‘Bulo’s 2011 Top 10 MVPs (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause)

2011 was a mixed year for progressivism in Delaware. We saw tremendous strides on social issues, especially equal rights for all Delawareans. We also saw the ongoing embrace between prominent D elected officials and the Billionaires on the Hill, to the detriment of the other 99%. We saw the emergence of the ‘We Are the 99%’ movement via OWS which, nationally was the best thing to happen for the progressive cause since 1964. We saw ongoing corruption, inbreeding and cronyism in the Delaware General Assembly. We saw the first legitimate attempts to challenge the rot at the core of the Delaware Way.

As I announce my 3rd Annual MVP list (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware), I once again want to make clear that it is my list. I urge each and every one of you to submit your own lists. I claim no special wisdom on behalf of my list, it is simply one person’s (I hope well-informed) opinion.

This year, I added a criterion which kept at least one deserving contender off the list: Anyone who supported Tony DeLuca for President Pro Tempore was disqualified. Why? Support for the ethically-challenged bully is the single biggest impediment to progress in the Delaware General Assembly. Margaret Rose Henry had a very productive legislative year. Her leadership helped pass medical marijuana legislation, created a permanent needle-exchange program, and helped to restore food stamp eligibility for many Delawareans. A great legislative performance. In other years, I would have placed her in the Top Five. But her support for DeLuca disqualifies her. Sen. Henry: You know that I respect you as a person and as a legislator. Please examine your conscience and do what you and I both know is right.

We also might as well get the annual Rep. John Kowalko outcry out of the way now. He is not on my list this year. He has never made my list. He was under consideration, primarily for his work on mortgage foreclosure practices. However, I eliminated him from consideration when he used the occasion of my appearance as an invited guest at a recent meeting of Progressive Democrats of Delaware to oppose key elements of my proposals for legislative reform. Actually, to try to bury them in their infancy. In fact, before I even had a chance to present my proposals, Rep. Kowalko launched a pre-emptive strike against my lobbying reform points, claiming instead that a task force including lobbyists that would not report until after the election was the way to go on lobbying reform.  He said that it was best not to act swiftly as an ‘overreaction’  to the Tigani scandal. He even said that any lobbying reform would require ‘buy-in’ from the lobbyists (irony duly noted). IMHO,  holding legislators accountable for lobbying reform during an election year is the way to go. John maintained that  lobbyists in Dover don’t wield untoward power. I could not disagree more.

John proceeded to oppose transparency of legislative salaries, and the uncoupling of tying legislative pensions to the salary plus expenses. He actually pulled out a bunch of receipts for his ‘unreimbursed expenses’ to try to prove his point about, I guess, his personal sacrifice.  Which really wasn’t the point at all.

Finally, at the end of the meeting, Kowalko urged PDD to oppose HB 75, which would put an end to legislators’ double-dipping going forward. Why? He said that it was that it was unfair to legislators who are not already double-dippers. I kid you not. The irony here is that PDD had already gone on record as endorsing HB 75.

I’m not arguing that John is not a progressive, just explaining why he once again is not on my list.

Other worthy contenders who were considered included Rep. Helene Keeley, Rep. Michael Barbieri, Sen. Karen Peterson, and the OWS Movement. I thank them all for their contributions to the cause this year.

Housekeeping’s over. Time to unveil the Top 10, as always in reverse order from #10 to #1:

10. Rep. Dennis P. Williams: Let me make this clear. This is in no way an endorsement of Williams’ candidacy for Mayor of Wilmington. Williams is on the list for one key reason: When Gov. Markell first proposed his $92/month cuts to the medically-indigent and cuts in state scholarship aid, JFC Chair Williams simply said that that just wasn’t going to fly. No namby-pamby ‘open to negotiations’ crap. Just a clear message. And it didn’t fly. In so doing, not only did Williams act as a Democrat from the Democratic Party, he hopefully helped cure some of Gov. Markell’s tone-deafness. And protected our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

9. Gov. Jack Markell: He’s on the list this year for one reason and one reason only. Well, one reason other than the fact that he hired Tommywonk, which is also a pretty good reason. Gov. Markell placed himself and his administration firmly behind SB 30, which legalized civil unions in Delaware. Oh, and he gave the most inspirational and heartfelt speech I’ve ever seen given by a Delaware governor. It gave me goosebumps and continues to do so. You can view it right here. If you’ve never seen it, you really owe yourself. A singular and signature accomplishment. Now, those of you who have read me all year know why the Governor is not higher on the list. And that’s because ‘shared sacrifice’, which has become this administration’s mantra during the economic downturn, has come to mean shared sacrifice for everyone except those most able to sacrifice. The one-percenters. Who, in Delaware, are more like the 1/10 of 1 percenters. I hope that, in 2012, a governor so clearly committed to equality commits himself to equality when it comes to shared sacrifice.

8. Jason330: For years, one of the underlying themes at DL has been that our Democrats rarely act/govern like Democrats, especially at the Federal level. We now have an entirely-Democratic congressional delegation. My favorite agent provocateur earns this spot by launching of D’s4K (Democrats for Kovach). While this (at least partially) tongue-in-cheek proposal garnered opposition from some of our contributors, I believe that this gambit has finally opened the eyes of the press and, one would hope, the members of the Delaware delegation as well.  Like OWS, the ultimate impact of this remains to be seen. But it’s certainly helped to change the political calculus.  Political blogging as performance art.

7. Lisa Goodman: The President of Equality Delaware earned enthusiastic plaudits from elected officials and readers of the blog for her tireless work building the coalition that has led to  ensuring equality to the LGBT community.  She earns this spot for her effectiveness in painstakingly putting together this highly-effective coalition that has accomplished so much.  While Lisa is the individual recognized here, and deservedly so, the people who came together to form critical mass on these issues all deserve recognition.  I worked in Dover for a long time. I know just how hard it is to work patiently, endure setbacks, seem so close yet so far, and to never give up. I know how hard it is to hold one’s tongue when you feel the need for Primal Scream Therapy after someone reneges on their word or buries your bills.  But Lisa and her coalition overcame that, and the primal screams ultimately were screams of joy. Citizen involvement at its very best.

6. Mitch Crane: What a concept: A highly-competent progressive Democrat challenging a  ‘Democrat’ who is in thrall to her insurance overlords. Make no mistake: Mitch Crane is a highly-competent progressive Democrat. Someone who embraced Matt Denn’s philosophy that helping constituents with insurance issues is what the Insurance Commissioner does. Someone who is not going to cave whenever someone from BC/BSD walks into the office.  Matt Denn brought Mitch Crane into his office b/c they shared the same philosophy and b/c Crane knew how to represent the interests of constituents and consumers when insurance companies sought to do otherwise. If Delaware is turning into a one-party state, and I hope that it isn’t, then people of the caliber of Mitch Crane need to step up whenever someone turns their back on the people they’re sworn to represent. And, yes, if someone with similar qualifications had already stepped up to primary Tom Carper, they’d be on this list, too. Which is where I expect Mitch Crane to be in 2012 when he defeats Karen Weldin Stewart in September and is elected Insurance Commissioner next November.

5. Chad Livengood: Allow me to stipulate that I have no idea what News-Journal reporter Livengood‘s own political leanings are, or if he even has any. What I do know is that Livengood has effectively lifted the rocks to reveal the Delaware Way in all its tawdriness, and it has already led to changes with more to follow. Again, if Delaware is to be a one-party state, and I hope it isn’t, the DeLucas and the pernicious influence of would-be big-shots like Chris Tigani must be excised from its midst. In story after story, Livengood effectively established just how inbred and comfortably-corrupt the relationships between politicians and those peddling influence are. He painstakingly filled out a detailed portrait of perhaps the most morally and ethically bankrupt power politician in Delaware history, Tiny Tony DeLuca.  I know of no precedent for the sheer brazenness of DeLuca’s middle finger salute to the taxpayers of this state. He is a bully who is daring everyone to take him down. Chad Livengood has accepted that challenge. If there had been a reporter in Leg Hall with Livengood’s commitment to openness and transparency in government 20 years ago, this state could well look a lot different today. When used skilfully as has been done by Livengood, the power of the press can effect positive change, as it has this year.

4. Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf: Al Mascitti may be right that it’s impossible for an ex-cop to be a true progressive. But I can’t argue that Schwartzkopf hasn’t governed like one. As House Majority Leader, Schwartzkopf fast-tracked every single piece of progressive legislation that came his way. He tried to put an end to double-dipping with HB 75, but was undone by John Kowalko and a couple of other normally progressive D’s. But he’s on the list this year for doing what a Democratic leader should do. He effectively crafted a redistricting plan that (a) was far more contiguous and compact than Wayne Smith’s approximations of the drawings of Wassily Kandinsky ten years ago; (b) he did it without exacting revenge on his political enemies, unlike the Napoleonic Martinet; and (c) he protected the Democratic majority in the House, which, in theory, you’d think would be the first priority of leadership. Since the Democratic House has been by far the most progressive caucus in Delaware, that is a huge contribution to the progressive cause.

3. Attorney General Beau Biden: Except for one inexplicable opinion, Biden would have seriously contended for the top spot on this year’s list. He crafted and helped enact a strong package of legislation protecting homeowners’ rights from mortgage foreclosure.  He challenged, and continues to challenge, the anonymous forces (aka ‘MERS’) behind millions upon millions of home foreclosures. BTW, have all you James Bond fans noticed that you can’t spell SMERSH without MERS? And that both pose/posed a threat to life as we know/knew it?   But, I digress. While Karen Weldin Stewart has already solidified her standing as arguably the single worst elected official in Delaware history, that hasn’t stopped her headlong dash to place about $181 million of Delaware policyholders’ money at risk by pushing for the merger of BC/BSD and Highmark of Pittsburgh.  But Beau Biden is trying to. AG Biden is challenging the merger and is especially working to ensure that, should the merger go through, the huge reserves that the ‘not-for-profit’ (in other words, these bastards pay no taxes) has accumulated go to providing medical insurance coverage for indigent Delawareans. He got no help in this endeavor from the weaselly General Assembly nor our ‘jobs-uber-alles’ Governor. But that’s what good progressives do, fight the good fight as effectively as you can. Biden’s won more than he’s lost this year, but he’s on the list for picking the right fights. Except, uh, that ridiculous opinion that held that somehow release of the hours that Tony DeLuca ‘works’ at the Department of Labor would put DeLuca’s personal safety at risk. The single worst opinion I’ve ever seen come out of the AG’s shop. At least, when it comes to DeLuca, Biden appears to be wising up, as this article suggests. Regarding DeLuca, Biden will have ample opportunity to redeem himself, beginning with an article that I plan to post later this week that raises significant questions about legalities surrounding DeLuca’s double-dipping. (How’s that for a tease? Al Mascitti has taught me well.) Until then, #3 seems about right for the Beaudhisattva this year. Job largely very well done.

2. Rep. Melanie George: A superlative year for one of the most intelligent legislators that we have. As a prime sponsor of SB 30, she successfully work the civil unions bill in the House.  However, she earns this spot on my list for her tireless and detailed efforts to roll back Delaware’s draconian sentencing laws. A major legislative accomplishment. I think it’s difficult for those who haven’t worked in Dover to understand just how difficult a task this was. In previous years, George and others who worked for this would have been ‘demagogued’ by the likes of Tom Sharp, Wayne Smith, AG (now ‘Judge’) Jane Brady and Jim Vaughn.  In fact, Rep. George’s first attempt to pass this legislation, back in the previous session of the General Assembly, died in the desk drawer of Tony DeLuca. Undeterred, George did what had to be done this time…even got DeLuca’s name on the bill as a co-sponsor.  It’s not like this bill was just handed to her by the AG’s office. No, the ultimate passage of this bill grew out of a lengthy gestation period. George got all of the stakeholders involved, including law enforcement. When you consider the disparate interests and perspectives of those placeholders, it’s a wonder that the bill that ultimately passed, while falling short of the original, was as progressive as it was. That’s a testament to George’s dogged nature and persuasive ability. Traits, I might add, that would serve her well in other, perhaps more demanding, public positions. In other words, she is one of a very few legislators with the skills to serve government in an executive capacity.

1. Sen. Dave Sokola: It’s hard to be an effective progressive in the Delaware State Senate. Evolution and enlightenment come slowly there, if at all. While the Senate is nowhere near as neanderthal as it was when Uncle Thurman Adams, Nancy Cook and Jim Vaughn were roaming the corridors, it continues to be far more resistant to change than the House.  Since his initial election in 1990, Dave has consistently remained true to his progressive beliefs. Unlike Patti Blevins, who was first elected the same year as Sokola, Dave has not sold out those principles for power, money and/or personal gain.  This year, Sen. Sokola faced by far the most difficult challenge to SB 30, the Civil Unions Bill: getting it passed in the State Senate. Unlike the House, the Senate had never voted on the bill before. The bill had never made it to the floor before. Whether the bill had sufficient votes was in question up until the time of the vote. The task was made much more difficult when two supposed supporters of SB 30, Senators Dori Connor and Cathy Cloutier, chose to skip this historic vote. Still, thanks in large part to Dave Sokola’s calm and dignified stewardship, SB 30 passed with 12 yes votes. Allow me, through his own words, to demonstrate why Dave Sokola has earned this spot this year:

“The last five words of the pledge [of allegiance] are ‘liberty and justice for all,’ “(Sen.)  Sokola said. “By taking this step, we give those words real meaning to more people here in Delaware.”

“It’s because they have friends, family, co-workers and neighbors who are gay,” he said. “Now, those people can come out with greater comfort. They are people who contribute to our communities, patrol our streets, defend our country overseas, teach our children and contribute in many positive ways.”

and finally:

“Sokola said he has had calls from voters who say they will never vote for him again, “but better legislators than me have lost for supporting the civil rights of others.”

While it may or may not be true that better legislators than Sokola have lost while fighting for a worthy cause, there was no finer, nor more effective, progressive leader in the State of Delaware this year.  He is my MVP for 2011.