January 17, 2017 Open Thread

January 17, 2017 Open Thread

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Lisa Blunt Rochester talks about Martin Luther King Jr, Chis Coons says that Flynn's call with Russia 'very suspicious' , Kent County could by looking at tax increases, 34th annual MLK Prayer Breakfast
More Markell Cronyism

More Markell Cronyism

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First was Blevins appointment and there is also Secretary of Finance Tom Cook becoming the new director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority as reported by Matt Bittle at Delaware State News.
Markell, Chamber & Rethugs Rigging the Game for 2016. D ( )eadership AWO(L).

Markell, Chamber & Rethugs Rigging the Game for 2016. D ( )eadership AWO(L).

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Anybody paying attention can see what's going on. The alleged D leaders in the General Assembly either aren't paying attention, or they're in the bag as well. Stated simply: Gov. Markell, aided and abetted by his pro-business propagandists, is pursuing a strategy of forcing cuts on the most vulnerable with NO consideration being given to increasing revenues as a means of closing the budget gap. You're already familiar with the choreographed calls for cuts to health care, public education, and state employees emanating from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable.
Markell Punches the Hippies

Markell Punches the Hippies

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Governor Jack Markell (D) has written a rather lengthy piece last week in "The Atlantic" entitled "Americans Need Jobs, Not Populism." The title alone enrages me because, since when were jobs and populism mutually exclusive? This is a long article, because the Governor's article was long. But it is necessary. The Governor recognizes that income inequality is a problem, and that an active government is necessary in fighting that problem. But he won't fund that active government, and still advocates policies that inflame inequality. All the while engaging in the use of strawmen, false categorizations, and triangulation.
Time for a Separation

Time for a Separation

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And by that I mean, a separation of Delaware's Democrats in the General Assembly from Governor Jack Markell (D). On Friday, the Governor went on Rick Jensen's show on WDEL and stated that he would veto House Bill 50 (the opt-out bill) if it passed the House and Senate. HB 50 would allow parents to opt their child or children out of state standardized testing. The bill cleared the House Education Committee last week and it awaits a vote by the full House, which may come this week.
"I never say what I'm going to do to a bill in advance, but I can say I absolutely do not support that bill," Markell said. Markell said it's his job to do what's best for Delaware kids, and he said opting out of the Smarter Balanced assessment isn't the way. "Civil rights communities across the country, the NAACP, the urban leagues have been very, very focused on not allowing opt out because they're concerned that if the kids are allowed to opt out they'll fall through the cracks," he said. Markell also stood behind Delaware's adoption of the Common Core standards.
They are falling through the cracks now because they are not learning. They spend all their time trying to prepare for an impossible test. But I digress. These standardized tests are very unpopular with parents across the country and here in Delaware. They are very unpopular with teachers, and educators. They are only popular with those who want to "reform" education so as to either 1) privatize it, or 2) enrich themselves or their benefactors, or 3) both. So General Assembly Democrats have a decision to make.
Guess Who Pocketed ALL Of Delaware’s Income Growth During the Recovery?

Guess Who Pocketed ALL Of Delaware’s Income Growth During the Recovery?

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Inexplicably buried at the bottom of page A-3 of the News-Journal's dead tree edition is one of the most important stories of the year. This Jonathan Starkey story tells us the following:
Delaware's wealthiest residents hoarded all of the income gains as the state recovered from the recession, according to a study from the Economic Policy Institute that provided yet more evidence of an imbalanced economic recovery. From 2009 to 2012, the top 1 percent of Delaware earners saw income growth of 15 percent. The bottom 99 percent? Their incomes fell 1.6 percent. The study was based on Internal Revenue Service data of adjusted gross income.
Got that? Yet Jack Markell opposes a decent living wage and opposes restoring progressivity to the tax code. The policies he put into effect during the so-called 'recovery' led to more, not less, inequity in income growth. Actually, you can't call it income growth for the 99% who saw their income shrink by 1.6%. This is obscene.
Markell to Children: Drop Dead

Markell to Children: Drop Dead

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Don't look for gimlet-eyed Jack Markell to lift a finger to assist in the humanitarian crisis at the nation's borders.  Delaware Gov. Markell turned down a request from The US Department of Health & Social Services to even consider making any state resources available to stem the humanitarian crisis. He blames congressional 'dithering'. As if the kids placed in the middle of this crisis can do anything to overcome congressional dithering. From today's News-Journal story:
Markell, who is among a number of the nation’s governors who fielded federal requests for help, said there are no state facilities available that could properly accommodate the children while they await immigration hearings. But he said some Delaware faith-based organizations might be in a position to offer assistance. “I don’t really see the possibility of any state facilities housing these kids,” Markell said Monday. “I don’t think that exists. If private organizations choose to do so, that’ll be up to them.”