Pardon the absence of our tour around the Delaware blogosphere for the last weeks. I was in Vegas on Friday, and away from the computer last week.
DELAWARE LIBERTARIAN
Tyler heralds Ed Osborne on Governor Markell’s signing of the Eminent Domain Bill.
Steve challenges Governor Markell’s assertion that there really aren’t enough employees at the top income ranks to cut the budget through a graduated pay cut. And he does so with figures, facts and analysis.
Steve has a very thought provoking piece on bloggers resulting from the reports emerging from the roundtable with Governor Markell.
KAVIPS
Kavips revisits a Redwaterlily post about Mark Baker’s recent application to rezone his family’s property in Milton to H1, the highest industrial rating possible, a discovery that confirms the right person won in Sussex County last November.
He covers the small changes made in SB 59 to make Delaware eligible for stimulus funding, but also notes that the changes could mean that every house in Delaware will be energy self sufficient, producing as much or more energy than it consumes, by 2025.
He offers his thoughts on HB 100, the Gambling Bill.
He argues that an 8% pay cut for state employees may actually lower prices across the state, and it is a pretty convincing argument.
And his post on God and Battlestar Galactica is a tour de force, and must be read. Even non fans of the show will enjoy it.
DELAWARE WATCH
Dana offers his thoughts on gambling. He views HB 100 as an attempt at common sense and pragmatism, whereas Al Mascitti and wRong Williams cry corruption of the Racino cabal. For the first time in recorded history, I agree with Dana.
Dana thinks that the Delaware Chamber of Commerce’s “spinning” for Governor Markell’s budget is proof that the budget is the work of evil.
He argues for a higher tax increase on the rich instead of a pay cut for state employees. I agree with that.
He inexplicably argues that lower turnout in off year elections is a good thing, in explaining his concerns about HB 117 sponsored by Rep. Longhurst. His rationale is that well informed voters are the ones turning out in the school board elections, and we shouldn’t change that.
He reports on an unlikely good deed by John C. Atkins (Drunk). Atkins sponsored and won passage of HB 107, which would stop the charging of annual rents in manufactured homes. This pains me, but good for Atkins.
His take on the blogger’s meeting with Governor Markell.
DELAWARE CURMUDGEON
Shirley had a good write up on SB 7, the Emiment Domain law. She cites a law review article by Professor Ilya Soman of the George Mason University School of Law, which specifically notes that the “[SB 7] is arguably the least effective of all the post-Kelo laws enacted so far. It does not restrict condemnations for economic development at all. The statute requires merely that the power of eminent domain only be exercised for “the purposes of a recognized public use as described at least 6 months in advance of the institution of condemnation proceedings: (i) in a certified planning document, (ii) at a public hearing held specifically to address the acquisition, or (iii) in a published report of the acquiring agency.” This bill does little more than restate current constitutional law, which already requires that condemnation be for a “recognized public use.”
She also posted her letter to Senator Cloutier addressing her opposition to the Hate Amendment. Good for her.
And she highlights a wonderful honor the local Delaware chapter of Warrior’s Watch gives our returning local heros.
TOMMYWONK
On why we won’t see a sales tax in Delaware.
He presents his take on the blogger roundtable with Governor Markell.
And he presents a new environment policy for Delaware in two posts: here and here.
ALLEN LOUDELL
Should Wilmington print its own currency? It is not as ridiculous as it sounds.
He, like Dana, also argues that ill informed voters are a reason to vote against Longhursts’ bill to move school board elections to the general election.
DOWN WITH ABSOLUTES
Mike is unhappy that our General Assembly gets a two week spring break, and he has a point. They only work a half a year.
He also opposes alcohol checkpoints.
And he, like Dana and Loudell, only wants well informed voters voting in school board elections. I must say, this opposition smacks of elitism. I understand the concern, but it is very undemocratic.
But then Matthews goes back to what he does best: entertaining Live Blogs! Here he liveblogs the HB 100 committee hearing, i.e. the Gambling Bill, and here he liveblogs the vote on SB7, the Eminent Domain Bill.
Twittering at the News Journal? There is hope for the old girl yet.
Finally, he presents his take on the Blogger’s Roundtable in the form of an open letter to the Governor.
KILROY
He takes a shot at Jason over transperency in our public school system’s finances. I am not sure how warranted the attack is. Considering that Kilroy is ablely covering education reform in Delaware, why does he need Jason, or Burris for that matter, pushing the issue. Indeed, as Matthews notes, Kilroy singlehandedly got SB41 passed.
He wants HB117 dumped in favor of an effort to get the Finances Transparency Bill (HB119) to Markell’s desk. Why not both? Needless to say he opposes HB117, but mostly out a fear that regular mom and dad volunteers would not stand a chance against money-raising politicians in a general election. Now that is a good reason to oppose the bill, rather than the undemocratic reason that the voters are ill informed.
And to understand Kilroy, read this.
MIKE’S MUSINGS
It’s census time! He reminds us that address canvassers are out there now and are essential to our democracy. Be kind.
And he highlights what an apology from an elected official should look like, in this case, the apology of Cape Henlopen School Board member Nobel Prettyman.
THE MOURNING CONSTITUTION
His take on expansion of gambling in Delaware.
I’m not sure how I feel about being on the same side of the Longhurst bill with Mike M and Dana G. Hmmm….
Awesome job DD. It looks like I have some reading to catch up on. I’ll be starting with Steve Newton’s take on Markell’s budget. Watching a Republican dig into numbers is always good for a laugh.
Mike is right that the General Assembly is only in session from January through June. And, in reality, the average # of annual session days is only around 50.
The Beast Who Slumbers must caution those who think that the legislature should spend more time in session: Be careful what you wish for.
In most years, very little gets done until at least May. If anything, they’re in session too many days, IESHO.
But ‘bulo’s biggest worry is that the General Assembly would actually come up with uses for extra session time that would not necessarily be in the public’s interest.
To quote the great Professor Harold Hill, “Remember my friends that the idle mind is the Devil’s Playground”.
The obvious corollary being “More days in session =Trouble right here in River City”.
Thanks for the update. I read Kavips on the state pay cuts and disagree with some of the premise,but found it interesting reading and hope to comment on it over on Kavips.
For the Mike Castle watchers among you, check out my last several posts on Mike Castle’s finances and his record of attracting Democratic voters. To defeat him the Democrats can’t afford so many defections and they need more cash to deliver their message.
John,
I was just going to comment on how nobody is talking about Castle. Thanks!
Here is a link to Tobin’s blog: Politics by the Numbers (Mostly Delaware)
My way of telling Jason forget Washington , Bush and Castle stop and visit home as we need your help! The energy “wasted” having pissing matches keeps us all divided at times we should be united. We all seem to care our community and government and we all bitch about over government. Jason knows me well and he knows I am fucking with him.
“Indeed, as Matthews notes, Kilroy singlehandedly got SB41 passed.”
You’re referring to HB # 76 that passed by a unanimous 41 house vote and now in the Senate Education Committee. Sen. Soklola is one of co-sponsors and is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and I am confident the bill with get to Markell.
HB 76 is in regards to the School Board Oath of Office. I tried to use the board’s oath to trough back on a school board who violates state laws such as contract bid laws and charter school approval laws. Also denies public comments prior to votes. The current oath only references the U.S. and State Constitution and not Delaware Laws governing public education. So I lobbied a few legislators with a copy of current oath text and one with the additional phrase. Positive response and all will to sponsor. So I met with a legislators and presented hard copies and what I would say to the legislators. So we bitch but we need to learn the process and how to move it.
HB 117 moving board election to general election is too ambiguous at this time and would put parents at a political advantage running for school board at time when political machines are at their peak! Parents don’t have $30,000.00 for a campaign nor the political connections. Isn’t it odd Red Clay does not have one single board member with a child currently attending Red Clay, so much for share decision-making? The bills sponsor says it will save $140,000.00 a year. That’s fine but peanuts in compared to the waste in school finances where boards refuses to open the books to let the people see “their” money.
“ And to understand Kilroy, read this.”
From the heart ! When those (legislators) I outright trashed and disrespected look past my ignorance and see my passion and state before their peers in legislative hall in my defense is a very humble experience. Matt Denn will shoot me an E-mail every now and then to touch base, Markell has an open door and many legislators will meet with me. We see and analyze politics from the street view but the politics in politics are clueless to many. The D’s and R’s are like prizefighters kicking each others asses in the ring but afterwards can sit down and have a few beers and laugh. If they carry the political hate beyond the political ring and personalize it we all loose and nothing will get done for the people! Sound familiar re: Washington!
Copeland and Lavelle introduced legislation last year Re: school finance checkbooks on line and Lavelle followed through again this year! Lavelle is one who engages conversation with me as does Copeland believe it or not! All the trashing of Copeland I did before I was for him after not be for him before being for him, LOL, he and we’re communicating. He couldn’t change the world for me re: transparency! So I became a one man show! Dave Buriss stayed on the game re: transparency. GOP can hate me and their members can snub me, I don’t care! Maybe what I lack in brains is compensated in passion. I am very connected to the sprit of the American Revolution and many descendants of those patriots. America is dying and Americans stand by and watch it bleed! If we don’t have the will to hold even school board financial accountable God save us and America! So between stupid and nerd there is Kilroy!
But Kilroy, that is DL. We mix both national and local here. This is not an education reform only blog. Indeed, I am no education policy expert and would feel uncomfortable writing about it. But what we can do and should do is trumpet your efforts more.
And going forward, we will do that.
I have a question what good have the so called “Well InFormed Voters ” done as far as electing good people to the school boards in the last 10 -20 years.
Only have ing “Well Informed Voters” seems to be the chief reason for keeping the staus quo which hasnot had a positve influence on our schools. I would like a more “Well Informed Person” Than I to justify Intentionally depressing election turnout
And thanks for the correction on HB76. I must have transposed the 76 and the 41 in my mind.
Delaware Dem // Apr 10, 2009 at 8:37 am
“But Kilroy, that is DL. We mix both national and local here”
“But what we can do and should do is trumpet your efforts more.”
Not really pointing finger just and certainly not about me! School finances re: lack of transparency is all about government and politics and that need for open government I think we all support!
“This is not an education reform only blog.”
I understand and respect that.
Andy // Apr 10, 2009 at 8:39 am
“I have a question what good have the so called “Well InFormed Voters ” done as far as electing good people to the school boards in the last 10 -20 years.”
No much at all and it’s debatable how well in formed they are! Many agendas in education and parents in the middle are the pawns being move around. When it comes do district spending the community and even the community financial review committee re: Red Clay has to take reports that don’t expose line-item expenditures. So I guess my position is rather than moving the board election process first we need to address the internal financial reporting process that may end the political bullshit. Politically Red Clay has planted the seed for Charter schools and fueled the process. All debatable as far as providing choice but Red Clay’s board should be responsible for the direct needs of Red Clay and not be servants to the external political network to advance public education agenda to building a new system of public education. I am all for charter schools but crafted by the same people who failed to address the so-called failure in public schools which are in part of their failures. All debatable!
The point is, we cannot reform public education for the sake of traditional public schools, charter schools or school vouchers is that is an options under we reform public school finances. This is why I but precedence over moving board election date that may further politicize public education!
Andy, You overstate “intentionally depressing election turnout”.
Election turnout is an individual’s choice. School board elections have run separate as a function of a school calendar year, and the absolute, narrow function of a school board to a local community’s view on their direction in education. Low turnout may be a result of satisfaction believe it or not. Larger turnout, as seen when a referendum may be attached, speaks to the agreement or disagreement of the board or referendum presented. And we certainly have seen it go both ways around here.
What slays me, you would NEVER see a referendum run on a general election day, and have a legislative official risk anyone thinking they are associated with a potential tax increase.
School boards would run a referendum on the same day as an election, because regardless of personal outcome, they know the referendum was needed. That being said speaks volumes to the non-partisan work of a school board. Leave them alone, from the distraction of the November round-up.
BTW DelDem, you did this week quite thoroughly, thank you–and welcome back from Vegas–you’re not resurrecting the Siegfried and Roy act are you?
All this back and forth makes me think you’re doing shows.
This is why I but precedence over moving board election date that may further politicize public education!
Which is pretty politicized as it is. Otherwise, why would we still be debating charters vs. traditional public schools or why would certain quarters still be beating the drum over vouchers? And from my own small exposure, the campaigns and literature of folks trying to get to the school board just look like practice run for bigger leagues. Which, for some folks, it certainly is. And let’s not forget that the social conservative right began its march to DC starting with getting elected to school boards.
I don’t much like an argument of elected government that asks for elections to be held when only the people who will most care about that subject will show up and vote. It amuses me that folks taking fairly absolutist stands for open government and government for the many rather than for the few are advocating drawing the curtain around school board elections.
I’m starting to think that those who want school decisions focused on parents and on people who will be well-informed, ought to the people who actually pay for these schools. Stop the pretense of “public” schools, stop asking everyone to pay for something that you don’t want them to participate in and let parents with children pay for the whole kit and kaboodle. And then they really can draw the curtain and do whatever it is well-informed people do with schools.
School boards aren’t debating charters vs. traditional, and school vouchers. Legislators are!
I think the churches are stronger, not weaker, when they get out of politics and return to their pastoral missions focused on the conscience of the individual.
Joanne Christian
“Low turnout may be a result of satisfaction believe it or not.”
I agree!
And proven in Red Clay, when there is an event such as a financial meltdown the public will come out and speak. Same goes for pretty much any elected position. Though we try to get more people out to board meetings the reality is it like tell voters in other election they need to attend legislative sessions.
There is not great status in being a board member and despite my sparing I and we must be thankful for those who serve. It is very unfortunate that there are those involved in school board swho pledge more allegiance to political bedfellows outside the school board table. But yes boards do have a responsibility to serve the “community” within to extent that the best interest of the students comes first.
The charter debates, some local school board that are pro charters feel they are putting the best interest of students within first! However, I feel there is a lack of overall understanding of impact of charters on traditional schools. It is quite interesting that Red Clay school board is obviously the biggest supporter of charter schools. Charter debates are rooted deep within the Red Clay’s political environment and despite other’s opinion , I have some level of respect for the Godfather. The absent of the Godfather left his careless Captains in charge stubbing over each other like the Three Stooges that are like foxes raiding a hen house leave a trail of blood back to their holes!
HB 117 isn’t going to pass! The political pie is sweeter with HB119 !
Red Clay needs more Jack Buckleys and fewer of Bill Manning’s acolytes.