General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 15, 2011

The big news is that the Budget Bill, HB 190, has been introduced, certainly the earliest introduction of the Budget that I can ever recall. Feel free to peruse it (especially the Epilog Language, where a lot of the sneaky stuff gets buried, or, at least, did when Nancy Cook controlled the process). I plan to put it on my weekend reading list.  Congrats to Rep. Dennis P. Williams and Sen. Harris McDowell, who chair and co-chair the JFC, and to the entire committee for preparing the budget in time for us to read it.

The Senate passed ‘immigration reform’ legislation, SB 15 (Booth), which would hold public agencies to standards that are vastly different than the entire Delmarva poultry industry. 3 no’s, 2 not voting. We’ll see if this bill makes it out of house committee. BTW, today is the last House Committee day. This doesn’t mean that committees won’t meet after today, it means that Wednesdays will no longer be exclusively set aside for committees. This has been House policy for several years, so this isn’t any kind of change.

The Senate overwhelmingly defeated SB 94(Sokola), which would have “move(d) the dates during which a registered voter may change his or her party designation so that it matches the dates during which a newly registered voter may select a party designation.” I’m no longer attuned to inside party politics, if I ever was, so could someone please shed some light on why this bill was defeated? Sure looks like opposition from the political parties themselves.

The House passed HB 59(Keeley), which:

“…provides for an Office within the Division of Consumer Protection to identify mortgage foreclosure fraud, to reduce foreclosure, and to promote financial literacy.

In addition, the Office will receive calls from borrowers in default and make appropriate referrals to housing counselors or other agencies. The Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for acting as a liaison with servicers in some circumstances and participating as necessary in any mediation activity.

Along with sentencing reform, the General Assembly is doing some of its best work this session on protecting those facing mortgage foreclosures. Kudos to AG Beau Biden and the legislators who are spearheading this bipartisan effort.

The House also passed SB 12(Henry), which removes the prohibition against persons convicted of any drug felony from receiving federal food benefit assistance. 31 yes, 8 no. Here’s the roll call. Only two D’s voting no? Millsboro’s favorite ‘law-abiding’ citizen and Lumpy Carson. The two House D’s least deserving of holding public office. Plenty of R’s voted for the bill, including downstaters like Kenton, D. Short, and Outten.

While today is largely given over to committee meetings, the Senate has an agenda as well. I particularly support SB 98(Bushweller), which provides that vaccinations, health screenings and children’s wellness visits, must be covered for all new health plans starting with plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23, 2010.

Wednesday is a huge committee day in Dover.

Highlights from today’s Senate Committee meetings include:

*Hmmm, wonder if this bill’s passage became dicier in light of the Tigani developments.  If not, it should. Something about this doesn’t smell or look right. Wouldn’t a wholesaler ‘donating’ alcohol to legislators’ favorite ‘not-for-profits’ be viewed as an end run around campaign contribution statutes? Or, at least, damned unethical? Be real careful here, ‘honorables’, this has future News-Journal exposes written all over it. You have been warned. In today’s Senate Administrative Services/Elections Committee meeting.

*Two bills to protect those facing foreclosures on their mortgages, HS1/HB 57(Kowalko) and HS1/HB 58(Keeley), will be considered in the Senate Banking Committee.

*Legislation to fast-track the possibility of getting a fuel cell manufacturer to come to Delaware will be considered in the Senate Executive Committee. Bill’s already got 38 sponsors. Done deal. How much of a done deal? The bill’s already scheduled for tomorrow’s Senate agenda even though it hasn’t yet cleared committee. For the record, if this comes together, it would be a tremendous shot in the arm for Delaware’s economy and would also be great news especially for the greater Newark area. I’m not sure how solid the ground is underneath this proposal–it could be bedrock or it could be like the shifting sands beneath that beach area bridge that doesn’t seem to ever get built. But ya gotta try.

*I hope and assume that the only reason why SB 11(Hall-Long) has languished for so long is because supporters could not move forward without funding in the Budget Bill. I also hope and assume that it’s being considered in today’s Senate Finance Committee precisely because it did receive such funding. The bill would “expand Delaware’s Public Assistance Code to provide urgent and preventive dental care for eligible Medicaid recipients who are pregnant or become pregnant while receiving assistance.”

*Should be an interesting Senate Health & Social Services Committee meeting today as feuding legislators’ Sen. Katz’ and Rep. B. Short’s dueling bills on facilities where invasive procedures (mainly abortions) are performed are both scheduled for consideration. FWIW, Committee chair Margaret Rose Henry is the prime Senate sponsor of HB 144, but is not a sponsor on Katz’ SB 90. Advantage: HB 144.

*Sen. Katz’ term limits bill will likely be terminated in the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Highlights on the House side today :

*HB 161(B. Short), which would prohibit the denial of health insurance coverage to children under the age of 19 due to pre-existing conditions, will be considered in the House Econ. Development/Insurance, etc., Committee.

*Another common sense sentencing and juvenile justice reform bill will be considered in the House Judiciary Committee today. Representatives Barbieri and George continue to do quality under-the-radar work here.

*The General Assembly is considering legislation to ‘toughen’ standards regarding DUI offenses. HB 168(Keeley) is the centerpiece, and will be considered in the House Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee today. The package, which also includes HB 174(Keeley, bill on today’s House Judiciary Committee agenda), is being heavily pushed and promoted by the Governor, the Attorney General, and police from throughout the state. HB 168 ‘calls for enhanced prison sentences, 24-hour monitoring, and intensive counseling for individuals convicted of multiple DUI offenses.  The new sentencing requirements kick in with the third conviction.’ HB 174 strengthens penalties for vehicular homicide.

*One of the bills in today’s Sunset Committee meeting looks a little questionable to me. HB 180(Mulrooney) looks like it was written to the specs of the Electricians’ Local. The committee would do well to determine whether this bill represents the public interest or the trade union’s interest. They are not one and the same.

Gotta go. Time to buy me a magnifying glass and pore through that Epilog…