General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 25, 2014
I hate to be a Bulo One-Note. OK, I love to be a Bulo One-Note. Regardless, I wouldn’t be a Bulo One Note if the General Assembly had its priorities straight.
By now, we know that our roads and infrastructure are in for at least a year of neglect due to legislative inaction.
We also know that the General Assembly will find some way to waste money on the casinos. Casinos that are in the shape they’re in due to disastrous business decisions by its oligarch owners. Didja see the latest? Read the article carefully and see if I come to the same conclusion you do. Those supporting the latest casino bailout, including Jack Markell, are now proposing to use ‘one-time’ funds that were not used for their original purpose:
The casino aid proposal now offers $9.9 million to casinos by using $5 million left over from an $8 million bailout approved by the General Assembly last year (?). The proposal also uses $3.2 million set aside for the Kent County Sports Complex in the the Delaware Economic Development Office’s job infrastructure fund and the remainder would come from other money available from that fund.
Got that? The “Delaware Economic Development Office’s job infrastructure fund“. And just what are these funds supposed to, um, fund?:
The infrastructure fund for economic development, established in 2012, provides assistance for renovation, construction, or other improvements to roads, utilities and infrastructure to attract new businesses to the state. It also can be used for the expansion of existing state businesses to create jobs, according to the fund’s guidelines.
In other words, that Fund could (and I think should) help fund road and infrastructure improvements. Instead it’s going to bail out the casinos. As to the ‘expansion of existing state businesses to create jobs’, we’re not getting job expansion at the casinos. In fact, I think Cassandra’s right. The ink won’t be dry on the Governor’s signature before the alarm bells are once again sounded by the casinos. They are now essentially extorting money from the State. Our public officials are paying.
And make no mistake. This is nothing but a patch:
“I’m looking at it more like a door-opener,” he (Sen. Bushweller) said. “The bill passes and it creates a door-opener for next year.”
Casinos get bailed out while drivers head to their mechanics. Congratulations, General Assembly members. You own this. You too, Governor.
Boy, they sure were in a hurry to pass that Medical Examiner’s bill, weren’t they? House Committee meeting at 12 noon, on the House Agenda under Motion to Suspend Rules, and signed by the Governor before sundown. Anything to keep people from rethinking the foolhardiness of putting the State Police and the Division of Forensic Science under the same umbrella and possibly the same roof. How long before this one bites back? We warned you (clip ‘n save).
The State Budget passed the Senate, 18-3. Bottom line: Money was taken from roads and infrastructure to pay for higher mandated health costs, and no funding mechanism was provided for even a basic level of infrastructure repairs. Three Rethugs voted against the bill. Despite their votes, their downstate districts will get more than their fair share of state funds.
Here’s Tuesday’s Session Activity Report.
Today’s Senate Agenda features the aforementioned casino bailout bill. Could I just ask a question? It’s my article, so of course I can. Shouldn’t this bill at least contain a provision allowing other casinos to open in Delaware? Maybe they can do what the bozos in charge currently cannot. Run a business without constant state bailouts. Only seems fair.
Beer and a movie is on the agenda, as is Speaker Pete’s emasculated ‘municipalities have to come to us’bill. Still a horrible bill, and yet another bill that will almost inevitably lead to unanticipated consequences.
For the most part, the Senate is considering a bleepload of House bills today. A long agenda, worth checking out.
Today’s Senate committee meetings focus almost entirely on House bills. Except the Senate Executive Committee considers three notable nominations. And, um, looks like Total Wines is throwing around their campaign checkbook again. Also in today’s Senate Executive Committee: SB 251(Sokola) provides for expanded hours of operation for liquor stores. The sole beneficiary? The only stores pushing for this, Total Wine & More, our Walmart of Wines. Oh, and Bobby and Rebecca Byrd, the Anheuser-Busches of lobbyists. More hours=more sales of generic swill like Bud. Here’s the lobbying report from the Delaware Public Integrity Commission. A special interest bill, being pushed through at the last minute. Lotsa campaign checks hang in the balance.
Today’s House Agenda is pretty slim, considering there are only three session days left. Which, perhaps, is a good thing. Of course, once the House is finished with the printed agenda, it can suspend rules to consider all sorts of bills with virtually next to no public notice. As can the Senate. In fact, there may well not be any posted printed agendas for the last day of session (Sunday). More likely, there will be several agendas posted, followed by ‘must lists’, which generally consist of bills the House wants the Senate to consider and vice versa. But, I digress. Kowalko’s one-year lobbying ban for legislators is back in the House with that terrible Senate amendment, and will be considered.
The Budget Bill will also be considered under Motion to Suspend Rules. I wonder if any dead-enders will vote against it.
The only other bill of note, IMHO, is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to ‘modernize the bail provisions within the Delaware Constitution and clarify the power of the General Assembly and the Courts to define certain felony offenses for which and circumstances under which, pre-trial release on bail may not be available.’
Delaware is a racket state, little minds light up in Dover and you get a quick buck scheme. Problem is whether it’s horse racing or casinos at some point these money makers turn into money takers. Money takers with a constituency in the general assembly eager to keep failing cash cows going. Let’s take this time to remember the assorted brilliant minds that wanted to open even more casinos. Speaking of quick buck at what point does greed over ride “morals” and pot is legalized, I would gues too late to make any real money if the past is to be the judge.
“Shouldn’t this (casino bail out) bill at least contain a provision allowing other casinos to open in Delaware? Maybe they can do what the bozos in charge currently cannot. Run a business without constant state bailouts. Only seems fair.”
Excellent point.
Taking money from the Kent County Sports Complex to bail out the casinos? I would imagine that removing the funding will either kill the project or delay it further. A sports complex like that can generate millions of dollars of revenue for the area which is why the Economic Development Office supported it to begin with –
After three years of discussion and debate, the ball is ready to roll on the Kent County Sports Complex. Officials say the state won’t have to wait long to feel the $18 million kick the project will deliver to the economy. The facility, which is expected to host 10 major soccer tournaments a year as well as field hockey and lacrosse, is set to open sometime in 2014.
Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Office of Economic Development, says the project is an important one, the impact of which will be felt well beyond Kent County.
…
Moreover, experts expect the economic windfall will be virtually recession-proof. “Sports is a large demand-driver for people,” says Linda Parkowski, director of the Delaware Tourism Office. “Everybody still travels so their kids can play sports.”
Parkowski notes that large sports tournaments bring a wealth of economic benefits. “Tournaments are big business,” she says. “They fill hotels, they fill the restaurants, people get gas, they buy groceries. So there’s a lot of spinoff that happens from just one tournament.”
…
Levin notes that the labor market stands to benefit as well. He cited a University of Delaware study that found that 2,000 part-time jobs would be created during the tournaments and camps at the complex. In addition, 180 construction jobs would be created as the facility is built.
A real life example is the Hempfield Tournament in Lancaster PA that brings 40,000 people to the area and generates $6 million in revenue in two days.
http://lancasteronline.com/news/fans-bundle-up-at-hempfield-classic-soccer-tournament/article_5e4b54a6-48a6-515e-8a5b-0a96b5fab0c9.html
Then there are the undeniable societal benefits you get from having children involved in sports and other outdoor activities.
But f**k all of that money generated from keeping kids healthy and strengthening families, let’s bail out the casinos again.
In reading the article it appears that the Kent County Sports Complex has been delayed for reasons other than this funding.
When that funding’s needed, the funding will be there:
“The Kent County Sports Complex project is currently at a standstill and would not use the money in the coming year. The money would be loaned to the general fund with the state returning the money next year. That commitment would be included in the legislation, Bushweller said.”
“A sports complex like that can generate millions of dollars of revenue for the area which is why the Economic Development Office supported it to begin with”
Nonsense, on both counts. If that sports complex could make money, somebody would build it on his own dime. Blue Rocks Stadium wasn’t built with public money.
And it was supported by the Economic Development Office because the dumb shit-kickers in slower Delaware like their politicians to stroke their delusions of importance.
There is no reason that Dover deserves this economic boost more than other spots in the state.
And sorry, but your claims about youth sports are bullshit, too. I spent 20 years with kids in youth sports. Polish your apple with your own money.
provides for expanded hours of operation for liquor stores
So that Total Wine can sell more stuff to Pennsylvanians. And so that nuisance liquor stores in Wilmington can be even more of a problem.
And when do we get to have wine shipped directly to us? Do I really need to pay a lobbyist for this?
The complex is on hold waiting for DelDOT to build the access road because the county doesn’t want the traffic using Rt. 1. The reason its using public money is because its a county project, hence the name “Kent County Sports Complex” as opposed to “Sports at the Beach” which is a private sports complex in Georgetown.
Geezer, I provided a link to a 2 day tournament that takes place in Lancaster County by their outlets every November. It brings 40,000 people to the area and generates $6 million in revenue for the area hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Here’s the 2 day Virginia Beach sand soccer tournament that generates $2 million in revenue for the local economy and 10,000 visitors.
http://wavy.com/2014/06/08/sand-soccer-championships-wrap-up-in-va-beach/
Seaside Soccer Classic in NC $2.5 million to the local economy, 15,000 visitors:
http://centralnc.twcnews.com/content/news/707843/youth-soccer-tournament-brings-millions-in-revenue-to-nc-coast/
I could list these tournaments and they money they generate all day. The Kent County Complex would hold 10 of these types of youth sporting tournaments a year.
We end up with crap legislation because, in part, this state lacks a true journalistic commitment by the press.
The News Journal could have, for example, sent real reporters into legislative hall to ask basic questions about the casino bail-out, the medical examiner re-organization, the UD/DU FOI bills, etc., to name names, maybe we’d have move accountability to the citizenry.
Why is Sunday the last day of session instead of Monday?
Try again, Geezer. Public funds were used for feasibility studies and $6.1 million was used to buy the land for the Blue Rocks Stadium.
http://www.delawarestadiumcorp.com/history_of_dsc_stadium.php
But, yeah, lets not have sports. Ever. It doesn’t teach kids anything.
HB 418 is a great opportunity to fill the gap in the TTF left by the General Assembly’s $40 million FY 2015 budget grab. There appears to be votes to pass this in both chambers and labor supports it but it needs to be introduced from the floor since Longhurst and Schwartzkopf aren’t giving it a committee hearing. And it can’t hurt an industry too much that has had a stellar fiscal year last year like PBF Energy. HB 418 proposes a new tax / fee of $1 per barrel upon any entity engaged in commercial lightering within Delaware’s territorial jurisdiction.
Some talking points from Vic Singer who thought it up –
WHO ARE THE SPONSORS? HB 418 was filed by Rep. Edward Osienski (D, 24th District). Joint sponsors and/or cosponsors are Senator Karen Peterson (D, 9th District), Michael Barbieri (D, 18th District), Rep. Earl Jaques (D, 27th District) and Rep. John Kowalko (D, 27th District).
WHAT IS “LIGHTERING?” “Lightering” is off-loading cargo from deep draft ocean vessels to shallower draft vessels able to reach port facilities up the Delaware or other rivers. The two vessels must be kept close enough together for the petroleum to be transferred by heavy hoses stretched or draped across the gap that separates them. After enough cargo is off-loaded from the deep draft tanker to reduce its draft to what the channel depth will accommodate, the deep draft tanker can also go upstream to the delivery target.
WHY IS LIGHTERING IMPORTANT TO DELAWARE? Big Stone Anchorage is a Natural Resource entirely within Delaware’s boundaries; the DE/NJ state line is a mile or more east of the Anchorage. The Anchorage is part of a 55 ft minimum depth (low tide) trench in the bottom of Delaware Bay that stretches from 7 to 17 miles northwest of Cape Henlopen. It is easily reached by deep draft tankers, and has been used for lightering petroleum for more than a half century.It is reputedly the only deep draft accessible sheltered inland bay between Maine and Texas.
Let the me get this right if I go to a Casino and lose will the state bail me out?????