General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 28, 2018
“No ganja for you.” Thus saieth the Somoronic solons in Dover. The bill got 21 votes, needed 25. Only one R, Jeff Spiegelman, voted for it. Here are the D’s who went not voting and effectively defeated the bill: Bolden, Carson, Jaques, M. Smith, and, of course, Speaker Pete. To his credit, ex-cop Larry Mitchell voted yes. I knew the bill wouldn’t pass. At least we’ve now got the opponents on the record. Including D fave Mike Ramone, who supposedly will have an opponent any minute now. Betcha he’s out of touch with his district on this.
Other notable results from yesterday:
*Direct wine shipments barely passed the Senate, 11-10. It took this amendment to even get it passed. Roll call on the bill was all over the place, with plenty of D’s voting no. The bill still faces another House vote due to the Senate amendment. And then, who knows? Maybe Carney vetoes it? Who is opposing this bill? Any Leg Hall insiders have some info?
*Legislation providing bonuses to state employees and retirees unanimously passed the Senate and heads to the House. Already counting on my $400…
*Well, we knew that this would pass. The seven representatives who voted no deserve recognition for doing the right thing: Jaques, K. Williams, Kowalko, Lynn, Matthews, Potter, and Viola.
*Oh, and no surprise, insiders Vince Lofink and John Paradee were unanimously approved for their sinecures in the Senate.
The Senate leadership has apparently decided that discussion of most bills is superfluous. I look at the bills on Senate Consent Agenda 2, and I see a lot of substantive bills that aren’t just technical changes or charter changes. Guess the Senate is suffering from terminal boredom. Bob Marshall tries again to pass a relatively paltry minimum wage increase. Assuming that Cloutier is a yes, it may even survive Sen. Bushweller’s ongoing shilling for Dover Downs. For the record, Trey Paradee supports a minimum wage increase. He also supports marijuana legalization. Something to look forward to.
Key bills on today’s House Agenda:
*SB 151(Henry), which is even more important today than it was yesterday, ‘codifies the current federal requirement that health insurance plans include coverage for contraceptives and applies this requirement to individual, group, State employee, and public assistance plans’. Four downstate Rethug trogs voted no in the Senate.
*SB 113 (McDowell) encountered problems in the Senate before final passage. Any bill with the initials SEU in it deserves close scrutiny, and this bill includes those initials.
*The previously-mentioned bonus payments to state employees and retirees.
And then there’s this. Some of you may remember the back story. The brainchild of a politically-connected former Delaware Mother Of The Year (that phrase, of course, is redundant), legislation was passed making the Maypole Dance Delaware’s Official Dance, but only for a year. I had the very noive to write about it, which led to the politically-connected daughter of the politically-connected former Delaware Mother Of The Year (‘How dare you? Don’t you know my mom was once Delaware Mother Of The Year??’) castigating me on this very blog. Well, with the passage of HB 236, the Maypole Dance will now be Delaware’s Official Dance despite the fact that the Maypole Dance did not originate in Delaware (hmmm, German pagan fertility rituals, really?). The Chicken Dance? Of course. The Lap Dance or the plain old Pole Dance (anything for money)? Yes. But, in the spirit of what passes for bipartisanship, we have this. Oh, and the politically-connected daughter? She’s now on the Board Of Trustees of the University of Delaware. It was not her first political appointment and will not be her last. I admit I’m making a bigger deal out of this than the issue warrants. But it’s an insightful look at the bankruptcy of the Delaware Way and what passes for bipartisanship in Delaware.
I now recess until Saturday’s ‘long day’s journey into night’.
There has GOT to be a progressive in the 28th who can primary Carson
There’s nothing progressive about most voters in that district.
Symrna area is tough. Same with the Ennis seat, once the old man retires its prob going to the R column. You can primary him and then watch him lose the general if you like
El , I agree with you again. Also Peterson will stop his opponent. I just hope it’s not a wing nut that files. It has to be a legitimate person because this is a winnable district. He has voted for the Rich people so many times and democrats just love moderate republicans
You guys need to decide what your priority is about Ennis’s seat: keep it D with someone like Bill Carson (who isn’t a bad member of the House, given his district) or run a true-bluer if you can find one and flip it to the Republicans. Which, if we play our cards right, will flip the Senate to Republican. This is sort of fundamental legislative politics 101, but it appears that you guys need to hear it about once a month.
Carson IS a bad legislator. You’re not gonna find a better senator from that district than Bruce Ennis, though. Yes, he’s not with progressives on the death penalty and some gun control measures. But he’s not a Chamber DINO, either. He supports minimum wage increases and protections for the poor and indigent. He fights on behalf of residents of mobile home communities. And, unlike Carson, he has always worked hard on constituent services. He has even voted to roll back most of his predecessor’s draconian initiatives on minimum mandatory sentences.
Carson is lazy and doesn’t pretend to be otherwise. Quite a few knowledgeable D’s question whether he can win the seat, assuming Ennis retires in 2020. The seat stays D, though, if someone like Ennis runs in his stead.
@EL Ennis is PRO2A and Pro Death Penalty. Do you read some of these comments here? These people are left of some south American socialist dictators. They are purists, they rather lose a chamber then support someone who isn’t yelling Viva Revolution at the micro phone.
The Smyrna area of 2018 isn’t Smyrna area of 2010. There are ten new delvopments on any Millington, Sunnyside, Carter, Wheatly’s Pond Road you care to mention. Those people aren’t moving in from Seaford.
Jason… as you may have noticed yesterday many of our anonymous friends are frozen in 1996.
Again with the “PRO2A”. I ask again, who is ANTI2A? The candidate or politician may well exist, but I’m not familiar with any.
Anytime someone mentions socialism the dim witted and the ancient start whining about South American dictators. That’s how I know we’re winning.
Frozen in 96? You think Carper who has a consistently liberal voting record is “evil”. Coons who was an amazing New Castle County Executive (balancing budgets for the first time in years) and has come to be a respected US Senator is fake.
Go down to Symrna and run a leftie. Let me know how it turns out, and by the way, these developments in SNCC are usually pretty moderate young families coming from NJ/NY/PA. They are pretty middle of the road people. I know many of them, they just want a good school system, a safe neighborhood and low taxes. They don’t research 20 hours a day bank donations and think people are bad due to that. You key board warriors need to get out and do some canvassing with local dems to learn whats really up. DAMN
You’re anonymous and scared.
Socialism will give them better schools, healthcare as well as housing and retirement security. Unless there are folks down there with incomes in excessive of $500,000 their taxes will remain very low and they won’t be shelling out a nickel for medical.
Would they dig that, do you think?
Just a word on “keyboard warriors”. You’re stuck in the past. I use my real name here and I’m involved. Deeply involved. Just so you know.
Socialism is losing. Democrats control both US Senate seats, you are about to get blown out in September. We control the Governors Mansion, the House and the Senate? Jennings will win AG too.
You know why? Because Delaware is a Moderate Democrat state, always has been, always will be. That’s good for Delaware too.
Direct shipment is being opposed by the unions. They kill it every year.
You didn’t answer my question. Tricky.
DSA and Our Revolution candidates have wins in the last several months up and down the country, local, state and national. How’s it “losing”?
Two questions now.
I don’t make predictions. Because then I’m in situations like you find yourself in and need to explain why it was obvious that the thing you said would never happen has actually happened.
I got to say any argument that states that a polity is X and will always be X and it’s good to be X is a real tell.
But you’re the anonymous genius so…
I’d be happy to provide evidence of Socialism win streak, but than anonymous people will roll out the excuses.
Demographics!
Opponents!
etc…
You’re anonymous and I’m bored. I need to smoke a joint and watch Belgium v England.
Enjoy the blunt. Let me know when you get a real win in Delaware.
Guys cant even legalize weed…..sheesh
I actually prefer its illicit nature so I’m good.
You lose 100% of the fights you never engage in.
“These people are left of some south American socialist dictators.”
You say that as if it’s a bad thing.
“They are purists, they rather lose a chamber then support someone who isn’t yelling Viva Revolution at the micro phone.”
I’m old enough to remember the many years Delaware’s chamber were controlled by different parties. The state was no more or less liberal then than it is now.
“Delaware is a Moderate Democrat state, always has been, always will be. That’s good for Delaware too.”
Delaware is not a “moderate Democrat” state, it is an oligarchy. It is as moderate as the Chamber of Commerce. People like you don’t know the difference, so you mock people who do.
“Guys cant even legalize weed…..sheesh”
If you don’t understand why Delaware can’t legalize weed, you’re not smart enough to comment on it. I’ll give you a two-word clue: State police. To pretend that it’s because we’re socialists makes you look clueless.
On a lighter note does anyone know if any other state allows their state police to meddle in politics as they do here? Lived in New York for 18 years and never remember hearing “and the state police announced they appose HB110” or anything like it. I find it very much like the employees telling the boss the way it’s going to be, and it sucks.
Ask Mitch Crane to ask pistol Pete.
@bamboozer: That’s because New York, with a population of just under 20 million, has a state police force of about 5,000 officers.
Delaware, with a population of just over 900,000, has over 650.
In most states, the state police are the highway patrol. In Delaware, state police were the only force outside of municipalities until the founding of the NCCo police in the early 1970s, and had jurisdiction everywhere except those municipalities (in practice, just Wilmington, Newark and Dover). Even after the county police were formed, state police refused to give up their jurisdiction in New Castle County.
The best thing that could happen to Delaware law enforcement would be to end Sussex County’s arrangement to pay for DSP to provide local law enforcement — at state trooper pay rates subsidized by state taxpayers. Sussex can well afford its own force, and a reduction in the number of DSP would reduce its political power accordingly. Won’t happen because DSP won’t let it, but if Delawareans knew what was wrong with the state and how to fix it, that should be Priority A.
I’m glad the stupid budget smoothing bullshit isn’t coming up, but that really shows how utterly impotent and powerless Carney is. The guy has no juice.
No one is going to dispute my comment about the 21st district wow
By the way Ramone wants to exempt 3LB from paying school tax. Democrats are backing him again. Toying with the d’s with 3LB right in his district. How sad
Lori, working on the Political Weekly as we speak. You might just enjoy it…
TY EL cannot wait, hopefully they can recruit and not let Peterson scare them away
I’m typing as fast as I can. Which is not so fast…
The best thing that could happen to Delaware law enforcement would be to end Sussex County’s arrangement to pay for DSP to provide local law enforcement — at state trooper pay rates subsidized by state taxpayers. Sussex can well afford its own force, and a reduction in the number of DSP would reduce its political power accordingly. Won’t happen because DSP won’t let it, but if Delawareans knew what was wrong with the state and how to fix it, that should be Priority A.
No we can’t afford it. Low paying jobs, lots of elderly on fixed incomes, the rents too damn high…where the facts that say Sussex can pay. I agree they should pay, but until “right to work, (right to pay the lowest wages in the state) along with rents as high as northern NCC says we cant.
“Ramone wants to exempt 3LB from paying school tax. ”
What’s 3LB?
Wine delivery is being challenged by on of the Unions and they are receiving support from the others. The Liquor store owners, wholesalers are also opposed. The Bill in “unenforceable” according t its own sponser as well as Department of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement. All of that was brought up at the meetings but Baumbach ignored all of it. Here are some of the issues
1-It gives preference to out of State companies.2-no requirement for alcohol/ID checking training for delivery drivers that every other person in Del. has to take to identify underage and understand special rules.3-Agents told Rep. they would need 5 new Officers to enforce the Bill. 4- kills jobs(the excise tax last year reduced sales in the industry 32-40% on a month to month according to Revenue division and this will continue the downward trend which has already cost jobs)(NOOOO …those jobs won’t just move to the delivery companies. 5-it will be impossible to collect tax revenue from every other State and there is no plan. 6-delivery drivers will be held accountable rather than the companies they work for.7-there are no fees for the for shippers,producers,shipping companies,etc(they were all removed in the Senate by Bushweller which gives a competitive advantage to anyone outside the State since they are required to pay business licenses and such ) 8-right now the system is made to keep kids away from the alcohol but this opens up a new avenue for anyone with a credit card number. I could go on for a couple more paragraphs but space is limited.
The argument that most other States have it is crazy. Most other States have sales tax too but how would you feel about adding that to Delaware? There are more liquor stores per capita and per sq. mile in the nation everything is readily available no matter where you live. Are we getting so lazy as a society that we can’t drive a mile for wine and support a Local business or stop by on the way home? Ironic that the Leg Hall won’t pass HB 110 because they are worried about side effects, but can say that it is all about convenience for wine. We already have a bunch of statistics for DUI and alcohol related deaths.
“The argument that most other States have it is crazy. Most other States have sales tax too but how would you feel about adding that to Delaware?”
Entirely different issues, and not comparable. Every state has a mix of taxes; in Delaware, we call what others call a “sales tax” a “gross receipts tax,” which has the advantage (for politicians) of a rate that varies business by business, which forces all the businesses to lobby in Dover for favorable treatment. Most state have a sales tax but a lower income tax than Delaware.
“everything is readily available no matter where you live.”
Only if you’re drinking to get drunk. There are literally tens of thousands of wines produced in this country; no liquor store could stock them all.
“it will be impossible to collect tax revenue from every other State and there is no plan.”
The amount of wine sales we’re talking about is, in tax terms, negligible.
“no requirement for alcohol/ID checking training for delivery drivers …We already have a bunch of statistics for DUI and alcohol related deaths.”
We’re talking mostly about high-end wines here, many of which are only sold on-premise or by mail. The notion that 17-year-olds, who already drink like fish if they want to, will get around the law by ordering a case of $20-a-bottle wine is so laughable it need not be taken seriously.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: Never tell people that you know better than they do how many choices they should have, because nobody’s going to listen to you. They know self-interest when they smell it.
Frozen in 96? You think Carper who has a consistently liberal voting record is “evil”. Coons who was an amazing New Castle County Executive (balancing budgets for the first time in years) and has come to be a respected US Senator is fake.
How long have you been involved in Delaware politricks? Carper voted with Bush and the pukes more than he did democrats. Coons upon arriving in DC was on Faux News with Lindsay Graham and John McCain, pushing that right wing foreign policy agenda. Coons was NOT a good Cty Ex. before commenting check your facts. Both are nothing but stooges for the Chamber and corporate owned Delaware. Delaware is not like any other State, because we are the corporate state. All our legislators are controlled on some level by them. Why do you think pot can’t pass. Not just the police, but by Big Pharma. Check out who each one gets their money from, they “dance to the tune of the one who brung em to the dance”.