Apparently taking their cues from Mitch McConnell, the Republican Caucus of the Delaware House of Representatives has decided to blow to smithereens any hope of addressing Delaware’s dire fiscal situation by June 30. Yesterday, the Rethugs, led by Minority Leader and Delaware State University bagman Dick Cathcart, defeated, on straight party line votes, three bills increasing taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. HBs 210, 211, and 212 each garnered 23 D votes and exactly zero R votes. Since a 3/5 majority is required, all three bills were defeated. You can find them under “Bills Defeated By the House of Representatives” here.
But that’s not nearly the worst of Cathcart and the Rethugs’ attempts to extract political gain from what should be a bipartisan effort to solve the state’s worst fiscal crisis in memory. Oh, and speaking of Cathcart, allow ‘bulo to take you on a trip down Memory Lane. From his highly acclaimed (by the Beast Who Slumbers, at least) series on the Top Ten Targets for 2010:
Cathcart has at least one other major potential issue, his job, which is, according to his legislative profile: Associate Vice President of University Operations, Delaware State University.
Just read that job title and ask yourself, is there any way that this is not a euphemism for what he appears to be?: “Bagman-Delaware State University”. BTW, El Somnambulo has it on good authority that Cathcart’s life ambition is to rise to the level of Assistant Vice President of University Operations, Delaware State University. Or is that the job that former Rep. Nancy Wagner already has there? Somehow ‘bag man’ seems more respectable than ‘bag lady’, but ‘bulo digresses.
This job should have been a major issue in 2008, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t be front and center in 2010, if Cathcart runs. People hate double-dipping, especially now. State employees really hate it when they see this as their friends are getting laid off.
So, Cathcart has done what any self-respecting bagman (in his case, that’s not a contradiction) facing a double-hit to his cushy state salaries would do. He’s refusing to let the Governor even talk to his Caucus. From yet another very strong piece by Ginger Gibson (anyone lamenting that they miss the ‘hard-hitting’ reporting that Celia Cohen used to provide is just not paying attention) in today’s News-Journal:
Voting as a bloc Thursday night, House Republicans defeated three proposed increases to alcohol and tobacco taxes, with House Minority Leader Richard Cathcart leading his caucus on the House floor.
The Governor has been turned away from a meeting with rank-and-file House Republicans, Cathcart said, because he won’t provide the numbers that back his plan to balance the budget. (‘Bulo Aside: Right. On this, Cathcart is every bit as plausible as the lobbyist from Harrington Raceway who cried crocodile tears that Markell hadn’t provided numbers showing how that golden fatted calf couldn’t stay in business if, gasp!, competition raised it’s ugly head.)
But Markell said he gave Cathcart updated numbers and tax proposals eight days ago and that he met with the minority leader to discuss them early in the week.
“I’m laying out the facts, and the facts are incredibly clear,” Markell said.
Cathcart said his caucus had not been obstructionist.
How many ways is this clearly a (in the interest of respectable discourse, allow ‘bulo to call this a) prevarication?
1. Unified Rethug Caucus voting against even the low-hanging fruit of liquor and cigarette tax increases? Check.
2. Rethug House Minority Leader refusing to allow the Governor to even meet with his Caucus? Check.
3. Digging their heels in with only 5 legislative days remaining and an historic $800 million budget shortfall staring them in the face? Check.
4. Not even a peep from a single one of the Rethug Sheep about wanting to hear what the Governor proposes (Greg Lavelle has an excuse, he’s too busy listening to and obeying the Catholic Diocese, what’s everyone else’s)? Check.
Senors y Senoras, that is the textbook definition of obstructionism.
‘Bulo will be back later with a more comprehensive wrap-up on what happened yesterday. However, as you can see, the lead story is what didn’t happen yesterday.