Tag: Dick Cathcart

Delaware Political Weekly: May 31-June 6, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on June 6, 2014 7 Comments
Delaware Political Weekly: May 31-June 6, 2014

Any general election ballot with both Matt Denn and Brenda Mayrack on it is a ballot worth filling out. For years, we, and many of you, have lamented the dearth of progressives at the highest levels of  elected state Democratic officeholders. I am convinced that both Denn and Mayrack are true progressives, and that the offices for which they’re running this year are unlikely to be the last offices for which they run.  In addition to being progressives, both are real competent. With all due respect to Beau Biden (and that’s about as much respect as he’s due), Denn is a huge upgrade in the competence department. As for Tom Wagner, is there anybody in the state, other than perhaps Dick Cathcart, even willing to make an argument about his competence? Unless one views not doing anything as evidence of competence? Now contrast him with Brenda Mayrack. As Spiro Agnew might say, “Nolo contendere”.    Speaking of Wagner and Cathcart, for those of you new to this scandal, this is must reading.  Pretty much everything you need to know in one place. Perhaps that Delaware City sycophant who kisses Cathcart’s ass (no, not Val Longhurst, the other Delaware City sycophant who kisses Cathcart’s ass) will respond to this. Wagner? I dunno. But the term ‘suspendered disbelief’ was never more appropriate. BTW, in a delicious piece of irony, the pathetic report/whitewash from Wagner that I linked to in the article…is no longer available from the Auditor’s office.

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 4, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on June 4, 2014 17 Comments
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 4, 2014

We need more legislative days like yesterday.

Good bills passing all over the place. The Senate passed HB 251(M. Smith) (3 Rethug nos), SB 181(Blevins), SB 185(Townsend)(5 nos, 4 Rethugs and Venables), SB 212(Hall-Long), and SB 219(Hall-Long)(unanimous!). 

Every one of these bills is something that progressives can embrace. Both Senators Lopez and Cloutier voted yes on all of these. Check ’em out for yourself, and I think you can see an emerging progressive consensus in the General Assembly. I want to highlight SB 219…..

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., May 6, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on May 6, 2014 29 Comments
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., May 6, 2014

Ban the Box passes! HB 167( J. J. Johnson), which would ‘prohibit a public employer from inquiring into or considering the criminal record, criminal history or credit history or score of an applicant before it makes a conditional offer to the applicant‘, passed the Senate 15-5 on Thursday. As we’ve previously mentioned, the bill does:

specif(y) that once a background check is conducted an employer shall only consider felonies for 10 years from the completion of sentence, and misdemeanors for 5 years from the completion of sentence. Further, employers are required to consider several enumerated factors when deciding whether to revoke a conditional offer based on the results of a background check.

HB 167 does not apply to those positions where a criminal background check is statutorily mandated (law enforcement, the courts), but it does apply to contractors with state agencies. Sens. Greg Lavelle and Ernie Lopez were the only Rs to vote yes. Credit where credit’s due. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk. BTW, Rep. J. J. Johnson is one of our most effective legislators. He is low-key, doesn’t call attention to himself, but he quietly gets things done. Apropos of nothing, he’s also a serious jazz buff. He deserves to be better-known.

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., April 30, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on April 30, 2014 47 Comments
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., April 30, 2014

A particularly-sketchy ‘redevelopment’ project headlines today’s House Committee meetings.

HB 310(Longhurst) essentially enables the ethically-bankrupt Dick Cathcart to be at the center of what looks like a deal that will put $$’s in connected people’s pockets far from the view of the public. You may remember that Cathcart awarded no-bid contracts to friends of his while ‘working’ as contract administrator at Delaware State University; had his clear involvement in awarding these contracts whitewashed by Republican crony pal Auditor Tom Wagner; and even had Wagner recommend him for the position of City Manager of Delaware City as the scandal-scarred Cathcart beat a hasty retreat from elective office before the voters did it for him. Under HB 310, which, by the way just happens to be in the House Administration Committee chaired by…sponsor Valerie Longhurst, this is what would happen….

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The 62 Project: #’s 27 & 35

Filed in Delaware by on October 28, 2013 15 Comments
The 62 Project: #’s 27 & 35

Rebecca Walker has, on paper, the kind of background I look for in a legislator–demonstrated accomplishment in arenas other than politics. She’s both a nurse and an attorney, and has practiced in each field. Ernie Lopez first ran for office in New Castle County. I voted for him. Why? Because he was clearly the better candidate when he ran against the ghastly Paul Clark for County Council President in 2004.

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Wagner & Cathcart – It’s Getting Smoky

Filed in National by on June 26, 2011 20 Comments

A Delaware City councilman says that Tom Wagner personally interceded on behalf of Dick Cathcart for the manager position.

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Tom Wagner’s Defense

Filed in Delaware by on April 27, 2011 16 Comments

Tom Wagner offers his lame defense to the News Journal editorial board.

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Delaware’s Top Republican Covers Up Wrongdoing

Filed in Delaware by on April 24, 2011 24 Comments

Tom Wagner’s office withheld a report critical of DSU and Dick Cathcart according to a News Journal investigation.

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Dick Cathcart Announces Retirement

Filed in National by on July 6, 2010 9 Comments

House Minority Leader Dick Cathcart announced his retirement from the General Assembly today.

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DE Rethugs Prove the Obvious: All About Politics, Not Responsible Governing

Filed in National by on November 9, 2009 15 Comments

Someday soon, a smoking gun of a document will surface. Possibly penned by Frank Luntz, Eye of Newt Gingrich, or some other Rethuglican ‘thinker’. The document will confirm what should already be obvious. At every level of government, the Rethug strategy is to delay and seek to stop anything of value from moving forward. They […]

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Cathcart Wants It Both Ways

Filed in National by on October 13, 2009 14 Comments

Dick Cathcart is really pissing me off. Today, he published an opinion piece in The News Journal that tries to rewrite recent history.

He [Bryon Short] and just about 100 percent of his Democratic colleagues voted in favor of the package, whereas just about every member of the House Republicans voted against the tax and fee hikes.

Guess what? The Republicans could have scuttled every one of the tax and fee hikes. Every. Single. One.

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Powers Mailer Takes Aim at Cathcart

Filed in Delaware by on November 1, 2008 10 Comments
Powers Mailer Takes Aim at Cathcart

Today I received a mailer from Bill Powers (I think the first that I have ever received) that takes on Dick Cathcart for his sponsorship of HB 383.  Apparently this is a law that cuts impact fees to developers.  It will be interesting to see if this makes any difference in this race.  I have […]

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