General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 18, 2012

At LAST. This year’s General Assembly session begins in earnest today. And on a committee day no less. All sorts of compelling action scheduled to take place today.

Let’s start in the Senate. You can click on the link for the entire schedule. I’ll focus like a Wilmington east side pol hungrily eyeing $1 mill in museum funds on the items that intrigue me .

The Senate Administration Services/Elections Committee will consider HB 55, which essentially provides for the popular election of the President of the United States once states with over 50% of the requisite electoral votes ratify the compact. Here’s what I wrote last year about the National Popular Vote:

“I have previously stated my support for HB 55 (D. E. Williams), which would ultimately elect the President by popular vote. Here’s how:

“Under the U.S. Constitution, the states have exclusive and plenary (complete) power to allocate their electoral votes, and may change their state laws concerning the awarding of their electoral votes at any time. Under the National Popular Vote bill, all of the state’s electoral votes would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538).

It is more than possible that partisan state officials in Florida and Ohio singlehandedly and underhandedly determined the winners of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. I’m also tired of hearing the parochial arguments that Delaware would suffer b/c we wouldn’t ‘get any attention’ if this takes effect. That’s what the primaries are for. I happen to believe that the Electoral College is an anachronism, and that the President of the United States should be elected by the popular will of the people. Most votes wins. Simple as that. Sometimes, simpler is better.”

I notice that one name has been dropped from the list of nominations to be considered by the Senate Executive Committee. (Yes, the Executive Committee is finally at least deigning to provide a list to the public.) State Commissioner of Elections Elaine Manlove was previously on the list, and I hoped that someone would ask her about the clusterbleeps that comprise the websites for the respective county Departments of Elections. Whenever she comes up for consideration, I hope that someone indeed brings them up. They are a disgrace and are exceedingly difficult to navigate, especially if you are looking for information about financial reports/filings.

The House Committee schedule is even more chockablock with controversial items.  In fact, the House Administration Committee is scheduled to consider a year’s worth of items today. ‘Consider’ may not be the right word. House rules require that legislation assigned to committee be considered within, I think, 9 legislative days. However, consideration can consist of bringing up the bill for discussion and tabling it in committee. So there’s no guarantee that all of these items will be discussed. Nevertheless, it’s an intriguing set of bills. Those that ring my bell:

HB 65(Hocker): This bill would prevent legislators from getting second jobs with the state while they’re serving in the General Assembly. I think that the bill will get out of committee, b/c the House Administration Committee is comprised of the House majority and minority leaders, and all but, I think, Longhurst are sponsors of the bill. I sure hope it does. It deserves a vote, and the sooner the better.

HB 118(Lavelle): Creates a constitutional amendment that requires the General Assembly to have meetings and public records open to the public. A constitutional amendment requires approval by two consecutive General Assemblies. Accordingly, since (a) this is an election year, and (b) this vote is essentially a freeby, I expect it to pass both houses this year. Now, the second leg…that could prove to be a bit tougher.

HB 110 & HB 124(Briggs King): Yer annual Rethug Kabuki theatre attacking prevailing wage legislation. Of interest only to plutocrats and the construction trades, these bills aren’t going anywhere, as evidenced by their total lack of D sponsorship.

HB 159(Lavelle): Due, of course, to prospective voter backlash, the General Assembly will consider this bill that would change how legislators’ compensation is determined. Here’s a News-Journal article on it. Don’t pity the poor Honorables. They’ll find some other way(s) to make sure that they get more than their just due while proclaiming their selflessness in passing this window dressing. Trust me.

HB 199(Hudson): Creates a constitutional amendment designed to suppress voter registration and to discourage people from voting. They’ll claim otherwise, but that’s what it does. Once again, all Rethug sponsors, including self-proclaimed ‘moderates’ like Cloutier and Sorenson. HB 200 (Hudson) is yet another R attempt at voter suppression, and is modeled after some of the most egregious laws nationally, including Florida. These bills aren’t going anywhere.

I support HB 222(Jaques), which would “require(s) that the Department of Labor publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise”. This, of course, is just one way that the 1% take advantage of the 99%. For example, did you know that Linda & Vince McMahon’s WWE classifies its wrestlers/performers as independent contractors? Of course, they all have contracts, and the McMahons will take anyone to court for striving to be ‘independent’. Obligatory rasslin’ reference, sorry.

Now, that’s what I call a committee meeting.

The House Education Committee will consider HB 239(Schooley), which would permanently establish the Teach For America program as an alternative route to teacher licensure and certification.

Brad Bennett’s add-on fine for crimes against senior citizens will be considered in today’s House Judiciary Committee meeting.

As always, check out the entire schedule as YMMV.

You’ll note that I led with the Pre-Game Show today. That’s b/c there’s little, make that nothing of interest to me, to ‘wrap up’ from yesterday.

Tomorrow, Gov. Markell will present his State of the State Address to a Joint Session of the General Assembly. According to Chad Livengood in this News-Journal article, Markell’s theme will be ‘governing responsibly’. All this as he targets Medicaid. I guess ‘shared sacrifice’ wore out its welcome as a clarion call when it became clear that only those least able to afford it were being asked to share in the sacrifice.   I wonder if ‘governing responsibly’ includes requiring the Billionaires on the Hill to pay their fair share. Uh, actually, I’m not. But I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.