General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 23, 2014

I’d like to thank the General Assembly for recognizing my (all but invisible)  work ethic, and enabling me to write only one post-game/pre-game piece this week.

First, the post-game.

In keeping with his notion of reality, Chip Flowers experienced unanimous rejection by the Senate, then claimed victory. The Senate passed legislation making clear what should already have been clear: He did not have unilateral power to play casino with the state money. SB 151(Blevins)  passed the Senate 20-0. The one ‘absent’? In keeping with his track record of not showing up, and getting paid for it, it was Colin Bonini.  There’s a certain symmetry in that.

Flowers, of course, claimed that this was somehow a great compromise b/c he claimed that the Senate would ‘consider’ his proposals during some sort of review of the (‘unelected’) Cash Management Review Board. The (‘unelected’) Cash Management Board occasionally undergoes a review by the Joint Sunset Committee, as do most boards, commissions and selected agencies. The committee, of course, considers any and all suggestions that people bring before it during public hearings. But this, in Flowers’ delusional mind, is some sort of victory. The House will follow suit this week. Or maybe not. No post-storm committee meetings will be held until next week. Don’t worry, Chip’s next ‘victory’ is in the offing.

Here is the entire Session Activity Report for last Thursday…except for the only item of note, the aforementioned SB 151. January usually brings an influx of quality computer solitaire games to Legislative Council, so I suppose it’s understandable that the only key legislative event is not included in the activity report.  I really don’t get why Legislative Council remains immune from reform by the General Assembly. But, immune it remains.

The House finally passed legislation giving state employees a voice on the State Employees Benefits Committee. The bill had languished there  while legislators apparently tried to coax Governor Jack Markell across the line he had drawn in the sand. If someone, anyone, can explain to me why an alleged Democratic governor would be so determined to deny state employees even a voice in this matter, please explain it to me. As boldly predicted by Yours Truly, the compromise between legislators who had pushed for two members, and the Governor who had pushed for no members, was, wait for it, one member.  I look for this bill to be worked, perhaps as early as today, in the Senate, and then sent to the Governor for his, I don’t know, signature maybe? This bill, in fact, is on today’s Senate agenda.

Today’s highlight, of course, will be Governor Jack Markell’s State of the State Address. I, for one, want to hear whether the Governor has developed even the slightest empathy for those Delawareans who have been hurt by the increasing concentration of wealth that the Governor has helped to enable.  Something, anything, to provide hope to those who don’t live in Greenville, and don’t attend the same cocktail parties the Governor attends, and can’t afford to. My prediction? Whether this week, or next week, when he introduces his proposed budget, those who have been screwed will be asked to make even more sacrifices. The wealthy will not. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong. For once.

All Senate and House committee meetings were canceled yesterday, and none were rescheduled for today. Many thanks to House and Senate staff who provided the public with today’s agendas yesterday.

Today’s House Agenda  features one notable bill, SB 55(Townsend), which ‘adds members of the Public Service Commission to the definition of ‘public officer’ which would subject them, like many other individuals in positions of public trust, to certain financial disclosure requirements’. My only minor concern is that the bill is scheduled to be floor-managed by Rep. Longhurst, one of the minority of legislators who are not sponsors of the bill. However, I can’t see how even her indifference and/or indifferent performance could sink a bill with so many supporting it.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.

Now keep in mind that, following the Governor’s speech at 2 p.m., the General Assembly will likely break while legislators provide reaction to the press.  I’d expect there would then be caucuses in both chambers if, for no other reason, than to plan out the last week of session before the break for the Joint Finance Committee hearings.

What the snow this week ensures is that next week will be an action-filled week. My question: Will a minimum wage increase be passed and on its way to the Governor by (next) week’s end? We’ll see. I’m betting ‘yes’.