Today could be the day.
Sen. Dave Sokola has placed SB 30, which legalizes civil unions, on today’s Senate agenda. That likely means that he has the votes for SB 30 to pass. Sen. Bob Venables (D-Mars) has introduced two last-ditch amendments to try to stop the inevitable march of history. One would require a statewide referendum. They ain’t going anywhere. Assuming Cathy Cloutier is present for today’s session, I count at least 12 Y’s, with at least 4 more in play. I think the bill gets something like 15 Y’s.
Since we can’t count on Tony DeLuca to post the actual yeas and nays, would one of our intrepid readers going to the Hall today please do so for us?
I’m getting ahead of myself, though.
The Senate passed both SB 12 (Henry), which “removes the prohibition against persons convicted of any drug felony from receiving federal food benefit assistance”; and SB 13 (Henry), which “continues, without sunsetting, the needle exchange program.” Each bill passed by an identical 15 Y, 5 N, 1A vote. However, once again, the Diminutive Despot, Tony DeLuca, decided that YOU DON’T DESERVE TO KNOW how each Senator voted. Memo to the Senate Democratic Caucus members: Is this policy OK with you? If so, be prepared to defend your hostility to open government in 2012. If not, force DeLuca to change the policy. In 2011, it is beyond pathetic that this Senate practice is allowed to continue.
The Senate also passed a resolution proclaiming April 6, 2011 as National Tartan Day, to honor the contribution of those thrifty Scots. Broke out my original cast recording of ‘Brigadoon’ last night to celebrate.Why April 6?:
April 6 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland’s sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was a significant influence on the American Declaration of Independence.
Been dying to work a Declaration of Arbroath reference into my work. Now I’ve done it. Fare thee well, me bonnie Declaration of Arbroath.
Other than civil unions, not much else on today’s Senate Agenda.
Before I get to today’s House Agenda, I’ve got to give a big shout-out to the News-Journal. The Leg Hall reporters have really upped their game when it comes to reporting on legislation. In today’s edition alone we have this (Gerald Brady embracing Orwell); this (state employee benefits reduction); this (redistricting, including praise for DeLuca’s PR gimmick bill); this (Vo-Tech consolidation; and this (opponents rally against civil unions). And that doesn’t even include reports on bills that passed yesterday.
I originally began this column b/c I felt that the doings in Dover were not being covered adequately. I think that the News-Journal editors may have reached the same conclusion. Keep it up!
Today’s House Agenda features 16 bills, but there is no way that the House will work 16 bills today. Those that are not worked generally move up the ladder on the subsequent agenda. We’ll see the final disposition of HB 19 (George), which revises Delaware’s drug sentencing laws. The bill passed the Senate, but with a Senate amendment, which is why an additional pro-forma vote is required in the House. It should be on the way to the Governor no later than 5 p.m. today.
The House will also consider HB 81 (Longhurst), which makes extensive changes (aka ‘cuts’) to state employee health and pension plans. However, it’s expected to ‘save the taxpayers’ close to $490 million over the next 15 years, and it sure beats taxing the Billionaires on the Hill. Of course, many of the ‘taxpayers’ who supposedly will save money are the same state employees losing health and pension benefits, but who gives a bleep about them?
Other notable bills on the agenda include HB 41 (Scott), which establishes uniform discipline policies for public and charter schools; and the three bills I’ve previously discussed that will do nothing, but will look good on election brochures. HB’s 45, 67 and 68 revoke the licenses of anyone convicted of a sexual felony felony, and require licensees to report professional misconduct, in the fields of nursing, mental health and chemical dependency professionals, and clinical social workers respectively. A fourth bill, HB 63, would prohibit the sexual abuse of patients in certain facilities.
All four of these bills are part of the package created by AG Beau Biden following the revelations concerning Dr. Earl Bradley. They are all basically redundant, since such curbs are in place now. It’ll make the legislators who vote for them feel good, and they’ll look great in brochures, but the laws were in place to prevent the Bradley scandal from happening, it’s just that everybody, everybody, the police, the AG’s office, the professional licensing boards, the professional associations, failed to carry out their obligations.
At least in the House the ‘glory’ has been divvied up among several sponsors. In the Senate, Patti Blevins has chosen to horde most of the ‘glory’ for herself, as she is sponsoring most of Biden’s bills there. Leadership at its finest.
I’ve saved some final space for my Favorite Bill of the Day. Sponsored by my friend and his, Rep. John Atkins. And, yes, it’s an economic development bill. On today’s agenda. HB 71 (Atkins) would:
…permit licensed commercial game preserves to operate on Sundays. The bill limits Sunday operations to commercial facilities only within the seasons established by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This bill does not allow for Sunday hunting of wild game or put-and-take hunting by entities other than commercially-operated facilities.
This bill is necessary for commercial game preserves to compete with similar operations in adjoining States, where Sunday operations are allowed.
Hmmm, ‘commercial game preserves’. You know, like where Dick Cheney went to shoot fattened doves in a barrel. Although he shot another fattened creature along the way. And didn’t report it.
But we’ve gotta do it because other states allow ‘commercial game preserves’ to operate on Sundays. I understand many of them have churches already on the premises for the purposes of ‘one-stop shopping’, though church attendees are strictly off-limits. (Sample prayer: “Dear Jesus, please help me kill some defenseless creatures today.”) Heathens, BTW, are considered fair game, and normally defenseless.
This is my kind of special interest legislation. No day of rest for the prey to pray. And the state’s coffers will bulge as commercial game preserves rack up dollars and create numerous jobs as a result of HB 71. In other words, blood money. And, a ‘win-win’.