I am El Somnambulo and I’m a listaholic. This list should come with its own Festivus celebration, aka, the ‘airing of the grievances’. Come to think of it, it does. It’s called the comments section. The usual caveat. This is my list. One person’s opinion. Feel free to make your own list. And, of course, feel free to heap scorn or praise, or both, on my list.
There were several worthy contenders who just missed the list this year. Superior legislators like Melanie George Smith and Michael Barbieri deserve consideration every year. Ed Osienski is fast approaching that status. Helene Keeley and Kim Williams were on my list at one time or another during my deliberations.
2013 was a great year for social justice in Delaware. Economic justice, not so much. However, I am encouraged that at least three strong voices for progressive principles joined the General Assembly this year, and a couple of Leg Hall vets found their voices as well. The progressive grassroots became more effective this year, and helped ensure historic victories that would not have happened without their support. Marriage equality, transgender equality, and justice for manufactured home owners, being among them.
The most notable omission from my list, and I struggled with it, is Governor Jack Markell. His role in hastening civil rights for the LGBT community will most assuredly be his lasting positive legacy. But, his actions in slowing the passage of minimum wage; his continued pushing for corporate education solutions and favoring charter schools; his granting of a tax cut for Delaware’s wealthiest citizens; his almost-disastrous actions concerning the Port of Wilmington; and several others, led me to omit him from the list. At best, the good and the bad canceled each other out. And, no, you don’t have to take the bad with the good. Or at least you shouldn’t accept it. I don’t.
10. Sen. Bruce Ennis
While no one would describe him as a progressive, Ennis has always represented the ‘little guy’. He has long supported protections for those living in manufactured home communities, and, as prime sponsor of SS1/SB 33, he successfully shepherded the bill through the General Assembly. Ennis does his homework, has excellent working relationships with his colleagues, and is a genuinely nice guy. No, he’s not gonna be a lion on civil rights issues like gay marriage or transgender rights, but he’s there on minimum wage, he was there on the Port of Wilmington bill. But he’s on the list this year for his work on SB 33. A job well done, finally putting an end to ‘justice delayed, justice denied’.
9. Sen. Margaret Rose Henry
One of the most impressive two-fers in recent legislative memory. I am genuinely surprised that either of these bills got through, not to mention both of them. She sponsored SB 97, which adds gender identity ‘to the already-existing list of prohibited practices of discrimination and hate crimes’. 11 Senate votes, the bare minimum, and only 24 House votes. Yet it’s law. And then there’s the mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms. SB 16 also passed with the bare minimum of 11 Senate votes and got only 22 votes in the House. Great legislating from someone who has become more inclined to take on tough issues over the years.
8. Erik Raser-Schramm
Let’s be thankful that he uses his incalculable grassroots skills for the forces of good instead of the forces of ee-vil. Yes, he has turned his skills into a business (why didn’t I think of that?), but look what he helped produce this year. Marriage equality, transgender equality, justice for manufactured homeowners. Despite the grassroots nature of much of progressive politics, right-wing organizations like the NRA have been infinitely more successful in mobilizing the grassroots than we have. That’s why it’s great that we have someone like Erik. Now, if only we could do something about his Hillary fixation…oh, I know. Erik, remember this one?:
Hey, ya gotta take the bad with the good.
7. Rep. Paul Baumbach
A superb debut from this Newark area first-termer. I was especially impressed with his legislation that provided some legit incremental improvements for manufactured homeowners. Why? It shows attention to detail and effective legislating skill. Plus, it moved the ball forward in a positive way. From a legislative perspective, effective legislating is where it’s at. He also voted the ‘right’ way on virtually everything, and helped shape the key debates with his incisive commentary. While he needs to take care not to alienate would-be allies, he has already helped move the House in a more progressive direction.
6. Sen. Cathy Cloutier
Sen. Cloutier and Rep. Mike Ramone emerged as strong supporters of progressive initiatives this year. Ramone also deserves a spot on this list, however his votes weren’t as valuable in that the House was solidly behind most of the progressive initiatives he supported. OTOH, Sen. Cloutier’s votes this year made the difference on several key issues. The death penalty, mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms, marriage equality (along with Bethany Hall-Long), and transgender equality. She finally voted the way that she’s talked, and it had a profound positive impact on the lives of many Delawareans.
5. Sen. Bob Marshall
He pretty much singlehandedly blew the whistle and put an end to the ill-advised secret Markell-Levin/Kinder Morgan Port misadventure. With the benefit of hindsight, can you imagine how disastrous that deal would have been, especially to those who work at the Port and depend on the Port for their livelihoods? Once Markell and Levin were flushed out on this, their motives became so suspect that the House passed legislation requiring an up-or-down vote on any Port deal before a deal could be concluded. No vote, no deal. Marshall also continued on as one of the few strong voices for economic justice in the General Assembly. He sponsored minimum wage legislation that passed the Senate. Gov. Jack Markell, in perhaps his most disingenuous moment of the year, negotiated a compromise with Marshall that weakened the bill. Markell promised to support and sign the bill. He then got the bill buried in a House committee. It looks like it will pass in 2014. I call on legislators to restore all the provisions that Markell had removed, and then dare him to sign or veto the bill. Although people don’t necessarily think of Marshall as a progressive, he continues to vote as one. Strong supporter of gun control, civil rights for all.He’s on the list this year, though, due to his work on the Port and minimum wage.
4. Sen. Bryan Townsend
What can I say? Along with Paul Baumbach and Rep. Kim Williams (who just missed making the list), Townsend brought new progressive energy and intellectual heft to the General Assembly this year. I especially loved the two bills that he got passed in the aftermath of the charter schools debacle. SB 147 and SB 148 are admirable, the kind of incremental but important legislating that often doesn’t get the recognition that’s deserved. He also was a leading proponent on practically every progressive bill of importance, and effectively challenged some of the assumptions of HB 165. This next sentence will either appear foolish or prescient: HB 165 will mark the end of the ascendancy of the charter school push in Delaware; Bryan Townsend and Kim Williams appear poised to give voice and effective direction on behalf of those who believe in public education. (Uh, I know that it’s basically two sentences in one. Bear with me here.) Townsend’s mere presence in place of Tony DeLuca was a huge, perhaps underappreciated, plus. Does all of this progressive legislation even make it to the floor if DeLuca was still Pro-Tem? Betcha that Port of Wilmington bill would have been buried, seeing as how DeLuca literally owed Markell his jobs. And how many bills that got 11 votes would not have gotten 11 votes had Tiny Tony still been in Dover?
3. Sen. Karen Peterson
Even though she only sponsored one of the notable progressive priorities this year (elimination of the death penalty), her DNA was all over the legislative agenda this year. Plus, her support of candidates like Bryan Townsend and Kim Williams helped swell the progressive ranks. She also formed an alliance with my #2 that clearly paved the way for timely consideration of progressive legislation in the Senate. Peterson is an effective and sharp-elbowed legislator. She has learned how to push progressive legislation through. Better than anybody, in fact. She also understands that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Temporary setbacks are just opportunities to regroup and forge ahead. She also has solid ties in the House. More than any progressive legislator, she has mastered the inside game, and has become progressivism’s most effect legislative practitioner. This year’s scorecard reflects it. As does this ranking.
2. Sen. Patti Blevins
Elections have consequences. Perhaps the best electoral consequence of the year was Patti Blevins replacing the defeated Tony DeLuca as President Pro-Tem. She became, in effect, the Anti-DeLuca. Since she, unlike DeLuca, did not owe her position to Jack Markell, she helped establish the Senate as the more independent of the two legislative branches, and enabled consideration of every single piece of progressive legislation that came before it. No more burying of bills in inhospitable committees. I don’t think there’s any way that the weapons legislation or the Port legislation see the light of day under Tiny Tony. I’m not that certain about marriage equality or gender equality, either. And even though I have often criticized Blevins, I think that she has really grown as she assumed power in the Senate this year. She is still a reliable vote for most progressive legislation as well. She effectively transformed the Senate into an incubator for progressive legislation this year. Which is why she’s so high on this list.
1. Sarah McBride
Just take a look at SB 97. Read the synopsis:
This Act adds the term “gender identity” to the already-existing list of prohibited practices of discrimination and hate crimes. As such, this Act would forbid discrimination against a person on the basis of gender identity in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations, and insurance, and it would provide for increased punishment of a person who intentionally selects the victim of a crime because of the victim’s gender identity.
Now, take in the fact that SB 97 is now the law in Delaware.
Finally, realize that this bill is law because of Sarah McBride. She was able to persuade a skeptical General Assembly that this was the right thing to do. I’m in awe of what she did. Having worked down there as long as I did, it never dawned on me that the Delaware General Assembly would pass such a bill. The adolescent sniggering of John Atkins and Trey Paradee was more in tune with the way the General Assembly used to be, but thankfully is no more (BTW, why do I think that they are among the Most Likely to Stick Their Heads Into a Restroom to Sneak a Peek?). But, I digress.
This bill wasn’t even on my radar until this article surfaced. I remember thinking, ‘interesting, worthwhile, but good luck with that.’
The article was posted on our blog on June 4, 2013. By June 19, SB 97 was the law of our state. The reason why is Sarah McBride. She tirelessly met with legislators one-on-one, and convinced (barely) enough legislators of good will that those with gender identities different than their own deserved basic civil rights. If you think that’s easy, just try doing it.
Of course, I salute the sponsors and supporters of this legislation. But this is perhaps the single greatest example of one unelected citizen (here’s hoping that might change some day) making a difference for the positive good by finding common ground with the Delaware General Assembly and the Governor that I can recall. Inspirational.
For me, Sarah McBride is clearly the 2013 MVP. Can’t wait to see what she does next.