General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., May 13, 2010

Once again, a truncated Post-Game Wrap-Up as committee reports won’t be read into the record until the beginning of session today.

FWIW, here’s the complete incomplete Session Activity Report from yesterday. If something strikes your fancy, let us know. Nothing struck my fancy, however.

But, never fear, legislative junkies. There’s more than enough intriguing legislation on today’s agendas to compensate. First of all, a brief teaching moment. From here until the last week of session or so, the number of bills on each day’s agendas are likely to increase. Don’t be surprised if, in the next few weeks, the House agenda has close to 40 or more items on it. That in no way means that all, or even most, of those items will be considered on any given day. In addition, just to further confuse everyone, the House in particular is soon likely to go to multiple agendas. It’s the legislative equivalent to Chinese algebra. Meaning you’re not supposed to understand it.

Today’s House Agenda leads off with a biggie. HS1/HB229 bans the use of hands-on electronic communications devices while operating a motor vehicle. It’s about bleeping time. From an empirical, anecdotal, and a merely logical perspective, people multitasking by yapping on a phone while driving make the roads less safe. When you’re driving, you can almost always tell who they are. They’re the ones in the left-hand lane on Route 1 going 50 or so while oblivious to all the people giving them the finger as they are being passed on the right. And that’s but one example. Feel free to bring to this thread your own ‘horribles’ concerning these self-absorbed menaces.

Corporate shill Debbie Hudson (Capano) has already introduced a really bad amendment, and you can expect more as Verizon’s lawyers get busy. Her amendment would allow drivers to actually punch in phone numbers while driving. As if punching in a phone number is less dangerous than talking. It’s votes on amendments like this that will let you know who is really serious about doing something, and who are merely at best paying lip service.

Rep. Bennett has legislation designed to further eliminate political hirings and cronyism from government, this time by making management positions in the Court of Common Pleas exempt rather than classified. Superior Court and Family Court are already subject to the Merit System. While current employees are ‘grandfathered’ in, which is only fair, new employees will be subject to the specific qualification, experiential and other requirements as other exempt state positions at the same professional level. Good bill. I hope it passes.

One of the excellent bills designed to assist foster care children is also on today’s agenda. SB 41(Blevins) provides flexibility to children leaving foster care who have qualified for SEED scholarships. I would love to know who is behind the various foster care bills this year. They represent one or more state employees who are really making a difference for the better. If you know, please let me know.

Finally, Rep. Hocker is back again with legislation designed to give ultimate power over Bethany Beach municipal elections and decision-making to absentee landowners. Let me try to explain it in terms that even Hocker might understand: You’ve got two houses, side by side. One is owned by eight deed holders who (a) might come down for a few weeks each summer; and/or (b) rent it out for the summer months to realize revenue as an investment property. The house right next door is owned by a retired couple who live in Bethany Beach year ’round. They maintain both their residence and official voting address there. According to Hocker’s bill, the retirees’ votes would be worth precisely 1/4 of the votes of the absentee owners. 8 absentee owners vs. 2 year ’round residents. Is that fair? Is that constitutional? Am I totally misunderstanding this bill? You tell me.

There are some interesting items on today’s Senate Agenda as well.

I’m just a touch uneasy about SB44(Sokola), which would “allow protected health information to be released for specific health research purposes while still adhering to federal HIPAA regulations.” There can be no doubting Sen. Sokola’s sincerity. He is one of the true ‘good guys’ and has been for his entire career. It’s just that, with bills like this, you have to think along with the ‘criminals’, i.e. the health insurers, and try to figure out every labyrinthine ruse they might concoct. And Dave Sokola doesn’t think like that.

Several bills I’ve previously discussed are also on today’s agenda. HB185(Rep. B. Short) places restrictions on political robo-calls; SB235 (Bushweller) seeks to use advances in electronic record-keeping to ferret out prescription fraud and abuse; HB349 (Gilligan) applies the same standards for estimating and paying taxes on real estate sales to nonresidents as are currently required of residents; HB380 (Bennett) creates incentives for businesses to identify other businesses to move jobs to Delaware.

Finally, SB255(Henry) clarifies that those who have served their time, and who would otherwise qualify, should not be prevented from receiving food assistance (EBT) from the State. I will provide the link as soon as the state server, which has just conked out, comes back online.

Unless I conk out first.

Update: It did, and I’m about to conk ou-ou-ou….