I’d like to dedicate this to the Good People Of Sharpley:

1.  Rep. Krista Griffith Offers Ice Cream To The Residents Of Sharpley.  Yes, it’s almost certainly some sort of violation of some campaign law somewhere.  I remember that ex-Claymont Rep. Dave Brady used to hand out roses to the ladies after they departed the polling place.  When he ran against Wayne Smith, one of Smith’s Rethug henchmen called the Office Of Elections to complain, and Dave was told to stop.  However, this just strikes me as pathetic.  Someone who hasn’t had to run hard for several election cycles and hasn’t in fact run hard, safely ensconced in the Dover Delaware Way cocoon, simply not knowing how to actually run against a grassroots campaign.  Perhaps Sharpley residents will fall in love with Krista because she ‘brought them ice cream’.  I don’t think so.

2.  Third Time The Charm For R’s In RD 20?  The first two to file both dropped out.  This #3  guy has a long record of public service:

Georgetown Town Manager and Milton Fire Chief Gene Dvornick has filed to run for Delaware’s 20th Representative District.

According to the Delaware Department of Elections, Dvornick filed Monday as a Republican candidate for the Sussex County seat. Dvornick has served as Georgetown town manager since 2007.

Here’s a nice profile of him.  On paper, a good candidate.  However,  incumbent Alonna Berry already has tough races behind her, is skilled at running grassroots campaigns, and, IMO, is doing a real good job in Dover.  I’ve seen candidates like Dvornick come along in the past.  In fact, in the past, candidates like Dvornick often won.  That, however, was in Old Suxco, not New Suxco.  The questions include–will he run like he has to win?  What kind of support can he expect from the Republican Party and R’s in general? Berry will have to run hard.  But, she’s done it twice, and has a primary against a faux D to get through to the general.  At this point, I look for her to extend her winning streak.  Twice.

3.  His-And-Hers Third-Party Advertising Committees.  We’ve already highlighted the third-party advertiser being coordinated by the law firm of Parkowski, Guerke, and Swayze.  You know, the ones churning out shitty media for Delaware Way denizens with pretty much every corporate miscreant chipping in.  Well, check out Delaware LEAD.  The sole name on the paperwork?  Linda Parkowski.  Yes, the wife of Jim Parkowski, yes, that’s his law firm.  The stated purpose of this PAC? ‘Third party advertising committee to influence legislation’.  Best way to influence legislation?  Elect legislators who you’ve paid for.  All in the family.

4.  Jose Lopez To Challenge Sen. Matzavinos.  Rumored to be a candidacy backed by Jen Cohan and the non-union Associated Builders & Contractors.  Former DELDOT Secretary is the President of Delaware ABC.  Until further notice, I view this as a nuisance primary.

5.  Mara Gorman Gets Her R Opponent In SD 8.  One Shane Cavanaugh.  A certified arborist and owner of a tree and landscaping company.

6. Norm(an)!  That’s the name of the committee for one Dr. Anne Norman, who has filed as a D in RD 34.  She has just retired from the State, where she served as the State Librarian Of Delaware and the Director Of the Delaware Division of Libraries since 2002.  RD 34 is currently represented by  R Lyndon Yearick.   Why did she name her committee ‘Norman’?  Don’t know, but it caught my attention.  Perhaps that’s why.

7. Filings:  State Rep. Jesse Vanderwende (R-RD 35); State Rep.  Danny Short (R-RD 39); and Rep. Tim Dukes (R-RD 40).

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

A (mostly) ‘just the facts, ma’am’ edition.

Here’s yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Oooh, here’s a tidbit I missed yesterday.  The Senate had previously unanimously passed SB 22 (Townsend), ‘the Fair Standards in Mental Health Care Act, (which) builds on previous work to advance mental health parity and aims to ensure patients with private insurance can access timely, evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder care in Delaware.’  It’s an extensive bill, and pretty much a big deal.  The bill went to the House, which passed it, and sent it back to the Senate, where it once again passed unanimously.  For reason that perhaps only they can explain, two House Rethugs, Reps. Hilovsky and Shupe, voted against mental health care.  You’d have to ask them why.

One more thing–Sen. Darius Brown sure seems to be missing a lot of session days.  Just throwing that out there.

Today’s Senate Agenda is (I think) likely the final clearinghouse day for Senate bills to be passed and sent over to the House for consideration.  I, uh, spy at least one bill worthy of ridicule:

SJR 19(Seigfried) ‘directs the Department of Health & Social Services to explore and consider additional solutions for tackling the State’s high cost of health care and to submit a report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027, that explores the feasibility of additional strategies to lower health care costs.’  Ray, can I call you Ray?  You spent your professional career as a bean-counter who helped ChristianaCare squeeze every last penny out of the healthcare dollar to the detriment of patients.  You voted to deep-six the Hospital Care Cost Containment Board.  You voted to enable ChristianaCare to essentially have veto power over any identified overcharges.  And now you want another agency to figure out why healthcare costs are so high?  Howzabout looking in a mirror?

Ah, I feel better now, doctor.  Just don’t show me the bill.

There are some bills I like, most of which I’ve previously discussed.  They include SS2/SB 23(Huxtable),  SB 13 (Pinkney), SB 313(Mantzavinos), and SB 320(Pinkney).  The above noted exception aside, this is a real solid agenda.

Here’s perhaps the most contentious bill on the agenda.  Perhaps one of the most contentious bills of the session.  SB 322 (Sokola) ‘repeals the ability of school districts to increase tax rates by up to 10% when recalculating the district’s rate of taxation after a general reassessment…This Act also allows school districts to increase a tax approved in a referendum election under Chapter 19 of Title 14 by up to 2% annually without a referendum if the district’s operational reserve balance is not more than 10% of the district’s annual revenue and it is not the same fiscal year that the rate of taxation is recalculated after a general reassessment.’  I think I’d support the bill, but will a few Nervous Nellie D’s help defeat it?

Looks like the House is doing the exact same thing today.  All House bills, and lots of ’em.  Not as many substantive bills.  I like HB 344 (Morrison),  HB 403 (Snyder-Hall), and HB 419 (Griffith).

I like ending things right there.

Legislators can get a bill through the General Assembly in a matter of hours–from introduction to headed to the Governor’s Office–if they really want to.  In other words, these two great (IMO) bills can and should make it through before the end of session.  We discussed HB 444 (Lambert) yesterday.  The bill seeks to protect voting rights for Delawareans from federal interference.  Both the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro-Tem are on the bill as co-sponsors.  In other words, prospects for passage are bright.

The same should and, I think, will hold true of this one.  I can hear the bleats from municipalities throughout Suxco now.  Unfortunately, this is a constitutional amendment, so it needs to pass in two consecutive General Assemblies.  It will almost certainly pass this year since, it being the first leg. No harm, no foul.  I think it will pass next year.  In fact, I know it will, assuming the D’s get an unbreakable super-majority in the House, which can happen in November.  Plus, why would Rethugs vote against it?

Here is today’s Senate Agenda (it’s another committee meeting day in the House.  Perhaps the last one?).  You will note that it consists almost entirely of Senate bills, plus a bleepload of nominations.  Most of you likely know this, but nominations are acted upon only in The Senate.

Of particular note is SB 9 (Hansen), which seeks to protect Delaware’s non-tidal wetlands now that Trump and his minions have abandoned the Federal government’s role in doing so. Meaning, the Feds have made the State responsible for picking up the roughly $1.5 mill annual tab for this program.

Deep breath–committee meeting time.

House Committee highlights:

HB 465 (Romer) ‘adds virtual currency to the money laundering definition in the criminal code and gives the State legal authority to attempt to return virtual currency for victims.’ Judiciary.

HB 444 (Lambert), the ‘Delaware John L. Lewis Voting Rights Act’, in shorthand, seeks to ensure and enforce ‘a stated public policy of equal opportunity to participate in the political process.’ You can tell that a lot of work went into this effort to stem ongoing Federal shrinking of voting rights, particularly for minority communities.  Elections & Government Affairs.

There are two bills reducing the rate of the realty transfer tax.  I sorta understand this one, because it’s targeted at lower-priced homes.  But, this one? Why? Why no ceiling? It’s certainly not an economic hardship to those whose homes are worth more than a pretty penny.  Revenue & Finance.

HS1/HB 425 (Minor-Brown) ‘increases the salary supplement for school counselors and school nurses from 6% to 12% upon national certification.’  Good. It’s not easy to earn national certification.  Education.

HB 445 (Heffernan) ‘requires large energy use facilities to produce renewable energy within the state to power their operations to prevent a drain on the electric grid.’  Sounds good.  Although– The bill ‘provides for a “ramp-up” period requiring that a large energy use facility provide a plan to the Public Service Commission to ramp up their energy production within the state each year so that by the 10th year of operations, the facility is producing 100% of its energy usage through in-state production.’  10 years seems like a long time. Natural Resources & Energy.

 Senate Committee highlights:

SB 320 (Pinkney) ‘…modernizes Delaware’s pharmacy practice laws by authorizing pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Pharmacists have the expertise necessary to provide patient care beyond what current Delaware law allows, and enabling them to do so is an important step toward expanding access to health care in this State. Under this Act, pharmacists are permitted to independently evaluate patients, identify health conditions, order and prescribe laboratory tests, and prescribe drugs or devices without reliance on statewide protocols, formularies, or specified lists of conditions.’ I’m married to a pharmacist, so you know how I feel about this one as long as the proper protocols are in place.  Health & Social Services.

SB 343 (Huxtable) ‘creates a first-time home buyers’ savings plan, called the Homeownership Using Savings and Earnings Plan (the HOUSE Plan), to ignite future homeownership in Delaware by helping residents save for their first home.’  Interesting.  Housing & Land Use.

This bill reminds me.  I’m rarely gonna cut-and-paste a lengthy synopsis on this thread.  However, if you click on the link for this bill, you’ll see much more detail on how this plan could operate.  Links are your friends.

SB 312 (Poore) ‘prohibits state agencies, counties, and municipalities from entering into nondisclosure agreements that would restrict the public from accessing information about potential or actual large-scale data center development in this State.’  Great bill.  Now, introduce one that prohibits quasi-state agencies from throwing millions of dollars at corporations with next to no public input and no FOIA requirements.  What?  You guys voted for that?  Because John Carney said it was a good bill?  Rescind it.  Elections & Government Affairs.

I hereby yield back the remainder of my time.

They sent out one of those mailers–you know, a ‘Call Krista and Tell Her She’s the Bestest Legislator EVER’ piece.  (Yes, I’ve seen the piece, can’t print it b/c it would reveal the recipient.)

However, oopsies, they (we can guess who ‘they’ are, and we will) did not mention who paid for the piece.  Despite the efforts of whichever Koch Bro still strides the earth, that’s still a campaign violation in Delaware.  Dark money is not yet the law in The Corporate State.

The almost-certain sponsors of this mailer?  These guys–the so-called ‘Alliance To Protect Delaware’s Future’.  Look at that Murderers’ Row Of Special Interests.

Jeez, you’d think that the law firm coordinating the whole thing would know how to ensure that whatever these corporate titans bankroll would conform to the law.  Although, perhaps they’re so used to ignoring the law that they just figured they could ignore it again.

What’s that, you say?  There’s another possibility?  It could be from the Speaker’s Slush Fund sponsored by Phil Shawe?  Why, yes, yes it could be. An inspirational quote from the Speaker:

Minor-Brown also asserted that anyone donating to the PAC will be supporting the Democratic Party broadly, and not her individually.

“They’re supporting the mission of the party,” she said. “It doesn’t mean they’re supporting my mission solely, and it doesn’t mean that I’m for sale, or bought and sold.”  

Stating the obvious, it doesn’t mean that she’s not ‘for sale, or bought and sold’ either.  And, it resonates with the level of incompetence we’ve come to expect from this Speaker.

Anyway, I’m merely the reporter.  Someone committed an election law violation.  Will the AG or the Elections Commissioner bother to investigate, or will this just be shrugged off as more Delaware Way business as usual?

Rhetorical question, I know.

The good?  SB 271 (Sokola), which finally seeks to reign in the toxic power of pharmacy benefits managers.  Among other things, the bill:

‘strengthens procedural protections for pharmacies, pharmacists, and consumers related to regulation of a pharmacy benefits manager by doing all of the following: Adds definitions for the terms “chronic or long-term condition”, “net amount”, “purchaser”, “recoupment”, “similarly situated contracted pharmacy”, and “wholesale invoice audit.” Applies audit notice requirements uniformly and ensures access to an appropriate point of contact. Requires a pharmacy benefits manager to provide a list of records that the auditing entity seeks to audit at least 5 business days before an audit. Limits activities to once every 12 months and sets standards for wholesale invoice audits. Ensures audit costs are borne solely by the pharmacy benefits manager. Clarifies that a pharmacy can appeal the amount of any reimbursement and that a contracted pharmacy’s representative can take actions and receive notices related to appeals on behalf of a pharmacy. Extends pharmacies’ ability to appeal from 10 days to 40 days to account for entities that complete retroactive billing.’

It does a lot more.  I’m cutting it short for ‘e-space’ reasons (aka I’m lazy).

The bad, as in blatant special interest legislation:

‘…allows for the delivery of alcoholic liquors from any entity with a valid off-premise license…and  In addition, this substitute provides that acts of a licensed consumer delivery permittee or a delivery driver are not attributable to the retailer, and clarifies that § 516 of Title 4 applies to package stores, restaurants, and clubs…In addition, this substitute bill provides that a third-party delivery vendor may charge package stores no more than a single, flat rate that is applicable to all package stores.’

Campaign contributions all around!

I found the House Agenda less intriguing.  YMMV.

Today’s House Committee highlights:

HB 451 (K. Johnson) ‘ clarifies that Delaware’s Fair Housing Act (Chapter 46 of Title 6) prohibits housing practices that have a discriminatory effect, commonly known as “disparate impact,” even in the absence of discriminatory intent.  Housing.

HB 403 (Snyder-Hall) ‘requires taprooms and taverns to keep at least 2 working opioid antagonists on the premises at all times. It also requires employees who sell alcohol to receive training in the use of opioid antagonists in an emergency as part of State-mandated training.’  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

HB 450 (Bush) appears to be one of those ‘cutting bureaucratic red-tape’ bills.  However, when I see Reps. Morrison and Wilson-Anton on the bill, my suspicion is allayed. Somewhat.  The bill:

‘make(s) significant changes to Delaware’s land use permitting process by building on Governor Meyer’s Executive Order No. 18, which created the Permitting Accelerator to reform policies, processes, and procedures that have accumulated over decades and are holding back jobs, housing, and other critical infrastructure statewide. In 2019, a study of Delaware’s permitting process was undertaken. The study concluded that Delaware’s permitting process was significantly longer and more challenging than those of surrounding states in the region.’  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

This Act allows Delaware horse racetracks to sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2:00 a.m. This Act also removes the power of municipalities to require closing time to be at an earlier time for horse racetracks that sell alcoholic liquor.

Lumpy Carson is the sponsor.  What track does he frequent?  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

Y’know, I notice a theme emerging with this year’s bills–expansion of opportunities to drink alcohol both at home and out in public.

I call your attention to the agenda for the House Appropriations Committee.  I’m pretty sure that all the bills here are being considered because funding for their implementation have been included in the State Budget.  Which makes sense, as the members of the House Appropriations Committee are also the House members on the Joint Finance Committee.

No Senate committee meetings today.

Let’s close on a positive note:

Bente Bouthier/Delaware Public Media

State Rep. Larry Lambert joins legal advocates, Delaware residents, and the Delaware ACLU to rally at the state house for HB 444.

Just when I think that we’re pretty much done with intriguing new developments, I’m proven wrong.

At least wrong enough so that I’ve got items for yet another political weekly.

1.  Sen. Mantzavinos Gets A Primary Challenger.  Well, I didn’t hear about this until this morning, but he filed yesterday. So…I’m counting it. One Jose Lopez has filed as a D in SD 7, a Prices Corner/Faulkland Heights-area district.  If he’s the same Jose Lopez, he is the founder of La Tolteca, has served as the chair of the Latin-American Community Center,  and has served on the board of the Delaware Restaurant Association.  It’s a late entry, and I don’t think he is backed by the likes of WFP.  Nevertheless, an interesting candidate.  To me, Spiros has outperformed my expectations, especially when it comes to protecting nursing home residents, so we’ll see how this goes.

2.  A Rumor I AM Aware Of.  Looks like one of NCC Council’s rubber-stamps for developers and data centers might have a progressive challenger by the end of the weekend.  That’s it.  For now.

3.  What’s The Story Behind The Candidacy Of Ayanna Khan-Flowers In RD 9?  I ask because (a) she’s certainly as qualified as anybody for this position, however; (b) she’s entering really late into a primary with two equally-qualified candidates.  This is the seat being vacated by Kevin Hensley.  I feel there has to more to this story.  Otherwise, she would presumably have entered earlier.  So–is one of the other candidates dropping out?  Is this an attempt to split the vote somehow?  Does anybody know anything, as I clearly do not?

4.  Rep. Bryan Shupe Files For Election.  Noteworthy because the Milford area Republican barely, and I mean barely (12 vote margin) edged out Patrick Smith in the 2024 primary.  Meaning, this rematch will be competitive.

5. Republican Files In RD 12.  Steve Pickering.  Got 38.7% running as an R against Krista Griffith in 2024.  38.7% is about what an R can reasonably expect to get in that district.

6. Filings: Rep. ‘Rae’ Moore (D-RD 8); Rep. Cyndie Romer (D-RD 25); Rep. Eric Morrison (D-RD 27).

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Answer, albeit only a partial answer, is a Third Party Advertising PAC now running propaganda for this Delaware Way Quartet.  Almost certainly to be expanding in scope.

Before I get to the particulars, first let me tell you that such a PAC cannot specifically urge you to vote for a candidate, and cannot coordinate with the campaigns.  So, what do they do?  They run ads (currently mostly on social media) praising the elected official, then encouraging those seeing the ads to ‘call Sen. So-And-So, and thank them for supporting health care’ or whatever.

These ads are all sponsored by the ‘Alliance To Protect Delaware’s Future’.  A quick search of the intertubes reveals that this group worshiped at the altar of SB 21. Thankfully, in Delaware (although the Forces Of Evil are trying to change this), these PAC’s must reveal who is behind the ads.  The bundler for this PAC on behalf of its clients is the lobbying team of Parkowski, Guerke, and Swayze (presumably the recently-deceased guy).  Take a gander at who is funding ads for these Delaware Way miscreants:

ALLIANCE TO PROTECT DELAWARE’S FUTURE was represented by these lobbyists

Parkowski Guerke & Swayze

Report Date: 01/05/2026

Delaware

Who serve these clients:

• ALLIANCE TO PROTECT DELAWARE’S FUTURE
• KEEP DELAWARE SAFE AND HEALTHY COALITION
• NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO REFORM STATE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS
• AAA MID-ATLANTIC
• ALLIANCE OF AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS INC.
• I Drive Safely LLC
• Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association
• Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
• Corteva Agriscience
• AMERICAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL
• E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND CO.
• SCHELL BROTHERS LLC
• GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION ALLIANCE
• Online Lenders Alliance
• CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION
• NORTHEAST TRANSMISSION DEVELOPMENT LLC
• Sports Betting Alliance
• SUSSEX COUNTY ASSN. OF TOWNS
• CHRISTIANA CARE CORPORATION
• DELAWARE HEALTHCARE ASSN.
• HOUSING ALLIANCE DELAWARE
• AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
• ASURION LLC
• BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL
• DELAWARE CAPTIVE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
• MET LIFE
• PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE
• MOUNTAIRE FARMS OF DELAWARE INC.
• MARYLAND DC DELAWARE BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION
• DIAMOND STATE SUSTAINABILITY CORP.
• KENT-SUSSEX INDUSTRIES INC.
• VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
• OCEAN ATLANTIC MANAGEMENT LLC
• DELAWARE ASSOCIATION OF SURVEYORS
• Self Storage Association
• SERVICE CONTRACT INDUSTRY COUNCIL
• MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
• TechNet
• TIKTOK INC. US
• AT&T
• RAI Services Company
• DELAWARE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
• DELAWARE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC CORP.

1.  Lobbyist Bundling Party For Cruce And Nnamdi Postponed.

Was supposed to take place on Tuesday at the Columbus Inn. Was postponed, no new date set.  Was it postponed because it was a ‘bad look’?  It really doesn’t matter.  The same lobbyists, many of them carrying checks from literally dozens of their clients, will make sure that those checks find their way into the campaign coffers of these two bought-and-paid-for incumbents.  And it’s not that great a loss–word is that the scotch at the Columbus Inn isn’t as high-shelf as that served at bundling parties that take place in developers’ law offices.  (Hmmm, I wonder if dipping into a partner’s private stash can be written off as an in-kind contribution.)

2.  Michelle Booker Files Her Campaign Committee.  She will take on the hopelessly-compromised Stephanie Bolden in a D primary for the RD 2 seat.  One of the most important races of the cycle.

3.  Filings:

Sen. Marie Pinkney (D-SD 13); State Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha (D-RD 1); State Rep. Kendra Johnson (D-RD 5); State Rep. Kamela Smith (D-RD 15); State Rep. Melissa Minor Brown (D-RD 17); State Rep. Sophie Phillips (D-RD 18).

You can expect most activity to slow down as we near the filing deadline.  Pretty sure that most of the surprises have already been made public.  No problem–right after the deadline, we will take in-depth looks at the most intriguing primaries of this cycle.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

1.  Stephanie Bolden Draws Legit Progressive Challenger.   Lest you’ve forgotten who Bolden is, please allow me to reintroduce her to you:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqfsYdMsmz/?igsh=MWlwbXU1dXkwNm1qcg%3D%3D

I now introduce you to…Michelle Booker.  This part of her statement particularly impresses me:

What I see in District 2 now breaks my heart. The drugs, the violence, the sex trafficking, families losing their homes to tax hikes, people who can’t afford the “affordable housing” being built in their own neighborhood. And for all the years this district has had representation (from Bolden), the conditions have only gotten worse.

I’m not running for a title or a paycheck. I’m running because what we’ve been doing isn’t working, and it’s time for a fresh mind — someone who has actually been in this community, who has lived these struggles, and who genuinely cares about the people in it. That’s me. And I’m not doing it alone — I’m running as a team with my husband, and we are ready to work.

That’s it in a nutshell.  Seriously, what has Bolden done on behalf of the constituents she’s supposed to represent?  If you’re a renter, she fought legislation to give you rights.  If you’ve been the victim of predatory lenders, she’s supported by them.  If, and only if, you’re in the tank for Buccini/Pollin, then she’s just your type.   Perhaps, like them, you’ve helped to bankroll her.

She has never had a competitive race.  Except–way back, she decided to primary Bob Marshall for the 3rd Senatorial District–got about 25% of the vote.

I think this race is eminently winnable.  While late entries are generally not conducive to winning, when you’re running against someone who is generally invisible and has some pretty high negatives, it’s a different set of circumstances altogether.  That’s why I like Keonna Watson‘s chances against self-dealer Nicole Poore.  If anything, Michelle’s chances should be even stronger because a rep district is smaller, and this rep district is quite concentrated.  Easy to campaign here.  I’m really excited about this race.  BTW, Booker’s ‘Donate’ button works.  I checked.

2. The Dwayne Bensing Candidacy.  It’s just my take, but I’m puzzled by it.  If he had decided to run last year when he first considered, then opted against, it, that’s fine.  It’s possible I’d support him.  But looking at his website, other than ‘it’s time for a new generation of leaders’, I see no reason for his candidacy.  More than pretty much any elected official, Jennings has fought the Trump Administration at every turn.  I could be wrong, but I don’t really see a path for him to succeed this year, and it might redound against him if/when he decides to run in the future.  I absolutely look forward to hearing him state his case.  But it’s gonna take a lot to convince me to vote Jennings out.

3.  Two More D’s File For Deb Heffernan’s Seat.  One is the chosen flag-carrier for the special interest lobbyists in Ed Mulvihill (props to Ed for featuring his business in this video).  The 6th RD D Committee features two of Dover’s most prominent special interest lobbyists–Bobby Byrd and Sean Finnigan.  Finnigan lobbies for Mulvihill’s business, so this kind of insiderism is hardly unexpected.  Another D, Ralf Santana, has also filed.  I was unable to find anything about his candidacy online.  He’s a veteran, and he lives in the Edgemoor area of the district.  Perhaps he’s concerned about the (my view) cavalier way residents near the proposed Port expansion have been treated throughout the process.  I don’t think either of the new candidates will pose a true threat to Rae Krantz, who has been running an effective grassroots campaign for months.

4.  Joe Jasper Joins D Primary In RD 23.  This makes him the fourth candidate seeking to replace current Rep. Mara Gorman, who is instead running to succeed Dave Sokola in the State Senate.  I believe that he and his wife ran the Midnight Oil Brewing Company in Newark, which closed last year after a good run.  Would anybody, including Joe, care to let us know what he’s doing now and why he’s running?  Based on his wife’s background, he might well be someone worth considering.

5.  Filings.  Sen. Jack Walsh (D-SD 9);  Sen. Nicole Poore (D-SD 12); Rep. Kim Williams (D-RD 19);  Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris (D-RD 32); NCC Councilman Brandon Toole (D-CD 1);  Kent County Recorder Of Deeds Eugenia Thornton (R).

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Looks like all the bills on yesterday’s Senate Agenda passed without controversy.

I haven’t checked today’s agendas yet.  However, the General Assembly will be out of session for the next two weeks for budget mark-up.

OK, with that out of the way, let’s see what goodies await us today.  Yep, today’s Senate Agenda looks like a clearinghouse for Senate bills that members of the body want prioritized in the House.

The Building And Construction Trades will benefit from SB 272 (Walsh), which ‘requires that if public works project is for a school district and has an aggregate cost of $1 million or more, a contract relating to that public works project, advertised after December 31, 2026, must include a project labor agreement with the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council unless there was only 1 bid for the craft under the contract.’  Look for a straight party line vote on this one.

Didn’t find much of interest on today’s House Agenda–although I can’t resist commenting on HB 350(Neal), which ‘requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with school districts, charter schools, and vocational-technical school districts, to make findings and recommendations regarding the advisability of incorporating Delaware homeschool students into public school extracurricular activities within the public school that the student would be attending based on residence if that student were enrolled in public school or within charter schools or vocational-technical school districts…’

One factor the Department of Education may, or may not, wish to consider, can be found on one of the funniest bumper stickers I’ve ever seen:

‘Danger!  Unsocialized Homeschool Kids On Board’.

(Well, I found it funny…)

The big news, of course, is that the watered-down version of the so-called health care cost containment bill unanimously passed the Senate.  While it does place some requirements on insurers (good), the substitute bill that passed largely added language written by, and for, ChristianaCare.  We covered this in today’s Open Thread, where I linked to this comprehensive piece by Nick Stonesifer.  You should read it.

The Senate also defeated one of the more inscrutable bills I’ve come across in recent memory.  SCR 191 (Buckson) ‘adopts a rule applicable to both the Senate and House of Representatives to limit the number of bills introduced by members of the General Assembly to 5 bills each regular session.’  OK, I’ll bite:  Why?  Serious legislators who work and/or have expertise in a particular area often introduce packages of bills. (In fairness, I wouldn’t mind someone making this resolution applicable to Kim Williams and only Kim Williams.) Did anyone listen to the debate, and can they tell me what the rationale for this was?  All I can think of is that Buckson, trapped in a hopeless minority caucus, has retreated to his Own Private Idaho, which is probably a necessary survival skill when you’re an irrelevant elephant.  Anyway, it didn’t come close to passing.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.

There’s a lengthy Senate Agenda today.  Ony one bill caught my interest.

As in, kids, what’s wrong with this bill?  Nothing would be wrong with it if HS1/HB 183 (Gorman) was the law.  As it stands, Speaker Mimi won’t let that bill come up for a vote.  Paging Evelyn Brady? As it stands, SB 164 would merely employ the same anti-democratic process for selecting a candidate for Lieutenant Governor as has been used for legislative special elections.

The rest of the agenda consists of bills of the ‘codifies’ and clarifies’ type.

How do I make a slog not seem like a slog?  That’s the question I’m asking myself as I stare down a bleepload of loaded committee meeting agendas today.  Maybe I’ll find an answer along the way, maybe I won’t.  Let’s start with today’s Senate committee meeting highlights:

SB 13 (Pinkney) ‘…establish(es) minimum financial assistance standards for hospitals and facility-based providers. The subchapter requires full financial assistance for Delaware residents with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, a 75% discount above 300% and at or below 350%, and a 50% discount above 350% and at or below 400%, and requires each hospital to maintain a medical hardship policy providing a 50% minimum discount with an income ceiling of at least 500% of the federal poverty level.’  Betcha the Delaware Healthcare Association isn’t endorsing this one.  Health & Social Services.

SB 319 (Poore) ‘requires individual health insurance plans, group and blanket health insurance plans, the state employee health plan, and state Medicaid insurance to cover medically necessary diagnostic services and treatment for menopause, perimenopause, and symptoms of menopause or perimenopause…’  Health & Social Services.

SB 313 (Mantzavinos) ‘protects Delaware’s nonprofit acute care hospitals from acquisition by entities other than charities or not-for-profit entities during a moratorium period. It also permanently subjects the sale or encumbrance of primary facility real estate of a nonprofit acute care hospital to the Attorney General notice and review requirements of the Conversion Act…This ensures that the Attorney General’s oversight cannot be circumvented by structuring transactions through shell entities or intermediaries.’  Interesting…sounds like there’s something insidious going on that this bill seeks to stop in its tracks. Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.

SB 314 (Poore) ‘provides that in any prosecution for any degree of rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, unlawful sexual penetration or unlawful sexual contact, any evidence that the complaining witness made a false accusation of unlawful sexual conduct against any person on another occasion is inadmissible unless it complies with the procedure set forth in § 3508 of Title 11, is relevant and is material to a fact in issue in the case, and the inflammatory or prejudicial nature of the evidence does not outweigh the probative value of the evidence.’  Judiciary.

SB 322 (Sokola) ‘repeals the ability of school districts to increase tax rates by up to 10% when recalculating the district’s rate of taxation after a general reassessment.’  Mediawatch, others, whaddayathink? Education.

Well, that wasn’t so bad.  I’m relieved.  What’s that? I haven’t covered today’s House Committee meetings?  Getting more coffee…

HB 409 (K. Williams) ‘adds knowingly “operating”, “conducting”, or “advertising” prostitution businesses as acts that constitute promoting prostitution in the second degree under under § 1352 of Title 11. This Act also defines “illicit massage establishment” and clarifies that a person may be guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree under § 1352 of Title 11 for managing, supervising, and controlling an illicit massage establishment. Likewise, under this Act, a person may be guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree for operating, conducting, or advertising an illicit massage establishment.’   OK, quite awhile back, Sen. Blevins sponsored and passed what I considered a state-of-the-art package of bills designed to combat human trafficking.  The large number of ‘Asian massage establishments’ were key targets as they have had empirical links to sex trafficking.  For reasons I honestly don’t understand, enforcement of those bills was notably lacking.  Maybe this bill will help, maybe it won’t.  Judiciary.

HB 419 (Griffith) ‘provides that a child is automatically eligible for Purchase of Care upon placement in foster care.’  Health & Human Development.

HS 2/HB 284 (Yearick) ‘doubles the childcare and dependent care expense tax credit for resident households with federal adjusted gross income of less than $60,000 and makes that credit refundable.’ Health & Human Development.

This should give you something to chew on.

The Big News?  The substitute bill supposedly designed to control hospital healthcare costs will finally make it to the floor today.  Having its priorities straight, the Senate will first rubber-stamp three of the annual corporate bills that contain language far exceeding any legislator’s ability to understand what’s in them.  Here is today’s Senate Agenda.

OK, kids, check out the newly-minted SS2/SB 1 (Townsend).  I see in the new bill everything that’s wrong with Delaware Way-ism.  In particular, peruse the part of the synopsis that details how this bill differs from the first two attempts to reign in, among others, ChristianaCare:

Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 1 differs from Senate Bill No. 1 in that it makes technical edits to definitions and it provides that the Department of Insurance and the State Employee Benefits Office shall lead a process, in consultation with Delaware hospitals, to recommend an appropriate methodology to determine and apply any inflationary or other applicable adjustments to a hospital’s Full Medicare Rate not otherwise captured in a hospital’s annual Medicare rate update by January 1, 2027. Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 1 also adds an exemption from the aggregate unit price growth limits in § 2503(a)(12)a.3. of Title 18 for a hospital that is a Free-Standing Children’s Hospital, a hospital that qualifies as a Medicare-Dependent Rural Hospital on the grounds that it meets the definition of a Medicare-dependent hospital under 42 C.F.R. § 412.108 for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the applicable rate filing year, or an Urban Medicaid DSH Hospital.

Got that? The hospitals, those whose costs that the bill seeks to control, will now be able to negotiate every single item authorized by this bill.  Oh, and several hospitals will be exempted from the bill.  Am I wrong?  I know we have at least one expert out there who can either set me straight or confirm my view.  Typical Delaware Way shit.  Gee, I wonder whether ChristianaCare will support the bill, oppose it, and/or once again go to court to stop the bill from being implemented.

SB 302 (Sturgeon):

‘…recognizes that the Public Education Funding Committee’s (PEFC) recommended hybrid model formula to determine public education funding is good public policy and that implementation of the hybrid model should not be delayed any longer than absolutely necessary. As such, this Act provides authority for the Department of Education (Department) to begin making the changes to systems that are necessary to implement the hybrid model for Fiscal Year 2028.’

Today’s House Agenda is, as you’d expect this time of year, mostly full of House bills.  Each chamber wants to get their bills across to the other chamber in time for them to be considered by the end of Session.

I agree with HB 59 (Lynn), which ‘prohibit(s) the release or publication of an adult suspect’s name or photograph unless the individual is charged with or suspected of a felony and the release is necessary to protect the public’s safety.

Not sure how I feel about HB 360 (Snyder-Hall), which ‘requires political committees to submit quarterly campaign finance reports, as opposed to only annual reports. It removes the requirement that a political committee submit a campaign finance report 30 days before an election, but retains the requirement that a report be filed 8 days before an election.’  As someone who goes through these reports, I don’t like the elimination of the 30 day report, as that is where you’ll find the bulk of the info on $$’s raised and who the $$’s came from.  I also question if this is necessary for the off-years.  I do find it ironic, however, that Stephanie Bolden is on the bill as a co-sponsor as, quite frankly, her campaign finance reports rarely make sense.

I like HB 374 (Lambert), which establishes requirements to track the extent to which Delaware workers benefit from large public works projects over $3 mill.  Hey, the state awards the contracts.  Our workers should benefit.

No Senate committee meetings today.

There are a few House committees meeting today.

This bill, in particular, interests me.  HB 363 (Berry) ‘changes the statutory speed limit for residential districts to 20 miles per hour. This Act provides a 5-year window for signage to be updated.’  I live in Arden.  The speed limit on Harvey Road is the current statutory limit of 25 mph.  It is routinely ignored.  I believe it would be at least as routinely-ignored were it to be lowered to 20.  Back when I worked for the General Assembly, these issues came up a lot.  DELDOT folks told me that, when drivers believe the posted limit is unreasonable, they’re more likely to speed, not less likely.  I don’t know if that’s true, or if it’s DELDOT dogma, but I for sure would want to speed-trap-proof this legislation.  If it’s to be passed, do it on the basis of safety, not ‘gotcha’.  I got caught headed into Kenton once.  The speed limit dropped, without warning, from 40 to 25, and a cop was just waiting.  Thankfully, there’s no reason why anyone would want to visit Kenton.  If you’re thinking of going, don’t.  But, I digress.  Public Safety & Homeland Security

Yet another pointless ‘incentive’ (aka ‘tax break) for business:

This Act creates a tax credit for which accelerators may apply to incentivize the creation of industry and innovative businesses in Delaware. This tax credit may not reduce the recipient’s tax burden by more than 50% and the program will be administered by the Division of Revenue.

‘Only’ 50%? You just know it’s flying right through.  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

See ya tomorrow.