General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 28, 2012
I thought I’d said all I was going to say about online gaming which, in many ways, is a government ‘bet’ on the racinos. As I predicted, HB 333(Viola) passed the Senate yesterday, and Gov. Markell is poised to sign it. However, we were treated to yet more Theatre of the Absurd, this time courtesy of Sen. Bob Venables. Anon first alerted us to this in a response to yesterday’s post-game/pre-game. But this is just too ironic for words (in this case, word for word from the News-Journal):
There is a chance the final roll call will not stand. After the vote, Sen. Robert Venebles, D-Laurel, said he meant to vote no but mistakenly voted yes.
Venebles said later that he had turned down his hearing aid to eliminate background noise in the chamber and thought the vote being taken was on Ennis’ amendment, which he supported.
The senator said he might move to rescind the roll call by majority vote, forcing the chamber to revote on HB 333. If the governor signs the bill into law, that would not be an option.
Both the News-Journal and Venables look equally obsolete in this. The paper can’t spell the senator’s name right? And the senator can no longer hear what he’s voting on?
As long as we’re on the topic of Delaware’s Worst Legislator, the Viola tax break to the telecoms passed unanimously as well.
Hey, time for some good news. We can all use some good news about now, right? Governor Markell signed the payday loans bill into law yesterday. From the press release:
“Payday loans are a stopgap fix to financial problems, not a long-term solution. People who regularly take out or roll over payday loans are in untenable financial situations and desperately need relief,” said Rep. Helene Keeley, D-Wilmington South. “This bill will hopefully help break that cycle and put people back on the right path. There are many other avenues out there for people facing financial problems – nonprofit groups can provide counseling and assistance, and banks are probably a more viable option for people who need a more long-term solution.”
The state Justice of Peace Court system reported that last year, payday lenders filed more than 2,400 cases in Justice of the Peace Courts for payday loan defaults.
Great work by the sponsors and the grassroots supporters on this. It is possible, just never easy, if you don’t have big bucks on your side.
Other highlights from yesterday’s Session Activity Report include:
The Senate passed some good animal cruelty legislation yesterday, and it now goes to the Governor. 5 no votes.
Four Senate grandstanders voted against the Budget Bill. Won’t stop ’em from bragging to their constituents about what they’re bringing home to the district. Hypocrites. The four nos: Bonini, Lawson, Katz, and Booth. Meaning that Booth voted against funding for his beloved Sussex Vo-Tech although, to be fair, there sure is some wasteful spending there. In this case, every penny being paid to double-dipper Joe Booth.
On the House side, hmmm, this bill looks mighty…interesting. Wonder just what 2-person police department we’re dealing with here. Or could it be…a sheriff’s department? Inquiring minds want to know. Bill passed on almost a straight party line vote, with John Atkins voting no with the R’s. More info, please.
SB 22(Sorenson) unanimously passed the House and heads to the Governor. The bill provides for insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
The House unanimously passed SB 190(Peterson), which ensures that a correctional institution does not use restraints on a pregnant prisoner except under very limited circumstances. Bill heads to the Governor.
Looks like Biff Lee’s homage to auctioneer David Wilson will have to wait for another session and another prime sponsor. Lee is retiring, and he has stricken HB 361 on the way out. Not sure how the generally-attentive House Sunset Committee allowed this abomination to reach the floor.
Danger, Will Robinson, Danger! The Senate has no agenda posted, and it will be working bills off the agenda from now on. That means no advance public notice. That’s when bills like this often sneak through. The real mischief occurs when the disinfectant of public sunlight is turned off. That time is now in the Delaware State Senate. You have been warned.
The House will consider and pass the Budget Bill today. With Katz’ no vote yesterday, can a Lavelle no vote be far behind?
Here’s the entire House Agenda for today.
HB 308 still hasn’t passed the House. I’m worried that the Chamber of Commerce has convinced enough legislators that employees and applicants do not deserve ‘right to privacy’ protections. Should this bill fail, it will be eee-vil triumphing over good. As long as eee-vil has the checkbook(s), it will triumph more often than not in Dover.
I support SB 249(Bunting), which would name the Agriculture Administrative Building after Richard Cordrey. Sen. Cordrey was President-Pro-Tempore of the Delaware State Senate during many of my years working down there, and he was, by all accounts, including mine, a superb Pro-Tem, and a real down-to earth person. He was always fair and helpful to those of us on staff, and he never ‘big-timed’ anybody, as far as I know. He deserves this honor.
It is now my honor to sign off for today.
Tags: Bob Venables Delaware, El Somnambulo, Joe Booth Delaware, payday loans Delaware, Steve Tanzer Delaware
I know you don’t think much of SB 235 Redistricting but I would like to see it reach the House floor at some point before midnight Sat. 30th. Heard anything?
Could someone with more legislative or state constitutional law experience explain to me why the Internet gambling act did not require 3/4 majorities in each House for passage? As I understand the bill it raises additional State revenues by authorizing Internet access to lotteries and table games as well as permitting lottery and keno sales in non-agent venues. Those new revenues are then allocated (appropriated) to the State’s race tracks so they can pay increased horse racing purses. That would seem to trigger the provisions of Art. 8, sec. 4 of the State Constitution. That section precludes any appropriation to a county, municipality, or CORPORATION without 3/4 supermajorities in each chamber. The Internet gaming act raises new revenues and then appropriates them to private corporations, the race tracks. So how was the 3/4 requirement inapplicable?
@ El Somnambulo: I understand you’re not ‘happy’ with Mr. Booth if for no other reason than he’s and R and you’re a D but until the Dem’s put someone up to run in that district race in November why beat on him when you consider the alternative? If the alternative should win the primary it would be an easy win for the Dem’s in November…if you have a candidate…wouldn’t you agree?
Well, Paul, you’re wrong. I’m beating on Booth b/c he’s as blatant a double-dipper as Sen. Tony DeLuca who, BTW, is a D.
I’ve been very critical of what passes for the D Party in western Sussex, and they SHOULD run someone. But practically speaking, that’s strong R territory, and the winner of the R primary would be the favorite, even with a credible D candidate.
to paul on el som on booth saying booth is better than the teaparty guy with the guy with the funny name is like saying he;s ok because he only beats his wife when he;s drunk(adkins?) Booth is not only a double dipper but he corrupted the process getting the job. no one knew there was a job it was never posted and none else was interviewd.I think with a good candidate hitting booth on this corruption Booth would be easier to beat than the tea party guy.Even if we got the teaparty guy the state is used to surviving bad sussex counyy legislators viz. Charlie West, Adkins, Jack Wilson ad nauseum
correction to earler post and apologies to the jack wilsons of the world my comments that sussex could has withstood terrible legislators concerned rep Dave Wison. His brutal attack on fellow Republican Ruth Briggs King one of the finer human beings in the gen assembly on sussex voice radio gives a window pane into that black soul
That someone has a state job and serves in the GA in small state like Delaware cannot be construed to be unusual nor a barrier to serving in the GA.
That they adhere to a high standard of ethical behavior is an absolute necessity. Actually, I don’t even believe in a high or low standard. To me (a non binary person) in regards to ethics there is only ethical or unethical behavior.
@sisyphus: C’mon, spill it. Most of us don’t get SuxCo radio so we don’t know what was said.
@ El Somnambulo: With even a weak Dem candidate or a write in I truly believe, from all the communications from people cheering me on, R’s D’s and I’s alike, that it’s a slam dunk for me.
We have a candidate in the 19th – Jane Hovington is announcing her candidacy on Monday at 12:30 PM at Sussex Dem HQ, 10 West Pine Street in Georgetown.
To Dave “that someone has a state job … cannot be contrued to be unusual or a barrier to serving in the GA> while i plead ignorance to what a non binary person is I hope it’s not one so dense that can’t see a problem with the process of shelling out taxpayer money for a job nobody knew existed and most are yet to be convinced that a legislative public relations co ordinator is needed. One thing we are certain of had Senator Booth not been elected he wouldn’t have gotten trhe job. They were buying influence. Does this cojure up images of Rich Cathcart?
Sorry Geezer, I had to get Dave off my chest first.First, consider being out of range a blessing.ou can imagine in crazy land down here with the tea party and the patriots and the true belicievers in the constitutional right of the sherrif to keep the order and kill people and the charlie west wing of the democratic party you can imagine the enlightened discussions thattake place on sussex talk radio. In the Wilson incident I was referring to was a bill that had been generated out of the del asso of realtors and the del real estate commission in protecting buyers been signed or executed on the day of the auction proposed legislation that would define an auction sale as having to take place as of the day of the auction.The bill passed 35-10 1 abstention (Wilson)King a realtor voted for it. When it came to a vote he shook his head no and 10 rethugs followed suit. In a vicious personal attack on sussex talk radio he attacked Rep Briggs KIng as voting on an issue where she had a conflict of interst. The irony is that bWilson who recused himself has lobbied the bill which will be considered in the Senate. Doesn;t recusal mean you keep yuor mouth shut until the matter is diposed of The long and short of is the crazies are trying to eliminate the good people and it doesn’t make any difference if you;re a repub or a dem
@sisyphus
I don’t all the facts in the Booth situation so I don’t have an opinion. A binary is simply someone whose world in black/white, yes/no, true/false, on/off. Taken from the binary code form of ones (1) and zeros (0).
So, simply serving in the GA should not necessarily preclude one from holding a state job. If a GA position is used to gain a state job, that is obviously unethical. If one used a GA position to gain anything, it is unethical. If that’s what Booth did, then it would be unethical. I have no information which evidences that’s what he did.
THANKS MJ!!! BIG sigh of relief from down here in TN. If Booth wins primary he keeps his seat in November. If the idiot wins the primary Jane Hovington wins the seat in November.
From what I can tell, Jane Hovington is best-known as a civil rights leader. Not the type of candidate western Sussex is used to. She’ll certainly provide the opportunity to see if there’s a REAL silent majority in western Sussex. In other words, people who are sick and tired of the teabaggers. I’m not overly-optimistic, but she sure would offer a contrast.
Well all I’ve got to hang my hat on now is that it’s not a done deal on September 11. If another Dem wants to step up that’s cool too but at least the lady has the guts to step up at this point in time.