Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues., May 31, 2011
I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, I hope that Tony DeLuca enjoyed a terrorist-free Memorial Day weekend, and I hope that Monsignor Greg Lavelle stopped crying about ‘gerrymandering’ long enough to spout inanities about what it means to be patriotic. Well, crying has never stopped Lavelle from spouting inanities. He can and has done both at the same time.
Even when the General Assembly is out of session, we can generally count on DeLuca and Lavelle to offer up their comic stylings. We’ll start with the lesser of the two–Lavelle. Ten years after Wayne Smith drew the pious Monsignor a district that was ‘sawtooth-like’ to protect him, Lavelle whined about ‘gerrymandering’, meaning he got drawn into a district with a fellow Rethug, the Billionaires’ Best Friend, Debbie Hudson. For those so inclined, wander over to the Department of Elections, look at Lavelle’s current district RD 11, then check out the proposed RD 12, which is slated to be Lavelle and Hudson’s new home. You tell me which district describes the term ‘gerrymandered’.
Memo to Greg Lavelle: You got ten years that you didn’t deserve, courtesy of blatant gerrymandering. Please shut up now. I know you’re concerned about who will take up the cause of poor misunderstood pedophile priests in your absence, but don’t worry. Republicans have always taken up the cause of powerful evil overlords. Someone will be there to take your place.
A first-ballot selection, I might add:
Attorney General Beau ‘Beaudhisattva’ Biden contorted himself into a Rosemary Woods-like pretzel and applied an anti-terrorism statute, let me repeat that–an anti-terrorism statute–to justify withholding the hours that Tiny Tony DeLuca allegedly shows up for, and leaves, his $68,000 ‘job’ at the Department of Labor. Has absolutely nothing to do with the possibility that perhaps, just perhaps, he’s not working the required hours. Or even showing up. Trust the AG.
I could just stop there–but, naaah, where’s the fun in that? Let me ask the first of several obvious questions: How in hell can Biden claim with a straight face that Tony DeLuca is susceptible to any kind of terroristic threat? By whom? Bloggers? Hell, he’s far too much fun to have around and write about. Plus, we’re a notably sedentary and non-violent lot. Slashing tires is not our style. Even if someone, ANYone, harbored ill intentions to do bodily harm to DeLuca, a terrorist??? Really??? If Biden was operating as an Attorney General instead of as a protector of an unworthy pol, he would recognize, and perhaps investigate, the manner in which DeLuca has subverted public trust in government. He’d be investigating whether DeLuca is actually spending the hours required of a full-time state employee. In other words, DeLuca undermines confidence in government all by himself. Why would terrorists go after someone who does their job for them?
Finally, if Tony DeLuca faces no terrorist threat, then why in hell is Biden using a totally inapplicable statute to justify keeping DeLuca’s-comings-and-goings secret? Don’t bother answering, it’s a rhetorical question.
I lived through the (Jane) Brady years, and there were some unbelievable opinions that oozed out from under her office door. But this ‘written-to-spec’ opinion makes a mockery of something called the Department of Justice and its current AG. If Biden doesn’t change his tune on this, I will not be supporting him next time he runs for anything, and I’ll go out of my way to let people know why.
Speaking of the Delaware Way and not supporting people for reelection, I can’t let this latest story about Jack Markell and jobsjobsjobs go without comment. As to whether or not there should be a new medical facility in Middletown and/or whether there should be an independent quasi-governmental board ‘charged with scrutinizing and approving public health care developments’, I’ll leave that up to the General Assembly and the Governor. However, that’s the current law, and Gov. Markell went to extreme lengths to subvert the law and the workings and the recommendations of this board:
“…review committee members said that despite an unprecedented level of political meddling — including the appointment of six newcomers to the 17-member board in early May by Markell — they were not convinced there’s a need for the hospital. The duty of the independent board is to foster cost-effective and efficient use of health care resources, including preventing excess capacity, board members say.”
Because, to Gov. Markell, ‘jobsjobsjobs’ justifies a new medical facility, regardless of whether, you know, people would actually use it. I don’t really have a problem with that. It’s the blatant attempt to fix the game. Governor, if you don’t like the rules, you have the power to change the rules by getting the General Assembly to change the laws. Packing an independent agency to get your way mocks the very notion of citizen participation in government.
And, it almost wouldn’t be a ‘Delaware Way’ story without Bloated Bobby Byrd, one of Delaware’s most notorious lobbyist/fixers, and a man who held the dubious distinction of lobbying the Minner Administration on behalf of his multitude of clients while also working for–the Minner Administration. He’s been retained by the company that wants to build and run the facility. Allow this fixer to rationalize the stacking of the board by Markell:
Byrd said the process has been difficult because the application is “very sophisticated” and one that had not been seen by the board before.”The board and staff have been challenged,” Byrd said.
One of the board members who was curtly dismissed was Hans Francke. I’ve known Francke for probably close to 50 years now. To this day, I have no idea what his party affiliation is. What I do know is that he has a brilliant analytical mind, is neither partisan nor doctrinaire, and is precisely the type of person who Markell should thank his lucky stars takes his role as a citizen volunteer seriously. For someone as unprincipled and demonstrably unethical as Bobby Byrd to even imply that his client’s end-run around the existing rules is running into difficulty due to the ‘sophistication’ of the proposal and the inability of people like Hans Francke to somehow grasp it is deplorable. But Bobby Byrd doesn’t get paid for HIS analytical mind or sophistication, he gets paid for access and influence. That Jack Markell is all too willing to take on such an oleaginous co-conspirator means that Jack Markell is willing to embrace the worst of the Delaware Way to achieve his goal of jobsjobsjobs, regardless of the consequences. He has become, sadly, a jobs whore. He’s just dickering over the cost. He clearly doesn’t care that the cost includes making invaluable Delawareans like Hans Francke unwelcome as citizen volunteers. I do. Seriously, Governor, your cavalier approach here is shameful.
Not much time or room left to talk about what’s coming up today in the Delaware General Assembly. The caucuses will have much more action than the sessions themselves. Members of the Joint Finance Committee will brief their respective caucuses on the status of their deliberations. Plus, there’s this little matter called redistricting. House Rethugs, in particular, will have to decide whether they might marshal a court challenge. It’d take a lot of chutzpah for them to do so, especially when you contrast their blatant 2002 gerrymandering with a much cleaner 2012 plan offered by the House D’s. But chutzpah has never stopped Rethugs before, especially with all the partisan hacks that Bush put on the courts with the acquiescence of D’s like Tom Carper. Maybe they’ll draw one of their bought-and-paid-for minions. Unlikely, though. They’re screwed, basically.
Ah, yes, the agendas. If you’ve read this far, this may well be when you stop reading. But not before I let you all know that I’ll be on the Al Mascitti Show TODAY, Tuesday, May 31, 10 a.m., WDEL-1150. Ya think, based on this column, that we might have a few things to talk about? Monsignor Lavelle, Beau Biden, Brian Selander, you and any and all others, are welcome to call in. And I haven’t yet mentioned El Somnambulo’s profound sorrow upon learning of the passing of Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, but he will on Al’s show.
OK, OK, the agendas. The Senate agenda here. The House agenda here.
Trenchant legislative analysis? Tomorrow. Maybe.
Maybe Lavelle can work at the Republican Vice Chairman’s job that he won? I don’t think the republicans will get much out of him. He’s just an angry whiner.
I’d guess that after Hudson and Lavelle play Rock Paper Scissors, one of them will go after Katz, most likely Lavelle.
Tony DeLuca still not killed by terrorists ?!?! I tell ya, today’s terrorists are a bunch of slackers. Why, in my day if you had a minor state official to take out, they were taken out. If you had an Olympics to terrorize, that Olympics was bloody well terrorized.
The terrorists are just as baffled by DeLuca’s schedule as we are.
Beau”Baby” Biden will use whatever Pretzel logic available to not offend an ally [Tony the tit-mouse] or constituency like cops.
Witness his impotent response to the DEREK HALE fiasco.
The Delaware Way is NOT the way for US today.
It must be BURIED deeply and never resurrected.
I don’t really get the DeLuca/Biden connection. There is some history, I take it. If someone wanted to dumb the whole thing down for me, I’d be much obliged, because I don’t see what Beau gains by dirtying himself up for the sake of Deluca.
My take, and I could easily be wrong: Unions, unions, unions.
Biden doesn’t win in 2006 w/o strong support from the construction trades. Remember, it was close.
Tony DeLuca=Poster Boy for the Construction Trades.
ES Bullseye!
Could you guys publish information about John Flaherty’s letter asking that DeLuca and other double dippers at leg hall to voluntarily open their records to public scrutiny?
It has been covered by the Newark Post here including John’s email address so people can write him to ask that they be added to his letter. Maybe if it is widely published, we can get a slew of names.
thanks –
here’s the post article –
Open government advocate takes aim at DeLuca and other ‘double dipping’ legislators By Doug Rainey
http://www.newarkpostonline.com/articles/2011/05/30/news/doc4de3d5eeccbec651291807.txt
…Those who support Flaherty’s position and would like to add their names to a letter calling for the release of records can email him at jdf0000@aol.com.
Reminder: the AG had nothing to say when CRI obtained and published the GPS report of KWS EVERY move. Argueably this is sensitive information which could have led to her being harmed.
AGREED totally about exposing Markell’s behavior in light of the cavalier dismissal of Hans Francke. REALLY Jack?
This was done to Wade Catts who once served on NCC Historic Review Board until his insisting that Both Pam Scott/Paul Clarky and Chris Coons/GORE step up to the plate on protecting our heritage of the Glasgow area and the 1777 Battle of Cooch’s Bridge.
Wade was tossed off of the Board by new comer Lisa Diller (who probably has learned enough about how NCC REALLY works by now to fully regret her part in this sordid tale). Wade stormed into then NCC Executive Coons’ office to demand a reason why he was removed from the Board. Wade and the HRB had ridden herd on the Coons/GORE record plan being developed for the lands behind Glasgow HS that are known KNOWN to be part of the battle of 1777. For 9 years the Land Use Dept. worked with this property owner to ignore that they now owned a potion of this battleground but Wade et al held fast and finally GORE/Coons complied with a metal search with determined that there was significant evidence of the battle on the property and the record plan was ammended accordingly.
Wade et al had also been firm in the face of Pam Scott and Landmark Engineerings ridiculous attempts to dismiss the significance of the heritage on La Grange farm – the staging area for the British between the 1777 Delaware Battle and the Battle of the Brandywine.
Anyhoo. Coons told Wade that he had heard from then council President Clark that there weren’t enough votes on council to keep him. A council member called me and said that that couldn’t be true because he knew he hadn’t been polled and he knew that others hadn’t been polled. They liked Wade and knew his devotion to this service and his value and would have ensured his position to continue on the Board.
The AG’s Office is not worried about what time Karen Weldin-Stewart shows up for her job at the Insurance Department and someone harming her as a result.
The AG’s office is just as surprised as everyone else when she shows up for her one job as Insurance Commissioner. Everyone knows the taxpayers are paying for a no-show elected official in KWS.
And then how many times she has lost the use of her state car with a GPS (to stop abuses by officials using a taxpayer paid vehibcle) for speeding and abusing the privlidge. Then KWS had to borrow others cars to get to work blaming her inconvenience and lack of job attendence on the AG. Its all Beau’s fault and politically motivated is her most commonlly vocalized complaint.
“Tony DeLuca=Poster Boy for the Construction Trades.” That’s pure rubbish. Anyone who says that clearly doesn’t talk to union members in the construction trades. DeLuca has the support of one local–his own. And even then that’s unenthusiastic.
If you want to know the connection between B. Biden and DeLuca, then ask yourself what the connection was between J. Biden and T. Adams. The answer is obvious. The Bidens align themselves w/ the centers of power in DE. Besides, DeLuca has alot of influence over the flow and outcome of legislation that is important to the AG. One need look no further than that to see the connection.
Dana, your explanation makes at least as much sense as mine.
Doesn’t justify it. And it’s more than a little…depressing.
Every time I see what I think is some hope that the Delaware Way is starting to fade, there’s something like this to set me straight.
Nancy: I saw the Post article and would encourage everyone to hit the link you posted and sign on.
However, with the apparent opinion of the AG that the public has no right to know whether double-dipping by legislators is taking place, it is time to legislate an end to double-dipping. And no bleeping grandfather clause either UNLESS legislators voluntarily release the hours they worked both jobs on their own.
The more I think about it, and I’m trying to stop thinking about it, this may be the single worst AG’s opinion I can ever recall.
Just came back from the Riverfront Market where I saw Ted Kaufman having a sit down with Beau Biden. If we’re lucky, Kaufman is making Beau an offer he can’t refuse to reconsider the Tiny Tony business.
My question re: Karen Weldin Stewart is her boyfriend who is Head of the Delaware Medical Society..Talk about your insider friends. She even has the nerve to bring this dude along with her to public events, guess she doesnt quite understand how the public would consider that little tete as a conflict of interest.
A: Former
B: PERSONAL relationships are permitted even in public life.
C: Find something of actual substance if you could:)
“Personal relationships are permitted even in public life.”
So is criticism of who those relationships are with.
True and in the instance at hand it is of 2 successful people in their own right. A circumstance that can be cited across the political spectrum and by its nature has little opportunity for conflict as there is no dependency on either party. On the other hand we could make a list of DE office holders who EMPLOY their spouses, boy friends/girl friends children other and other relatives. I daresay that of 61 Legislators we could find 30 with such employees on their staffs. But the obsession with KWS is more fun:)
“On the other hand we could make a list of DE office holders who EMPLOY their spouses, boy friends/girl friends children other and other relatives. I daresay that of 61 Legislators we could find 30 with such employees on their staffs. But the obsession with KWS is more fun:)”
No Karen Weldin Stewart is not more fun; she is by far more corrupt than the rest. KWS does political favors for her doctor boyfriend, hires her neighbors, friends and campaign manager for top positions, pays them outrageous salaries for being underqualified, caters to the insurance companies at the expense of constituants, is under Federal Investigation and hires a convicted felon as her campaign manager – just for starters.
Joe: Your loyalty to KWS is touching, but misplaced. To term her “successful” is a perversion of the meaning of the word. To call her lobbyist ex-boyfriend such might be true, but only in the sense that any of Delaware’s other slimeball lobbyists can be called successful.
Geezer – We do not have to look further than this exchange to identify unethical actions authorized by Karen Weldin Stewart, Joe’s comments/loyalty; although maybe touching to some – is bought and paid for by KWS’s campaign election fund.
Joe is her campaign manager and has been on her campaign payroll for a while now. KWS’s campaign funds go to pay Joe to clean her house, clean up her yard, write nice comments on blogs and manage her 2012 election campaign.
Anon: If you’re talking about Meister, he’s not a doctor.
Geezer – I am referring to Dr. Nicholas Biasotto, D.O., 2010 President, Medical Society of Delaware as Karen Weldin Stewart’s boyfriend. KWS consults with him on almost every decision she makes now. Why this is concerning for constituants in not that KWS’s boyfrind is a doctor as much as his MSD positions and the fact that KWS is so easily influenced by the people around her. She makes decisions based upon who is in her ear or strongest at the time.
For example; KWS alsolutly knows decisions she made in the last few years at the Insurance Department were illegal and/or unethical was told so and she made them anyway. A common line or excuse she uses is that she is afraid of someone or what they will do to her if she does not do what they want.
Therefore, whoever KWS is more afraid of will prevail on any issue if it threatens her keeping a boyfriend, her income – getting reelected(as she has said to soemone when asked why she is running in 2012 – she needs the state pension), raising campaign contributions, etc.
KWS ethics, decision making, leadership and managment abilities are simply appalling and causing great harm to Delawareans.
I am far from the biggest KWS fan, as anyone who has read me can attest.
However, I think that anon is perilously close to going over the line when it comes to unfounded allegations.
To wit:
“KWS absolutely knows decisions she made in the last few years at the Insurance Department were illegal and/or unethical was told so and she made them anyway. A common line or excuse she uses is that she is afraid of someone or what they will do to her if she does not do what they want.”
Really? Prove it. Better yet, prove it in a thread where this is on topic. Or stop making assertions.
Today’s News Journal article: Delaware health care: Insurance waiver would cost residents $1.6 million in rebates
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110601/NEWS02/106010352/Insurance-waiver-would-cost-residents-1-6M-rebates?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
“Stewart said she fears insurers may abandon the individual market without the reprieve.” …
“Stewart’s request appears to be designed more to protect the bottom lines of individual agents who sell health insurance policies than the insurance carriers themselves.”…
“Stewart said Aetna and Golden Rule might leave the market without the waiver. Deputy Insurance Commissioner Gene Reed acknowledged that neither company has threatened to do so, but said, “We have to understand our marketplace and understand there’s a potential that could happen.”
Yeah, what’s with this horseshit?
The Insurance Commissioner’s office exists to serve the public.
That SHOULD mean the overwhelming number of policy holders receiving a rebate should TRUMP a couple of dozen policy WRITERS every fucking time.
But no……The IC’s office is erecting STRAW MEN to scare the public into accepting their unacceptable position.
I honestly didn’t believe anon @9:34 that JPC was defending KWS on here while drawing a paycheck from her campaign and not disclosing it. I have a lot of respect for the man, having known him in a prior life. So I checked. He was paid $3,260 in 2010.
Joe – is that cool?