Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 22, 2016
Something rare: An important bill passes and goes to the Governor. And the sponsors threaded the needle with this one. HB 325 (Osienski), which ends the ridiculous practice of automatically granting a gun permit if a criminal background check cannot be completed in three (!) days, barely passed the Senate with a Senate Amendment, and barely passed the House for a second time. It now goes to the Governor. For some reason, the bleeping legislative information system no longer enables me to provide a direct link to the roll calls. So let me point out that, in the Senate, one R voted for the bill (Cloutier) and one D voted against the bill (Ennis). In the House, not a single R voted for the bill, and the following D’s (remember their names) voted against the bill: Andria Bennett, Lumpy Carson, Mike Mulrooney, and Trey Paradee.
Oh, and yet another important bill heads to the Governor. SS1/SB 163 (Peterson) removes the requirement that those convicted of three non-violent felonies (‘Three Strikes and You’re Out’) automatically be sentenced to life in prison. Several R’s voted yes during yesterday’s House vote, and I salute them: Hensley, Miro, Ramone, D. Short, and Yearick. Only one D voted no: Lumpy Carson.
Oh, and one notable bill was defeated or, more accurately, didn’t achieve a 2/3 supermajority vote. SB 262 (Townsend) would have created a regulatory framework for the Uber and Lyft networks, among others. Specifically, the bill would seek ‘to ensure the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness of rides provided by Transportation Network Company Drivers within the State of Delaware and to preserve and enhance access to these important transportation options for residents and visitors to the State.’ The bill had 13 yes (the 12 D’s plus Cloutier) and 8 no. One vote short of a 2/3 majority. Guess which side is getting those campaign contributions.
The House has an Agenda today, as any straggling committee meetings will take place before the gavel comes down at 3 p. m. To me, the highlight is SB 26 (Peterson), which ‘provides for recording and maintaining a record of all deliberations made by public bodies during public hearings, including any discussion made “off the record.” We’ve discussed many of these bills previously, so check out the Agenda and let us know what interests you.
The Senate Agenda features SB 190 (Peterson), which is a constitutional amendment that ‘provide(s) for equal protection regardless of race, sex, age, religion, creed, color, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.’ At this point, it appears that, if Sen. Lopez votes yes, the bill passes. The D’s are on board, so is Cathy Cloutier. I, for one, am optimistic, at least for Senate passage.
You know how they say (whoever ‘they’ are) that bad cases make bad law (well, I’m not sure I got that quote right)? Sometimes, circumstances might pave the way for better law. SB 287 (Marshall) ‘prohibits the sale, transfer, or delivery of a firearm to any person on the Federal Government’s terrorist watch list or the Federal Government’s no-fly list, or on any other list used by the Transportation Security Administration for purposes of identifying individuals who are prohibited from boarding aircraft because they pose a threat of terrorism.’ The bill was introduced yesterday, and was ‘Laid on the Table’ (insert Tony DeLuca/secretary joke here). In this case, LOT means that the committee process has been bypassed, and that the bill can be brought up for consideration by a motion to lift from the table.
That’s it for today. Who knows when I might resurface?
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I don’t know if folks were listening to the debate on 325… [sarcasm] I think we all owe *F* Gary Simpson a debt of gratitude for having the courage to deliver such an important, heartfelt, and eloquent entreaty [/sarcasm] to his colleagues to vote against 325:
“Longer waiting periods could endanger Delaware’s most vulnerable women, who we have pledged to protect as men… Probably most of the women- the adult women in this room- are protected by a gun at home. I rise in opposition to this bill. I rise in defense of helpless women.”
Oh, yeah, Gary’s gettin’ his in another thread.
Rumor has it that he doesn’t have any usable sports coats b/c he’s always draping them atop mud puddles to protect the shoes of the wimmenfolk.
^Like^
Are you sure Ennis is on board with 190? My sources say no. Does the amendment require one or two Rs to cross the isle?
Can someone explain SJR 13? Isn’t it time we admit that McBride lives in Lewes, I heard his kids graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in the past few years.
Townsend had a pretty good response to Simpson’s ridiculous argument. From the State News:
“The idea that supporting this legislation somehow puts women in harm’s way, when in fact we know that having a very short default time has led to the transfer of firearms to people who have been convicted for domestic violence offenses (…) in fact this legislation reduces the chance that someone is going to obtain a firearm who otherwise should not have one and perhaps use that to commit a crime against the women that Sen. Simpson spoke of,” said Townsend.
http://delawarestatenews.net/government/gun-background-check-bill-heads-to-delaware-governors-desk/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=destatenews
You have it all wrong on your June 9 post on HB 383 on Maypole Dancing you, and royally offended lifelong Delaware Democrats. The originator of the Maypole Dance bill was my 83-year old mom, Mary Jane DeMatteis, who is a lifelong Delaware Democrat. She was Delaware’s Mother of the Year in 2000. It has been her goal since then to declare this beloved dance the official state dance. You show your ignorance – and age – by slamming the bill and Representative Ramone. This country needs more Rs like him who are dedicated to constituent relations and Delaware history. You obviously never checked with your grandmother or mother before writing this post. And heaven-forbid you have a daughter who performs this coordinated dance routine. You owe my mom an apology. I have been involved in Delaware politics my entire career, including 10 years with the Delaware General Assembly and 10 years with then- U.S. Senator Joe Biden. Your rant is seriously disappointing and embarrassing. Contact me so you can correct your dismal record.
Claire DeMatteis
I thought maypole dancing originated in Germany as a pagan fertility ritual. I guess with Delaware’s relatively low population some additional fertility might be useful. Besides who would possibly object to fertility rituals? Still, some rules might be in order though, such as age restrictions. Like no fertility dancing for minors and stuff like that.
Regardless, the first use of the Maypole was in 1628 in Mass. recorded by the governor of New Plymouth “They also set up a May-pole, drinking and dancing about it many days togaether, inviting the Indean women, for their consorts, dancing and frisking togither, (like so many fairies, or furies rather,) and worse practises. As if they had anew revived & celebrated the feasts of the Roman Goddess Flora, or the beasly practieses of the madd Bacchinalians. Morton likwise (to shew his poetrie) composed sundry rimes & verses, some tending to lasciviousnes, and others to the detraction & scandall of some persons, which he affixed to this idle or idoll May-polle.”
That’s a heck of tradition and history we’re adopting in Delaware!
Glad your mom is happy. It’s still a silly bill. We’re passing all these ‘The Official Delaware Fill in the Blank’ bills for no good reason. Her being the Mother of the Year, her being a lifelong Democrat are, um, not good reasons. Although I’m sure she’s a wonderful person.
Hey, I’ve danced in a Maypole Dance. In Arden. We used to do it every year until, I think, someone stole the Maypole. I know one of our readers will be able to fill in the blanks.
This bill makes as much sense as designating the Golden Retriever as Delaware’s Official Dog. There’s nothing ‘Delaware’ about either one of them. Which is my point.
After reading the Massachusetts account, I’m all for the Maypole bill. Call me an originalist. I don’t even dance and I can’t wait for next May. Although I guess any time of year is fine for a Bacchanalian fest. Who knew Mike Ramone was such a libertine?
If Delaware is going to have a State Dance, shouldn’t it be The Hustle?