General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 24, 2012

Gov. Markell’s State of the State address has come and gone. I  give it high marks. I find it hard to understand how anyone could disagree with Markell’s focus on small business and in using the most advanced social media tools available to help those businesses grow while creating new businesses. I daresay that there are precious few governors who can think and are thinking on the level of Markell. I encourage all of you to read the speech. It’s a visionary blueprint.

Keep in mind, however, that there may be less inspirational language to come in the Governor’s budget proposals. I hope he does not return to some of the ill-advised and, ultimately ill-fated, cuts to aid to the indigent and college scholarships that he offered last year. There is more than one way to balance a budget.

Bug-eyed Rethug State Chair John Sigler fired back in typically scattershot fashion. If you’re looking for serious political discourse, you won’t find it in his remarks. But they’re fun to read.

Before we move on, can we at least now all agree that Jack Markell has his eyes on some future, and bigger, political office? With $1.4 mill already raised for his reelection, and more surely to come, you can bet that much of that money will be used to collect political chits. And why not? Despite my occasional disagreements with Markell, he has demonstrated true competence and leadership in  focusing on Delaware’s economy. Who now can predict the lay of the land in 2016? I’m interested in how he parcels out these chits. I hope that he doesn’t largely ignore Delaware for the national stage. I’d also feel better if he tossed a few bucks Elizabeth Warren’s way. Not to mention whomever faces Scott Walker in the Wisconsin recall. But, I digress.

Here’s what happened in Dover on Thursday. The bath salts bill passed the House unanimously and heads to the Governor. Legislation creating a liquor license for the Queen sailed through the House, although, for reasons that escape me, three Sussex County R’s voted against it. I’m guessing that failure to grasp the English language is the likely reason why. Actually, that’s a cheap shot. They probably just don’t want Wilmington getting anything that might actually be a boon to the City. Either way, it doesn’t matter, nor do they.

Little of interest in the Senate today. There’s a bill from the Joint Sunset Committee eliminating some state agencies, boards, or committees that no longer serve a public purpose. Or perhaps never served a public purpose. Not that they’re the only ones…

There’s more action in the House today. Should be an interesting roll call on HB 222(Jaques), which would require the Department of Labor to ‘publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise.’ Let’s see who favors screwing the little guy by claiming that an employee really isn’t an ’employee’.

Brad Bennett’s bill adding a $100 fine on all crimes committed against seniors is also on the fast track. While I don’t think it really will amount to much, as even the bill’s sponsor claims that it will only raise between $2-300,000 annually, it will be one of the most-cited items on campaign brochures this fall. Which, after all, is its principal purpose. Incumbency protection. (Yes, quoted verbatim from Thursday’s report.)

The House may also consider legislation allowing hunters to shoot deer with handguns instead of solely shotguns. Nice to know that bug-eyed Rethug State Chair John Sigler hasn’t forgotten his NRA roots. Also nice to know that Monsignor Greg Lavelle has signed on with the usual cast of downstate loonies as a sponsor of the bill.

A bill ‘cleaning up’ redistricting will also be considered, and will likely pass both houses this week. No, don’t get excited. This is not substantive legislation. You see, kids, once the General Assembly completes its redistricting, counties and municipalities follow. There are inevitably areas where the lines don’t conjoin, and there will be districts created where no one lives. Correcting those little jots and jiggles is what HB 250 is all about. That’s all.

However, the bill is worth checking out to see at least one result of a more transparent government. Finally, finally, you get to read a bill that places changes to the existing law in context. Language that is crossed out reflects language that will be removed from the law. Language that is underlined reflects language that will be added to the existing law. You will notice that some districts don’t change at all, so there are no lines of any kind. The Delaware General Assembly has had the capacity to draft legislation like this for something like fifteen years now. Only concerted opposition from the old guard, aka Nancy Cook, Jim Vaughn and Thurman Adams, among others, kept this reform from the public for so long. Not surprisingly, Karen Peterson sponsored the legislation that finally ushers more sunshine into the legislative process. Let us end today’s foray into the legislative doings in Dover by saluting this worthy reform.