Delaware’s Unafraid

24 Comments
While all of the 13 Senators who voted for the Background Check Bill (HB 35) are unafraid in my book and deserve credit for their vote today, I want to give special recognition to three who took politically risky votes for different reasons. Without these three votes, the bill would have failed 11-10. Come inside to read why I think these three votes are relatively brave.

Delaware’s Cowards

12 Comments
These are the cowards so beholden to the NRA that they want terrorists and criminals and the mentally ill to have unfettered access to any weapon they can get their hands on. They deserve to be defeated at their next election on this vote alone.

Hocker announces run for Governor in 2016

7 Comments
So there I was driving this afternoon listening for reasons passing understanding to Rick Jensen's show on WDEL 1150. He was hosting his show from a reception for a Delaware Small Business organization (I didn't catch the full name) and was interviewing both the organization's President and Senator Hocker. The organization's President was going on and on about all the horrible fees and taxes small businesses have to pay and Rick jokes that his 3 hour show is not enough time to list all the taxes and fees (which is of course a lie). Then Hocker jumps in, and I presume that Jensen was interviewing both the Organization President and Hocker at the same time and Hocker says (paraphrasing): "Well when I am governor I will get rid of all these fees and taxes because I will surround myself with all the right people." And he said it in such a Southern accent that I thought I was momentarily transported to Mississippi. But that is besides the point. To my mind, I think this is the first time I have heard Hocker publicly announce his long rumored desire to run for Governor.

Thursday Open Thread [4.18.13]

19 Comments
45 Pathetic Cowards. Let's see if any Delaware Democrats or Republicans in the Delaware Senate join them. 1. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 2. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) 3. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) 4. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) 5. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) 6. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) 7. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) 8. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 9. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) 10. Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) 11. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) 12. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) 13. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) 14. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) 15. Sen. Michael Crapo (R-ID) 16. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 17. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) 18. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) 19. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) 20. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 21. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) 22. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) 23. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) 24. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) 25. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) 26. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) 27. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 28. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) 29. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) 30. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) 31. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 32. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) 33. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) 34. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 35. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) 36. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) 37. Sen. James Risch (R-ID) 38. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) 39. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) 40. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) 41. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) 42. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) 43. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) 44. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) 45. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

We Lost in Washington Yesterday. We Can Win in Delaware Today.

2 Comments
We had a defeat in Washington yesterday, but we can still win in Delaware. The background checks bill (HB 35) is scheduled for a vote today in the Senate, and I'm told by well placed sources that some wavering Senators could really benefit from a final call or email this morning. And if you are in Dover or can make it to Dover today, get to the Senator chamber for the vote to show support. So join me and call or email the following this morning: Senator Bethaney Hall Long, bethany.hall-long@state.de.us, (302) 744-4286 Senator Bruce Ennis, bruce.ennis@state.de.us, (302) 744-4310 Senator Nicole Poore, Nicole.Poore@state.de.us, (302) 744-4164 Senator Cathy Cloutier, catherine.cloutier@state.de.us, (302) 744-4197 Senator Brian Bushweller, brian.bushweller@state.de.us, (302) 744-4162 Senator David McBride, David.McBride@state.de.us, (302) 744-4167

Here We Go Again… Pencader Charter School

47 Comments
I detest hostage situations, especially when the hostages are children. Pencader Business and Finance Charter School is in financial trouble again. Shocking, I know. Seems they've run out of money and are threatening to close the school on April 30th. The News Journal has the story:
In a letter addressed to parents, students and teachers last week, president Frank McIntosh said Pencader didn’t have enough money left to pay teachers’ salaries through the end of the year, putting it at risk of bankruptcy. He said the school needs $350,000 to pay its debts and enable its students graduate. McIntosh said transferring students back to their feeders schools so late in the year would be a mess. Traditional public schools, especially those in the Christina and Colonial school districts, would have to accommodate hundreds of students on short notice with little additional resources, he said.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., April 18, 2013

2 Comments
For all intents and purposes, it's a one-bill day in Dover. This bill. Can Dover legislators do what Washington legislators could or would not do? HB 35 would require criminal background checks for virtually all gun purchases in Delaware. The NRA, embodied and emboldened by its pigeon-killing mouthpiece, have whittled away at the bill, and still oppose it. Not a single R senator is on the bill as a sponsor. Which raises the question. Will they stand with the overwhelming majority of the people of Delaware, or will they march in lockstep with the leader that they have chosen to lead the Delaware Rethuglican Party?