district only. He is always willing to meet w/people, and he is a respectful person. If he can be convinced that there are many good people in his district who support HB 5, well, you’re not gonna get the Jim Vaughn ‘I don’t give a good goddamn what anybody thinks’ response.
I agree with Bulo, BH-L will never cross Adams. Never….not in a million years.
BHL will not sign the petition. She is too smart for that. I would expect that she would not vote against the bill if it came to the floor. I can’t predict more than that.
She would probably not vote.
Safest prediction ever on the safest legislator ever (meaning wouldn’t take a potential controversial stand ever).
I’m thinking BHL has voted for this in the House before she moved uptown. I’m not too sure a petition is the way to go because those last three names they need always want to be counted last. Another smack down like the one on HB 1 may be the way to go. Make all of the senators who want to be the 11th signer stand up and be counted. HMcD has sponsored this legislation in the past and Patty has been befriended by the pocketbooks of gays enough that she should be the first one to sign on. Katz stepped out of line once by voting to free HB 1 so he’s ripe for the picking because he’s already on leadership’s poop list. Do we know where Ennis was on previous incarnations of this bill in the House?