The big news is that John ‘Let’s Arm Everyone’ Atkins had to backtrack on his bill that could’ve, well, armed everyone. Here’s the money quote from Delaware’s Most Embarrassing Legislator:
“We’re either going to come in with a substitute bill or an amendment,” Atkins said. “It was never Sen. Booth’s or my intent to allow guns in day cares and on DART buses and all that,” Atkins said in asking the House Administration Committee to table the legislation.
Which, of course, is exactly what the bill would have done.
Assuming that he’s telling the truth, always at best a 50-50 proposition with Atkins, he is admitting that he had no idea what was in the bill that he had the NRA write on his behalf. Time for the General Assembly to grow a spine and fight back against the bully-boy tactics of Atkins, Booth and the NRA.
Here’s the entire record of yesterday’s session.
The other ‘rilly big news’ is that legislation to ban hand-held cell phone usage while driving has never been closer to fruition. HS 1/HB 229, which has 21 House sponsors, cleared committee yesterday. Based on the committee report, the bill will require some technical tweaking to clarify DMV’s role, but otherwise will likely be considered by the full House soon.
Other notable bills clearing committees include HS1/HB 247, which would expand the ability of the AG’s office to strengthen consumer protection enforcement; HB 317, which regulates door-to-door salespersons; and HB 137, which requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct random audits of small business insurance providers.
Today’s Pre-Game Show starts with the Senate agenda, featuring the good, and the bad & the ugly on its two-bill agenda. I’ve commented extensively on both previously. Suffice it to say that it indeed is emblematic of the ‘Delaware Way’ that a special interest bill solely benefiting a relentlessly-loudmouth lobbyist (Yrene Waldron, Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association) will fast-track its way to the Governor’s desk. If ever a bill deserved to be vetoed, this would be a likely candidate.
The House has a much lengthier agenda although it is highly doubtful that the House will work anything close to the entire agenda today.
I like HB 137, and like the fact that the carriers would bear the cost of the audits. The only caveat is the dingbat running the IC’s office. I hope that Rep. Dan Short and the other legislators sponsoring this bill make sure that the IC actually carries out this mandate.
I think Sen. DeLuca’s SB 60 is totally ill-advised and represents yet another legislative incursion into the domain of the judiciary. Were this merely statutory legislation, I believe that this bill would be unconstitutional, which is precisely why this is actually structured as the first leg of a constitutional amendment. (Time for a ‘Teaching Opportunity’! Proposed amendments to the Delaware Constitution must pass in two consecutive sessions of the Delaware General Assembly. Sometimes it’s easier to pass the first leg b/c the legislators know full well that they’ll get another bite of the apple down the road. Still, the House has a chance to stand on principle and consign this latest power grab to the circular file, where it belongs.)
As always, check out the agendas and links. I’m sure that you’ll find items that intrigue you that didn’t really interest me. If so, come on back and comment on ’em.