General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The General Assembly is back for a two-week sprint to its next recess. While there’s no way they’ll match the productivity of the pre-Easter session, which was  downright historic, there’s gonna be quite a bit of action. Protection for those facing foreclosure, and consideration of the legalizing of marijuana for medical purposes are but two of the highlights. As to the lowlights…but I’m getting ahead of myself.

This session runs through May 12. The subsequent two-week break will provide time for the Joint Finance Committee to mark up the budget, i.e. to make it their own. Look for a restoration of Medicaid cuts, $$’s for Ag Land preservation (ga-a-a-ck), some General Fund revenues going to address the current DELDOT shortfall, and, one would hope, restoration of full funding for the college scholarship programs. And, since all this excess revenue was miraculously discovered after state employees had generously compromised, would it be asking too much to maybe give them another 1/2% or so? As a sign, or misrepresentation, of good faith?

Which reminds me. The Governor signed his state workers’ ‘pension and healthcare reform’ bill yesterday. Allow me to quote from the Governor’s press release:

“Costs associated with benefits for employees have been increasing dramatically,” said Sen. Colin R.J. Bonini (R-Dover South), who represented the Senate Republican Caucus at the meetings. “This is a small, but important, step in reforming a system that will be unsustainable without us taking action…”

“This was not only a bipartisan effort; it was the result of collaboration between the state and its employees. This agreement is recognition by all those involved that the system, as it existed, could not be sustained,” said Rep. Deborah D. Hudson, R-Fairthorne, the House Republican representative to the benefits meetings. “I was proud to be part of this process.”

I’m sure R’s were proud to be part of this process. They were proud to push the meme that these benefits were ‘unsustainable’. Governor Markell got his ‘bipartisan’ reform and quotes from Colin Bonini and Debbie Hudson to boot. Betcha he’s proud of himself as well. Me, I think state employees got screwed. And the Billionaires on the Hill didn’t. No wonder Debbie Hudson is so proud.

Before we proceed further, I’d like to pat myself on the back. Not, of course, that I’m one of those people who like to call attention to themselves. Perish the thought. The Senate has adopted (apparently permanently, but you never know) two reforms that I’ve been calling for here for two years now.  Either Tony DeLuca is taking his cues from me (Hint: He’s not.), or Ron Williams has actually gotten one right. A couple of weeks ago, he wrote that DeLuca has ceded a lot of authority to Majority Leader Patti Blevins. That would explain why (a) Senate roll calls are at long last being provided online now, not just the final result, but the votes (and absences) of each individual senator; and (b) nominations being considered by the Senate Executive Committee are being placed on the committee agenda, not just who was nominated, but what they’ve been nominated for. Yes, I agree that there’s no excuse for not having made these moves much earlier, but they hadn’t been. If Sen. Blevins is indeed the reason why the Senate operation is more open than it was previously, I congratulate her and thank her for doing this.

Next step: Putting the live Senate feed up. The House does it, you can too. Why deny the public the opportunity to enjoy Sen. Venables waxing poetic on social mores? Dare I say it? With a live stream, political junkies could Have A Great Day (!) every day. (BTW, Cathy Cloutier’s Have A Great Day! sign has had a baby!) Congratulations, Senator! A blue Cindy Becker sign is now right there. I think Cindy Becker is an R running in a ‘non-partisan’ Brandywine School District election. However, let me restate the point: This is not a political sign. It’s a ‘Have A Great Day!’ sign. Wonder how many more Rethuglican offspring will be joining the Cloutier clan at the intersection of Grubb & Foulk…and they all want you to Have A Great Day! (And to vote for them.) Me, I’m voting for John Skrobot.

Geez, almost 700 words in and no Pre-Game Show. Time to switch into preview mode.

For the first time this session, the Senate was not taken by surprise upon returning from a break. They actually have an Agenda for today. Not much on it interests me, a couple of House bills and a bill from uber-cyclist Dave Sokola to increase safety for bicyclists. I’ve got nothing against cyclists. But some adults simply should not wear Spandex. I just hope that Sokola excludes those cyclists who offend one’s fashion sensibilities from the legislation. Why should those who commit  fashion faux pas deserve special protection?

The House Agenda is highlighted by bills designed to provide certain protections to those facing foreclosures. HB’s 57, 58 and 59 are part of an ambitious package crafted by the Attorney General’s office and sponsored by a broad bipartisan coalition. I wouldn’t be surprised if these bills made it through both houses prior to the May 12 recess. Reps. Keeley and Kowalko, in particular, have been working on this issue for some time now.

Another representative has been working on another issue for some time now. The representative in question is Gerald Brady. The issue: The Orwellization of Wilmington. The latest permutation: HB 66, which proposes to “…authorize(s) the Municipalities to establish a video speed enforcement program within ¼ mile of any work zone or school.” BTW, this legislation does not merely apply to Wilmington. It applies to ‘all municipalities’. Hello-o-o-o, Newport! Kenton! Frederica! And all other municipalities infamous for speed traps. I can see the sign now, “Welcome to Wilmington. No Longer Delaware’s Sole Orwellian Municipality!”

The debate on this bill could be lotsa fun. Ya see, there are a few, um, problems with this bill. Problems that Brady will try to iron out with amendments. Amendments that may make the bill so convoluted that it has no chance of passing. I know that my readers, as a general rule, don’t like to read amendments. But House Amendments 1 and 2 might just brighten your day and/or put you to sleep. This is a bad bill, but one that’s easy to demagogue. How can you be against safety? Anyone who has been caught in a BS speed trap can answer that question. As can anyone who’s read Orwell.

Coming Thursday: Medical Marijuana in the House! Nursing homes are downloading reggae from I-Tunes as we speak!

Oh, and I’m on Al’s show Wednesday at 10 am, WDEL 1150-AM. We just might be talking a little Tom Wagner along with the usual legislative hijinx. Doesn’t look good for Tom, does it?

And, Cathy Cloutier, the floor is yours if you’d like to actually speak for yourself for a change. Until then, we’ll let your sign do the talking. Have A Great Day, Everyone!