‘Money, That’s What I Want’: Barrett Strong
That’s what the Governor wants, that’s what the General Assembly wants, and that’s what they will talk about. I don’t know what kind of negotiations went on over the Easter break, but state government is facing a budget shortfall, largely due to revenue from ‘abandoned property’ (escheats) coming in lower than projected. BTW, you can’t spell ‘escheats’ with out ‘cheats’. If you think you’ve started to notice a pattern of how much of our budget is built on gimmickry, you are not imagining things. Especially when an alternative is to make the wealthy pay their fair share.
Not to mention that we’ve seen no movement on either the gas tax or proposed water assessment. Unless you count the Rethugs’ putting up signs reading ‘No New Gas Taxes’ all over the New Castle County landscape. Might I suggest perhaps a more constructive project for Rethugs with time on their hands? Maybe fix bridges or fill potholes? You know, the types of repairs that will not be done if Dover denizens do not come to their respective senses? For the umpteenth time:
Governor: Stop talking about castor oil. Start talking about the jobs this would create and the projects that would get done. Then go out there and sell it. If it’s not too late.
Democrats (and whatever Valerie Longhurst passes for this week): Do the same bleeping thing. You do want to create jobs, don’t you? If so, govern like Democrats. If you can’t sell jobs and bridges that won’t fall down, get outta town.
Rethugs: It’s mind over matter. Never mind, you don’t matter.
OK, end of screed. For now.
Today’s Senate Agenda is not real intriguing. I should point out, however, that SB 171(Peterson) cleans up some technical issues that arose with the passage of legislation that made it much easier for members of the general public to read and understand legislation. Peterson’s work on that issue deserves credit. Prior to the addition of strikethrough and underline, it was virtually impossible to know what many bills actually did. Which was just what the special interests pushing such legislation wanted.
Ladeez and gentlemen, a visual demonstration. Language that is currently in the Code that would be eliminated by the legislation is now struck through like this. Language that would be added to the Code is underlined like this. Language in the Code that would remain in the Code looks like this. No change. In other words, this type of bill-drafting provides something that has long been needed: Context.
This is not insider stuff, this is good government. It took a long time to get this legislation enacted as the General Assembly system had been capable of drafting bills this way for some time. Most other states had long since drafted bills this way. Some people just didn’t want it to happen. Just one more reason why Karen Peterson is a great legislator.
Much more action on the House side. The House Agenda features HB 170(Rep. D. E. Williams) establishes an additional required reporting period for political campaign committees. June 30, to be exact. My reaction? Meh. Not opposed to it, but I don’t really buy the ‘transparency’ argument. There are several bills purporting to address campaign finance reform. This is one of them, nothing more, nothing less. Campaign brochure fodder.
Rep. Valerie Longhurst apparently has a solution to the issue of deteriorating roads and bridges (she’s adamantly opposed to any gas tax increase): Have everyone ride bicycles. In lieu of serious legislation, Longhurst is prime sponsor of HB 235, which would designate “bicycling as the official sport for the State of Delaware”. The mind reels at the vision of Spandex-clad politicians celebrating our state’s new official sport. Just what kind of reinforced bicycle will they build for Colin Bonini, and will any state funds be involved?
I doubt that HB 237(Brady) has much import, but ya gotta love a synopsis that includes the following: “The definition of “gore area” stems from the U.S. Department of Transportation Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices.” Which brings me to:
Neither you nor I have any idea what might wind up in one of these recaps until it’s finished. Hey, I just can’t shake some pharmacological vestiges from the ’60’s…
Well. This week’s committee meetings deserve a preview all their own. Which you’ll get tomorrow.
Until then, there’s always today’s Al Mascitti Show, featuring Yours Truly. 10 am to 12 noon. Right here.
BTW, until I wrote this final sentence, this article’s word count was 666, which brings me to:
‘Friend of the Devil’: The Grateful Dead.