Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.
The 146th Delaware General Assembly convenes today for what will be a challenging session. With the economic recovery going slowly, and with less Federal assistance to get the state through tough times, this shapes up to be at least as challenging a year fiscally as was 2009. The talk already centers on cuts to employee benefits. I will repeat my call to restore some progressivity to the tax code by bringing back some brackets for the uber-rich. The relentless consolidation of brackets during the DuPont/Castle/Carper years left the state tax code with a flat tax for those earning $60 K a year on up. In other words, whether you make $60,000 or $2 billion annually, you pay the same percentage in state taxes. Please explain why this is in any way fair. And, if it’s not, why shouldn’t a legislature under D control do something about it? You’re in charge, your constituents put you there, so protect your constituents and make the filthy rich pay their fair share.
The first day of a new session is typically a ceremonial celebration featuring swearing-ins. Frosh legislators, in particular, bask in the glow with their families, as well they should. It’s possible that the House and/or Senate will adopt the chamber rules for session, but it’s not likely.
While this is the first full day of session for both houses, excepting the embarrassing ( to the majority of D’s and to Colin Bonini) DeLuca leadership face-off, key decisions have already been made, especially when it comes to committees. You can find Senate committee membership here and House committee membership here. By far, by far, the biggest shocker is Sen. Harris McDowell‘s appointment as the Senate chair for the Joint Finance Committee. In his never-ending Senate career, McDowell has rarely, if ever, been on JFC. And now he’s replacing the (until November) never-ending chair, Nancy Cook. Inquiring minds want to know why. Kids, here it is, my very first teaching opportunity of 2011: This was clearly a reward from the Godfather himself, ‘Tiny Tony’ DeLuca, for being a strong supporter during the leadership battle. And here’s the kicker: Legislators’ pensions are based to a large degree on their three peak earning years. Assuming McDowell stays as JFC chair for two years, these will easily be his top two earning years in the Delaware General Assembly. Which, I think, is why someone who is not known for his focus or attention to detail is chairing the single most important legislative committee this year. I felt that Bruce Ennis, who has served for quite some time on JFC, and who is detail-oriented, would be named chair. Not for the first time, I was proven wrong.
Perhaps as a reflection of D weakness downstate, the money committees are firmly in upstate hands and especially in control of Wilmington legislators. Dennis P. Williams reprises his role as House JFC Chair, and Helene Keeley chairs the House Capital Infrastructure (Bond) Committee. Venerable Bob Venables (D-Mars) is the only downstater to co-chair a $$ committee, as Senate Bond Bill Chair.
Due to overwhelming D numbers, Speaker Gilligan has named several ‘Vice-Chairs’ to serve along with the committee chairs. This gives those who didn’t get a committee chair spot, like Rebecca Walker, Dennis E. Williams, Debra Heffernan and Brad Bennett a little cachet. Feel free to click away to your hearts’ content.
Also, you will note the outsized membership of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. 24, count ’em, 24 of the 41 members of the House will ‘serve’ on this committee that maybe considers about 10 bills max a session. This is a JOKE, and simply a ploy to enable a host of undistinguished ‘Honorables’ to put on their campaign lit, “As a member of the House Veterans Committee, I fought for those who served their country and their families.” In virtually every case, that will be a lie, but it won’t stop ’em from doing it. By contrast, the next largest committee membership is the House Education Committee with 14 members.
My pick for worst committee chair choice is easy–Bill ‘Lumpy’ Carson to chair the House Transportation/Land Use/Infrastructure Committee?? Really? How can you possibly pick the most clueless legislator in Dover to oversee all the issues that DELDOT is facing? And Gerald Bleeping Brady is the co-chair? Is he gonna install red light cameras on I-95 even though there are no red lights on I-95? Anyone looking to reform DELDOT is gonna have to look elsewhere. Which, perhaps, is Gilligan’s intent. I find it hard to believe, but otherwise, I have no explanation. Never thought I’d say this, but, for once, I hope Greg Lavelle becomes the de-facto leader of this committee.
I have yet to talk about the other (diminishing) elephant in the room–redistricting. The 146th General Assembly has to redraw all House and Senate districts to accurately reflect the 2010 Census. This has already apparently played a role in the leadership battle in the Senate. Word on the street is that Colin Bonini sold out to the Napoleonic martinet (copyright pending) for a promise that he will have a Senate district to run in and that he won’t have to face another incumbent. If that’s the case, Bonini may be even dumber than I thought, if indeed that’s possible. First, he could’ve struck the same deal with the reform forces. Second, he probably would have had such a district even if he’d not done anything as the D’s are far more interested in consolidating their majority than adding to it. Third, he’ll likely have the R’s gunning for him in a primary after he went Benedict Arnold on his own caucus. And, fourth, depending on how his district is redrawn, he’ll almost certainly be no shoo-in for reelection against any prospective D opponent.
Deep cleansing breath. Anyway, you can look for some redistricting plans to surface maybe as early as April of this year. In a perfect world, reapportionment could be off the table by June 30. The counties and municipalities have to wait until the state has completed its work before they can start as they have to ‘piggyback’ on the state lines. I anticipate a less contentious process this year than in 2001 when Wayne Smith brought Picasso-esque concepts to the drawing of maps. Unless the not-so-benevolent Senate despot tries to exact his revenge through the process, in which case you can bet that Bob Gilligan will not be doing DeLuca’s bidding.
Anyway, it’s all pomp and ceremony today. Weather permitting, it should be more fun starting tomorrow.