Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 13, 2011

Kids, it’s time we had a talk. You have been asking your mother and me why the Delaware General Assembly convenes in January, and what exactly do they do.

While the answer usually is ‘next to nothing’, it nevertheless is an important time for state government.  While in Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”, Godot never shows up, the Governor indeed shows up in “Waiting for the Guv”. Unless, of course, the General Assembly is waiting for Ruth Ann Minner to submit her constitutionally-mandated FY 2009 Budget. At last report, the ex-Governor was unavailable for comment on what surely was an understandable oversight. I can neither confirm nor deny rumors that she is sequestered in, and is refusing to leave, the once-stately Tigani manse in Westover Hills. But I admit that I did notice a ‘Chicken ‘N Dumplings’ truck parked right outside there last week. Maybe Wilmington Trust is also foreclosing on the Chicken ‘N Dumplings.

So, here are the legislative facts of life for January. The General Assembly is in session for three weeks. The first week is generally ceremonial and organizational.  Members get to flex their collegiality muscles, take in the newest of their brethren and sistren (?), introduce a bill or two, maybe get a briefing from a cabinet official, and wait for the Governor’s State of the State Address and the subsequent introduction of the Governor’s Proposed State Budget for FY ’12.

Although many legislative initiatives are proposed by the ‘Honorables’, the vast majority of bills, and the legislative agenda, are largely driven by the Governor and the various departments and agencies of state government. That will certainly be the case this year as the fiscal picture is indeed bleak. Governor Markell has already floated the possibility (likelihood?) of benefit cuts to state employees. He has also hinted of a strong package to promote jobs creation.  During the State of the State and the budget introduction, he will flesh out exactly what he is proposing. Markell is the most competent governor in my memory, and he will deliver what he’s promised.

Hell, he’s already doing the Auditor’s job for him. It was the Governor’s Office that issued the scathing report on DELDOT’s rogue deal-cutting operation. It named names, called for specific action including the firing of certain senior officials, and spelled out the perfidy in detail. I once more must ask a question that I’ve asked a lot lately: Just what the bleep does the Auditor DO anyway? Isn’t this precisely the kind of wasteful spending that he ought to be fighting to prevent? If only every governor insisted on accountability the way Markell does, we wouldn’t need the office. And if Wagner doesn’t do anything, maybe we’re better off without it. But, I digress. Markell will deliver his State of the State next week.

There will be policy meat in his rhetorical sandwich. I just had to write that. It may be the worst sentence I’ve ever written, but I’m feeling the need to share today.

And, once the budget is submitted, it’s on to six weeks of Joint Finance Committee hearings, meaning that the General Assembly will recess at the end of January and reconvene in the middle of March.

That’s not to say that nothing gets done in January, although there isn’t much going on. Here’s a summary of (allegedly) yesterday’s action. I say ‘allegedly’ b/c, if you bother to check it out (I wouldn’t ordinarily bother, but it’s why they pay me the big bucks), most of what allegedly took place in the Senate yesterday actually took place on December 14, 2010. So, if you’re looking for an accurate record of what took place yesterday, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Like here.

The Senate did pass a resolution naming Christina Taylor Green an honorary member of the Delaware State Senate, posthumously.  It was a very nice gesture, and for once I’ll set aside any snark about whether this is truly an honor or not. I will point out that one unnamed senator (it almost has to be Bonini, doesn’t it?) voted ‘No’. Seriously, how can someone vote no on something like this? I, of course, could TELL you who voted no if Tiny Tony DeLuca would simply allow all senate roll calls with the individual senators’ votes to appear online, as the House has done for years and years. However, he picks and chooses. Some roll calls are on line, some (most) are not. My guess: Part of the deal that Bonini cut with DeLuca was for the Napoleonic Martinet to ensure that the public record does not reflect what an asshole Bonini is. Ya done good, godfadda. Can anyone with knowledge pass along just who cast such a mean-spirited vote? Inquiring minds want to know.

The House met in committee on Wednesday and, although the session activity report does not yet reflect it, HB 1 was released from the House Education Committee. All 14 members voted ‘favorable’ on the bill, which is highly unusual. And brings me to today’s teaching opportunity (yay!): In order for a bill to be reported out of a committee, more than 50% of committee members have to agree. If they don’t, it stays in committee. However, if a bill is released from committee, members can individually choose to vote ‘favorable’, ‘unfavorable’ or ‘on its merits’. ‘On Its Merits’ means that the legislator finds the bill deserving of being considered on the floor. While it doesn’t matter which vote a member casts when a bill is released, when a bill gets 14 favorable, like this one did, it means it’s gonna zip right through.

BTW, here’s the reason why the Session Activity Report does not yet reflect the release of this bill: Once the House breaks for committee meetings each Wednesday, it rarely, if ever, reconvenes following the meetings. When the House goes back into session at 2 p.m. today, it will still technically be yesterday’s session. Once committee reports, like this one, and other time-sensitive matters are read into the record, the House will adjourn and then reconvene for the Thursday session. When all is said and done, HB 1 will officially have been released from committee yesterday. And, I predict, it will be on Tuesday’s agenda. The General Assembly and the administration clearly want this bill enacted into law by the end of January.

So, kids, I hope I’ve answered  your questions on this touchy subject. What’s that? You say you found a magazine under the bed? Uhh, that’s not daddy’s. After all, he has the entire Internet now!