General Assembly Post-Game Wrapup/Pre-Game Show-Thurs., April 29, 2010
The Big News-Universal Recycling on Today’s Senate Agenda
SB 234(McBride) is first on today’s Senate Agenda. Why is this important? As always, Tommywonk explains it all for us. As he points out, the alternative of finding a replacement for the Cherry Island landfill would be difficult, at best:
Of course, we may not be able to find the required 500 to 800 acres at any cost. The footprints of DSWA’s major landfills range from 513 acres (CIL) to 835 acres (Sandtown), which comes to roughly 12 to 20 40-acre farms. If a site for a new landfill cannot be found, we would be looking at higher costs for waste disposal, including transportation costs to a downstate or out of state landfill.
Per the Wonkster:
SB 234 would establish universal curbside recycling, eliminate the current five cent bottle deposit and replace it with a four cent fee that would go away in four years.
Seriously, if you’re not reading Tommywonk, you’re just not informed on any and all issues environmental.
SB 234 appears to have near-universal support, and should sail through the Senate today.
Now back to the day-to-day mundanities. Here’s the complete Session Report from Wednesday. Except, of course, it’s not complete.
Which means it’s time for another Teaching Opportunity! The Session Day does not end when the clock strikes midnight and the calendar flips. When the House and Senate initially reconvene today, they’ll still officially be in Wednesday’s session. The Legislative Day doesn’t change until the presiding officer adjourns and then reconvenes the body, at which point roll call is taken. so, before they ‘change the day’ today, the committee reports, including notice of which bills have been released from committee, will be read into the record.
In other words, yesterday’s Session Report excludes the meat of what went on yesterday: committee meetings. And now you know why. This knowledge will no doubt lodge itself in your gray matter somewhere near that annoying Tommy James & the Shondells song you’ve been trying to get out of your head for 35 years (Cri-i-i-imson and Clo-o-ver, overrr and overrr…). What the bleep is crimson and clover, anyway?? Some bubblegum pop stars should be kept away from drugs at all costs. Now, Hanky Panky, that was a great song.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcjTP9RTiY&feature=related[/youtube]
But…I digress. Consumer protection legislation finally passed the Senate yesterday, and heads to the Governor for signature.
Only other real legislation of note considered yesterday, IMHO, was the beginning of the yearly procession of general corporation law legislation. Kids, this is how it’s done in a ‘business-friendly’ state. In order to keep us at the top of the corporate food chain with our ‘highly-respected’ Court of Chancery, the Corporate Law Section of the Delaware Bar annually introduces a legislative package to do so. Not a single legislator understands what’s in the legislation (well, maybe Melanie George does, but she’d be the only one), but it invariably sails through. Occasionally, someone like Sen. McDowell votes ‘no’ because the legislation is so willfully complicated, but there’s no serious opposition. Per example, here’s the synopsis for HB 341, which passed the Senate yesterday and heads to the Governor. I prefer an endless loop of Crimson and Clover to trying to decipher that.
Which brings us to today’s Pre-Game Show. More of those corporate law bills highlight today’s House Agenda.
Today’s Senate agenda, of course, features the universal recycling bill. It also features a bill allowing school buses to have LED lighting, which should improve safety.
Say, waittaminit! There’s something missing from the Activity Report (imagine shuffling of e-papers…). Remember yesterday when I raised questions about HB 166, which would allow up to eight non-residents per property to vote in Bethany Beach Municipal elections? It wasn’t voted on yesterday, and it’s not on today’s agenda. Maybe it’s possible that a staff attorney actually looked at it and realized that it had constitutional questions. I’ve got a practical one–How do actual residents of Bethany Beach feel about allowing so many non-residents to vote in municipal elections?
Which leads me to another question–Who, exactly, is pushing for this legislation? MJ? Intake Manifold? Your thoughts? Don’t make me post that Crimson and Clover youtube vid. It sucks worse than the song.
And with that–I think I’m alone now, there doesn’t seem to be anyone around…
Tags: Bethany Beach, Corporation Law, Delaware General Assembly, Tommy James & the Shondells, universal recycling
Gosh El Som, I miss your HI-FInds around here. I thought for sure w/ all this immigration talk, someone would post La Bamba. Oh well.
JC-Is that HB 328 the one you were concerned about? It’s on today’s Senate agenda.
OMG–it was moved again? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, tell me!! I know HB30 was moved….I can grab car keys quick, since I have to be in Dover later this pm anyway……
Just click on the Senate agenda link above. HB 328 is on it.
JC – sorry for being late to the game, but what is your take on that bill, if you don’t mind?
Email is confusing to Harris McDowell.
And is there a reason why some incorporated municipalities can write their own voter eligibility rules while Bethany Beach has to go through the state?
Another Mike-If the change to voter eligibility rules is broader than what’s already permitted by the Town Charter, which, I believe, in every case must be approved by the General Assembly, then the Charter must be amended by the Delaware General Assembly accordingly.
There are easily dozens of ‘Charter Change’ bills that go through each session of the legislature.
If you’re referencing the recent Delaware City imbroglio about those who are behind on their city taxes not being able to vote, then that policy could well be a violation of the Charter, not to mention possibly the State and Federal Constitutions.
Good question–barristers?
Expanding recycling does have near universal support, but SB 234 DOES NOT. SB 234 replaces the bottle bill, a refundable deposit, with a non refundable “sales tax.” The tax free state will soon have a new tax at the grocery store!
A new bottle bill AND curbside recycling is needed. Bottle bill states have better access to curbside recycling. Bottle bill states recycle about three times more bottles and cans than curbside only states. Bottle bills reduce litter, this is important, Delaware is an ocean state with scenic beauty.
More info: http://www.campaignforrecycling.org/states/delaware/campaigns
and
http://www.recyclefirststate.org/
The way that the bottle bill is done in Delaware sucks. There is no two ways about it. If you have any question, try returning a dozen empty soda bottles to the convenience store of your choice.
liberalgeek you’re right. The bottle bill needs updated, not eliminated. Bottle bill programs are very sucessful everywhere else.