Blogging the House: The Final Chapter

House is back in session. I’m starting this at 7:45 p.m. and will continue until I and/or the wine hold out. House is considering SB 228(McDowell). Gerald Pepper of the Insurance Commissioner’s office is testifying. D. Short is asking questions. Uh-oh, given his choice between KWS and Gene Reed, floor manager Gerald Brady has asked for Gene Reed to take the floor. Probably the better of the two choices. Answer acceptable to D. Short. Roll call: 39 Y, 1 NV, 1 Absent. Rep. Lavelle is in attendance, Rep. Hazel Plant is once again absent.

They’re now considering a Consent Agenda. Consent Agendas are comprised of multiple bills which, assuming that no member objects, can all be passed with one single roll call. They are generally either ‘housekeeping’ bills or charter changes. I have no idea what these bills were, but the roll, but Consent Agenda G has passed unanimously. I’m pretty sure that this agenda had several charter changes as a 2/3 vote was required for passage.

And here comes Consent Agenda H. All bills are from the Senate. Passed unanimously.

Lotsa personal introductions from the House earning tepid applause. Kovach jokes that his wife isn’t there tonight, so there’s no one to keep him in line. No one to laugh at his weak stab at humor either. Rep. Carey announces that he’ll leave fairly early since his wife is recovering from a broken arm. He promises that, if he returns to Leg Hall after retiring, it won’t be as a lobbyist. First time for everything.

Here comes Consent Agenda F.

Passed unanimously. Some of these bills are fairly substantive, yet no legislators have requested that items be removed. Suggests it will be a fairly drama-free session.

Discussion starts on SB 232(Marshall), which would “ensure that when a professional licensing board revokes or suspends a license at a hearing, the revocation or suspension shall be effective immediately. However, the Bill also requires that a written order must be served within 30 days after the hearing date.” The purpose is to prevent someone from practicing while the purely administrative carrying out of the written order has not yet taken place. Passes unanimously.

Next up, SB 320(Ennis), pertaining to the administering of ‘good time’ in the Corrections Department. Recommended by the Sentence Accountability Commission. Passes unanimously.

And, now, SB 300(Blevins), pertaining to childhood lead poisoning prevention. Enables high-risk children to receive an additional screening at 24 months.Passes unanimously.

Gilligan, Schwartzkopf and Chief Clerk Richard Puffer are really keeping things moving. Excellent job so far.

SB 280(Blevins) is up next. The bill “establishes health, adoption, and record keeping requirements for animal shelters operating in Delaware and updates the euthanasia provisions applying to shelters.” All of the shelters currently operating in the state support the bill. Passes unanimously. Seems to be a real meaningful bill for animal rights activists, which means I’m thrilled that it passed.

SB 289(Ennis) next. Simply brings Delaware into technical compliance with an interstate compact concerning adjudicated juveniles. Passed unanimously.

House is currently paying tribute to Richard E. Dennis, who has been legislative liaison for the Delaware State Police, who will retire in October. Hmmm, I wonder what a retiring state policeman does after retirement…

Next, SB 328(Cook). The bill will essentially reduce the number of appointive positions requiring Senate approval.  Speaker Gilligan will floor manage.  When a speaker runs a bill, he physically leaves the Speaker’s chair and runs the bill from the floor. He appoints someone to serve as Acting Speaker during the debate of the bill. In this case, Dennis P. Williams, who takes the gavel and the chair. Passes unanimously.

Gilligan’s back in the chair, and HB 399(Scott) is up next. Rep. Cathcart announces he will go ‘not voting’ due to apparent conflict-of-interest. Cathcart is employed by Delaware State University. and the bill establishes the Inspire Scholarship Program to enable students with “excellent credentials and economic need to attend Delaware State University”. SEED scholarship money is available for students seeking to attend the University of Delaware and Del-Tech. Either all three institutions should have this ability to attract motivated in-state students, or none of them should. A lot of Rethugs are absent during the initial calling of this roll. Wonder what’s going on…  32 Y, 1 Not Voting, 8 Absent. The bill passes, but 8 Rethugs ‘taking a walk’ is a bleeping disgrace.

BREAKING NEWS: Rep. J. J. Johnson announces from the floor that a Federal judge has just approved the sale of the Boxwood plant to Fisker for $20 million.

House now breaks for Party Caucus. These are generally long on June 30, so I’m not sure when they’ll, or if I’ll, be back.