Assuming that neither snow nor St. Paddy’s Day waylaid them, the legislators return en masse to Dover today.
I expect the Governor and his staff to be meeting with legislators both to push for the infrastructure package (10 cents a gallon increase) and the clean water package ($45 on average per homeowner). This, to put it mildly, is a tough sell in an election year. I have to wonder why the governor didn’t do this at the beginning of his second term rather than throwing out a not-well-thought-through proposal late last session. It makes passage less likely. Although…a compromise on the infrastructure package could well be reached. One respected legislator suggested a phase-in, a nickel and more state borrowing the first year, and an additional nickel and less borrowing the second year. This is, after all, among other things, a jobs bill. If proponents can message this properly and emphasize this fact, reluctant D legislators could well be brought along.
I also expect caucuses to get briefings from their Joint Finance Committee members as to where things stand following the agency hearings (Oops. DEFAC says we’re down another $40 mill). Keep in mind that the budget bill likely won’t get marked up until around Memorial Day, so there will be a lot of dickering between now and then. And more DEFAC numbers.
There are at least two real interesting bills on agendas today. Now don’t let your eyes glaze over just yet, but the Senate will consider SB 160(Venables), which would “increase the weight limit for live-haul poultry trucks operating on Delaware highways within 100 miles of the plant…”. Now, here’s where my Spidey Sense kicks in. The synopsis says, and I quote, that this bill is being considered to “to accommodate the poultry industry and ensure public safety.” Because, you know, no two things are more compatible than accommodating the poultry industry and ensuring public safety. Exhibit A: The Delaware Bay. House co-sponsor: John Atkins. BTW, trucks could weigh in excess of 92,700 pounds before any fine could be assessed. I’m sure they’ll all come equipped with state-of-the-art brakes as well. BTW, this is the only bill on Tuesday’s Senate Agenda.
The House Agenda features SB 136(Henry), which “deletes the requirement that a petition for termination of parental rights contain a statement that each birth parent has been advised of the right to file an affidavit as provided by subchapter III of Chapter 9. The affidavit in subchapter III of Chapter 9 was previously repealed.” On the face of it, this would appear to be a housekeeping bill since the synopsis states that the subchapter reference has already been repealed. However, the roll call in the Senate demonstrates a sharp split, and not apparently on ideological grounds. I’d love to hear from someone with some knowledge as to what the controversy is here.
A huge week for committee meetings. Here is the complete list of Senate committee meetings, and here is the complete list of House committee meetings.
Highlights in the Senate:
The Natural Resources and Environmental Control Committee considers SB 166(McBride), which would cap the vertical limit of an industrial landfill at 130 feet above the mean sea level of the site. HB 198(Brady) gives municipalities more leeway in enacting recycling measures that go beyond state minimums. An example would be the possible banning of plastic bags from Wilmington supermarkets. If there are any Wilmington supermarkets.
The Senate Small Business Committee considers two solid bills from Rep. Baumbach concerning manufactured housing communities. The bills are HB 106 and HB 107. I especially admire this type of incremental, but positive, legislating. It shows legislators engaged at the all-important detail level. Good stuff.
All 832 members (number approximate) of the Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will play musical chairs today while cozying up to ‘Our Bravest’ by coming together to full-throatedly endorse HB 236(Jaques). The bill ‘allows a member of the Delaware National Guard to annually receive a surf fishing vehicle permit without charge’. Because Service. Free Stuff.Freedom. Election Year.
Highlights in the House:
Yet another sop to farmers, courtesy of Bill ‘Lumpy’ Carson. HB 14 provides “that any income and/or capital gain received from easements preserving agricultural land shall not be taxed for purposes of Delaware personal income taxes.” Uh, why? They’re getting a break thanks to AgLand preservation, but they shouldn’t be taxed on that break? In the House Appropriations Committee (a full agenda).
Also in the House Appropriations Committee is HB 23(Hudson), which “requires that all public meetings of the boards of education of traditional public school districts, vo-tech school districts, and public meetings of charter schools’ boards of directors be digitally recorded and made available to the public on the districts’ and charter schools’ websites within seven business days.” Solid bipartisan sponsorship, hope nothing derails this bill.
HB 169(Baumbach) is designed to enable the City of Newark to receive direct payments due to ‘tax-exempt properties owned by the State’ within Newark. Currently, only Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown are eligible. I think that all Newark area legislators are on the bill as sponsors/cosponsors. Also in Appropriations.
It will be interesting to see what the House Business Lapdog Committee does with HB 186(Viola). The bill “prohibits employers from deducting credit card processing fees from gratuities due to their employees.” The Forces of Evil can’t prevail again, can they? BTW, what ever happened to restoring the CPI to the minimum wage bill? Uh, nothing. Didn’t happen. We noticed.
The House House Administration Committee considers HB 231 (Rep. D. E. Williams), which would significantly increase legislative influence on the Diamond State Port Corporation of Directors. The bill adds six new members, three each to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and by the President Pro-Tempore. This is a direct result of the failed Markell/Levin power play to enable Enron expatriates to run the Port. Wonder what the Governor will do if this bill reaches his desk…
Virtually the entire General Assembly is lining up to fight the scourge of e-cigarettes. I think a whole lotta states are getting ahead of the science and/or rational thinking on this one. 27 to be exact. Delaware aims to be 28. Ladies and gentlemen, for your consideration, HB 241(Hudson). In the House Judiciary Committee. BTW, look at all the prime co-sponsors. Will make for economies of scale when laying out campaign brochures this fall.
It ain’t gonna be ‘just’ National Guard members getting those free surf thingies. SB 31 (Ennis) would enable active members of the Ladies auxiliary or volunteer fire department ladies auxiliary to receive free surf fishing licenses. Betcha the menfolk get them already. In the House Natural Resources Committee. Let me explain why I ridicule this stuff. It’s because the General Assembly makes value judgments as to who should get these free considerations. Almost always ends up being to police, the military, etc. Yes, their service is valuable. But so valuable to get free stuff that other people who perform at least equally-valuable functions shouldn’t get? It’s pandering, pure and simple. And, of course, it’s trolling for votes.
So that’s your lineup for today and tomorrow. Be back later this week with more fact, rumor and innuendo.
However, if you can’t wait that long, I’m on the Al Mascitti Show today, 10 am to 12 noon, WDEL-1150 Newsradio on your AM dial. Or just go here to stream. Which downstate politico is gonna have their ears singed on today’s show? Tune in to find out!