2014: The Delaware Senate

2014: The Delaware Senate

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We have gotten several comments recently from newcomers to Delaware asking us to explain who the cast of characters that is Delaware politics. So here is a first post in a series of posts giving every one of our readers an overview of the upcoming elections in the Delaware Senate. And then we will review the elections in the House. And then we will profile each and every Senator and Representative in our General Assembly. Each profile will include demographic information about each Senator or Representative, and information about their respective districts. To aid us in this series will be the graphics and tools of Stephen Wolf and his team at Daily Kos Elections. They have put together a Google Spreadsheet that shows us a map of all the Senate districts in Delaware, and colors them according to how they voted in the 2012 election and which party represents these districts today. This is is a great tool for a political junkie. What jumped out at me is that there are basically only 6 competitive Senate districts, and only one of them is ripe for a Republican takeover. Come inside to play with the interactive maps and charts!
Wednesday Open Thread [4.23.14]

Wednesday Open Thread [4.23.14]

We have some polling goodness from all over, including some that show that our so called vulnerable southern Democrats are not so vulnerable. Such as Sen. Mary Landrieu, whom I hereby predict she will win her election rather easily. Why? Because she has embraced Obamacare:
[I]n an interview today, Landrieu vowed to campaign aggressively against GOP foe Bill Cassidy’s opposition to the Medicaid expansion in the state, offered a spirited defense of the law—while acknowledging it has some problems—and even insisted he'd be at a "disadvantage" over the issue. […] "That would be a real setback for the people of Louisiana, many of whom are working 30, 40, 50 hours a week but find themselves caught in the Jindal gap because the state refuses to expand health care options to the working poor at little to no expense," Landrieu told me, referring to Governor Bobby Jindal’s opposition to the expansion. "This issue is not going away—it will become an issue in the 2015 governor's race," she added. "Cassidy has wrapped himself up with Jindal. The question is whether people who work full time or part time in the U.S. should have access to quality and affordable health care." […] "I think the benefits that people have received are worth fighting for," Landrieu continued, citing an end to discrimination against preexisting conditions and extended coverage for young adults on parents' plans. "I think Bill Cassidy is going to be at a distinct disadvantage. He has insurance, but he's also denying it to the 242,000 people who fall into the Jindal gap. He also wants to take coverage away from tens of thousands who have gotten it for the first time."
It makes me real happy when Democrats act like Democrats. This is what every Democrat should sound like this summer and fall. And if you don't, leave the party and join the Republicans.
Daniello: We Need Serious Negotiating Partners, not Paul Ryan wannabees.

Daniello: We Need Serious Negotiating Partners, not Paul Ryan wannabees.

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Yesterday, I was emailed this op-ed by John Daniello. I have checked the News Journal and it looks like it it has yet to be published, which is odd, since the News Journal would publish the grocery lists of Senator Lavelle and GOP Chairman Copeland if given the chance. So inside we have the full op-ed from Chairman Daniello's op-ed, and afterwards, I have some unsolicited advice for our Democrats in the General Assembly. Here is a taste of both:
Delaware Democrats in the legislature are committed to working with their counterparts in the Republican Party. Disagreement is to be expected, but all members of the assembly were elected to work through these disagreements and come to legitimate alternative solutions. For example, Republican State Senator Dave Lawson proposed recently that the state should cut 2% from its budget. He offered no specifics, even though he sits on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee. He suggested that 2% should be cut without affecting personnel, employee wages, or ‘critical services,’ a term he didn’t define. This is not a serious solution from a legislator who sits through hours of budget hearings.
My advice: Don't negotiate with yourself. If you move towards the Republicans, the Republicans will move further right. Move to the left instead.
Kiss me I’m English

Kiss me I’m English

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Happy Saint George's Day everyone! Grab a pint glass of your favorite English beer, or fix yourself a nice gin and tonic, and enjoy your pretend Englishness today - preferably with the aid of alcohol. There will be readings from Douglas Adams and a half-assed game of cricket later. Until today, Saint Georges Day hasn't really be celebrated around here and I mean to fix that. We are Americans and holidays are what we do. So let the word go forth - today we are all English.
Tuesday Open Thread [4.22.14]

Tuesday Open Thread [4.22.14]

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Happy Earth Day. National Geographic gives us the history of Earth Day:
Earth Day began in 1970, when 20 million people across the United States—that's one in ten—rallied for increased protection of the environment. "It was really an eye-opening experience for me," Gina McCarthy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, who was a self-described self-centered teenager during the first Earth Day rallies, told National Geographic. (See pictures: "The First Earth Day—Bell-Bottoms and Gas Masks.") "Not only were people trying to influence decisions on the Vietnam War," she recalled, "but they were beginning to really focus attention on issues like air pollution, the contamination they were seeing in the land, and the need for federal action."
In response to this, Richard Nixon actually did a good thing. Indeed, it may have been the last liberal/progressive thing a Republican President has done. They passed the Clean Air and Water Act and established the EPA.

Monday Open Thread [4.21.14]

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The latest state revenue estimate from DEFAC is expected to be released today. Last month saw $40 million added to the projected deficit that Markell and the GA will need to close. And they may have already done so:
But with Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) signing his $51 million corporate tax hike into law April 15th, the state could have more money to work with.
An Election for Lt. Governor can be held this year.

An Election for Lt. Governor can be held this year.

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My question as to who is running for AG is answered. My next question is: does our Delaware State Constitution provide anyone power to appoint a new Lt. Governor, should Lt. Governor Matt Denn be elected Attorney General later this year and thus resign his current office. Section 9 of Article II tells us the Governor does not have that power. But If Matt Denn resigns the office of Lt. Governor at any time prior to September 4 of this year, then it would seem that the election for the remainder of the term of Lt. Governor would take place during the November general election. Given the lateness of that September 4 date, I imagine this election for Lt. Governor is treated like a special election wherein the parties nominate a candidate for the office rather than engage in a primary.