Well, one day in, and already one of my predictions has gone down in flames. (Or is it ‘up in flames’?) Thought it would be easy for the Senate to resurrect HB 88(Barbieri), which would establish procedures to try and keep guns out of the hands of the dangerously mentally-ill. We weren’t talking about passing the bill, we were just talking about restoring the bill to the Senate calendar. However, this signature initiative of Attorney General Beau Biden went nowhere on Tuesday, likely prompted by the notable absence of Beau Biden. From the News-Journal story:
Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, R-Milford, said he expected Biden to be in Legislative Hall to make his case.
“If this bill is that important, I would think the attorney general would be present to debate it,” Simpson said. “He should be on the job and seen and heard from, rather than his staff speaking in his name.”
Biden’s chief of staff, Timothy Mullaney, said Biden spent his day in meetings to discuss violence in Wilmington. Biden was not available for interviews to discuss a new Wilmington crime plan announced by Mayor Dennis Williams. Joe Rogalsky, who leads legislative efforts for Biden, said the attorney general would not give up on the gun-control issue.
Simpson’s right, you know. Perhaps a little cruel, but right. Were Biden up to the task, he would have been in Legislative Hall. It’s not a long drive from Wilmington. However, it proved to be a Route Too Far to revive his signature bill. You do the math.
Here’s the complete Tuesday session activity report. Basically, no activity.
Here’s the complete Wednesday session activity report. The Senate unanimously passed a couple of bills dealing with trusts and fiduciary responsibilities. I have no idea what they do, but because Sen. Townsend sponsored them, I’m guessing they’re not too bad.
BTW, I’m likely to just two post-game/pre-game shows per week this year. At least until June. One on Tuesday and another on Thursday. Since Wednesday is primarily reserved for committee meetings, I’ll reference important bills in committee on Tuesday, and will highlight what came out of committee on Thursday. There are only so many hours, especially in an election year.
Thursday affords me yet another opportunity for a bold prediction. To no one’s surprise, SB 151(Blevins) , the Chip Flowers Plain English Bill, will be considered by the Senate. Sen. Blevins has placed an amendment with the bill that would ‘remove(s) the Cash Management Policy Board’s exemption from the Administrative Procedure Act’. I hope and fully expect that the bill will pass with the amendment added. Over/under on senators voting no: 0.5. Who wants the over? Here’s the Senate Agenda for today.
The House has some serious unfinished business on its agenda. Most notably, mathematicians in the House apparently figured out that the easiest compromise between 0 and 2 is 1. Which is the number of voices that state employees will have on the State Employee Benefit Committee should SB 21(Henry) pass with an expected amendment. I find it interesting that this amendment adds the Lieutenant Governor to the Committee. Anyone know why?
The House is also scheduled to consider SB 55(Townsend) today. The bill would subject members of the Public Service Commission to financial public disclosure. Any no votes would be a surprise and a disappointment.
Man, these early-in-the-year reports are clean and easy.
I’m done early today. Feel a nap coming on before work…