General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: April 3, 2012

The most notable bill passed in the Senate was SB 174(Bushweller), which is designed to help first responders seek and receive critical counseling to deal with the stress they encounter. It’s a well-intended and even essential bill–as long as it doesn’t create a priest confessional type of situation. The House passed HB 202, which ‘makes it an offense to use a handicapped plate or placard issued to another person, unless that person is also in the vehicle’. The idea being, of course, to stop the use of handicapped parking spaces by those who don’t need them. I strongly support a newly-introduced piece of legislation. HB 287(Lavelle) places the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility under the requirements of state procurement laws. About damned time, as this Harris McDowell-driven vehicle has had more than its share of controversy. The bill has bipartisan support, including many of the more reform-minded legislators, and will likely pass the House. Uh, which raises the question of what Tony DeLuca, who counts McDowell as among his supporters, will do once HB 287 reaches the Senate. The bill is in the House Energy Committee, and John Kowalko, who is a co-sponsor, is the committee chair.

A Message From Kavips…

This makes me sad. Hopefully, this isn't good-bye. Kavips is a strong, intelligent, passionate voice in blogging. Agree, or disagree with him, Kavips made us think. For that, Kavips, I thank you.

Atlas Smirked

The law of unintended consequences is a cruel mistress. I wonder what transparently partisan Republican a-hole, Antonin Scalia, is going to have to say if/when the health insurance industry in America collapses and is replaced by a nationalized single payer system?

Monday Open Thread [4.2.12]

Tomorrow there are primaries in D.C., Wisconsin and Maryland. And then after that, the next primaries are on April 24, which serves as a sort of "Greater Northeast" primary. The states holding elections that day are our own first state, Delaware, as well as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. Romney is going to win Maryland and D.C., and in a few weeks he will win New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For Santorum to continue any semblance of a campaign, and for him to have any reason at all to continue, he should really win Wisconsin, and he absolutely has to win Pennsylvania. If he does not win his home state, then he should be dragged from the race kicking and screaming. So, we are down to Frothy's Last Stand. It was fun while it lasted.

Republicans Losing Women Voters

President Obama has emerged with an impressive lead in swing states around the country — thanks to women voters abandoning the GOP in droves, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll showing President Obama leading among women voters in the top dozen battleground states by a whopping 18 points — greater than the 12-point gender gap he won with in 2008.

DL Tracking Poll Results — Auditor Tom Wagner (Round 2)

Last month, Tom Wagner scored a 55% approval rating, making him by far the most popular Delaware Republican alive today. His disapproval was 43%. Our new poll finds his approval to have fallen 9 points to 46%, while his disapproval rating has risen by nearly the same margin of 8 points, or to 51%. I think that makes him still the most popular Republican in Delaware.