Good news. Rep. Barbieri’s bill reintroducing discretion to the reporting of incidents on school property sailed through the Senate yesterday. Which brings up an interesting point. While the Senate as a body could hardly be considered progressive, it tends to vote progressive more consistently than the House. Why? I think it’s b/c the D’s are in such strong control that R legislators no longer feel the need to vote ‘no’ in order to score political brownie points. Sorenson and Connor, and to a lesser extent, Cloutier and (sometimes) Simpson have been freed to vote as legislators, not as partisans. Only Bonini and Booth consistently wave the party flag.
By contrast, since the House is (arguably) in play, Dick Cathcart and Monsignor Lavelle have opted to take the Mitch McConnell approach, although nowhere near as starkly. House rules simply do not permit the kinds of impediments that are at the Rethugs’ disposal in the US Senate. Still, House R’s wave the Viagra bottle of mass opposition, if only to forestall their own impotence. Perhaps that explains why they back down after 4 hours. Political prop-ism can be painful.
Enough tasteless metaphors until perhaps later. The Senate also passed this year’s corporate law package. Nobody knew what was in it.
Here’s the entire outdated Session Report. I say outdated because the ‘Bills Introduced’ were introduced the previous legislative day. How do I know? Because crack blogger RSmitty has already considered the implications of HB 432. Smitty, I agree with you re HB 432’s intent. But, Smitty, the bill says that “(T)here are many “high end” spirits that are more than 80 proof and the tasting of these products could possibly convince consumers that these products are worth their higher cost. The sampling of the spirit would still be limited to no more than ½ ounce”. What if 10 different high-end spirits are being sampled at the same tasting? Smitty? Smitty? Folks, I believe that Smitty’s silence speaks wretched volumes here. Many thanks to our porcelain pioneer!
Today’s Senate Agenda features a few relatively pro-forma Sunset bills. Rep. Kowalko’s bill designating the grey fox as Delaware’s wildlife animal is also on the docket.
The most noteworthy bill is SB 261(Sokola), which seeks to get parents more involved in their children’s education. I know that this bill is part of the initiative that led to Delaware being awarded “Race to the Top” funding, and the sentiment is good. I just don’t know how much ‘real world’ impact this will have. My experience is that either parents choose to be involved, or they don’t. Not sure that this will change that dynamic. Grudging involvement tends to revert to no involvement.
Today’s House Agenda is cause for musical inspiration:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKw8j7GLSdw&feature=related[/youtube]
“Muskrat Love”-The Captain & Tennille
Ain’t no love for the muskrat today in the General Assembly. Except, perhaps, as prepared for your culinary enjoyment. I think we need to elevate the muskrat to a more appropriate status. Accordingly, I beseech the Honorables to do the only fair thing: Designate the Muskrat as Delaware’s Official Wildlife Roadkill. Rubber, tar, and pavement lend a certain smoky piquant flavor to the fleshy aquatic rodent. Pair the musk glands with a fiery jalapeno sauce, and serve over brown basmati rice. You, too, like Smitty, can be a Porcelain Pioneer!
Not much else floats my boat on today’s agenda.
Which leads me to ponder one of life’s eternal verities:
Q: Just what the bleep is “Muskrat Love” supposed to mean anyway? Tentative A: It’s supposed to mean whatever you think it means.
Right, Smitty?
Smitty?