Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 26, 2010
Last week that the General Assembly meets until breaking for about a 6-week recess to enable the Joint Finance Committee to conduct budget hearings.
A few bills previously discussed here were passed on Thursday. In the Senate:
SB 81 w/SA5(Sokola)-Requires nutritional information to be prominently displayed in fast food restaurants. 15 yes, 5 nos. Who voted which way on this bill? I don’t know b/c the Senate does not put roll call votes online, just the vote totals. And, since the Senate also does not put the Senate Journal online, you’re basically SOL unless you were there.
This practice is a complete and total mockery of the idea of open government. This practice should change immediately. Either that or explain to the public why they aren’t entitled to hold their Senators accountable for their votes by knowing HOW they voted. Plus, sometimes, roll calls ARE provided. Who decides which ones are and which ones aren’t?
SB 189(McDowell)-Clarifies that costs for state green energy projects be paid for out of energy savings, and not from general revenue streams. One senator voted against this, I know not who.
In the House:
All gambling revenues, all the time. Rep. Schwartzkopf’s HB 310, which authorizes the introduction and operation of table games in Delaware, finally passed with several amendments attached. But not before impassioned debate on how to ensure that legislators don’t get cushy casino jobs (it was finally done by amendment). It is a testament to the ethical standards of the General Assembly that such a discussion was even necessary.
Final vote on passage was 27 yes, 5 no, 6 not voting, and three absent. Bill goes to the Senate, where I expect it to be fast-tracked this week before recess for JFC.
PRE-GAME SHOW
Senate Agenda-The Senate is scheduled to consider a fairly pro-forma and non-controversial set of house bills today. Today’s agenda does afford me yet one more teaching opportunity. Yay! When you click on the agenda, you will notice that, in addition to the prime House sponsor, a Senator’s name will be appear in parentheses. This does not mean that said Senator is even a sponsor on the bill although, of course, they could be. What it does mean is that said Senator chaired the committee that released the bill to the floor and, as such, is the designated floor manager for the bill. The senator may, and often does, defer to a senator more directly involved with the bill, such as a key co-sponsor.
House Agenda-Today’s agenda is highlighted by HB 300(Bennett), which requires a state agency response to a FOIA request within 10 business days. I expect smooth sailing for this one.
There’s also an interesting, if unnecessary, constitutional amendment, that brings Delaware’s state constitution into compliance with Federal law that makes 18 the legal voting age.
Hey, kids, another teaching opportunity! Amendments to the Delaware Constitution must be passed by two consecutive sessions of the Delaware General Assembly. They can’t be enacted by passing them in two consecutive years of the same session. I believe, constitutional attorneys are welcome to prove me wrong, that constitutional amendments are not subject to the Governor’s signature.
That’s it for today. Please check back tomorrow for very busy committee days and some likely votes as well.
I’m positive that if you call the senate, they have to tell you how individual senators voted. Still, as you note, El Som, it is ridiculous that in this technological age we should have to call to get that information.
And speaking of open government,I’m not yet convinced that the JFC will conduct all of its business on the up and up. Color me skeptical, but after their first meeting was held without proper public notice or recorded minutes, I’m not thinking real positive thoughts about our friends in Dover.
Ditto for the county as far as it being inexcusable that we up in NCC can’t do what Sussex Countians manage: to broadcast their meetings over the internet. The State Senate and the New Castle County Council are cowardly sneaks in kind.