Day: April 7, 2015

....from the Medical Society of Delaware. Though that is not unexpected. The proposed legislation would likely allow assisted suicide only in cases where a patient has been told by their doctor that they have a short time to live, like six months or less. The legislation would provide that only the patient is authorized to make this decision, and a family member and the doctor would be required to witness the procedure. This, along with Marijuana Legalization, are the next big socially progressive / socially libertarian reforms to be considered by society, and by extension, the General Assembly.

We are going to assess our readership's opinions concerning the job performance of our elected officials over the coming week. Today, we begin with Governor Jack Markell. Given the battles over Education, Priority Schools and the budget, I do not expect the Governor to earn a passing grade this time. Tuesday -- Governor Jack Markell (D) Wednesday -- Attorney General Matt Denn (D) Thursday -- Congressman John Carney (D) Friday -- Senator Chris Coons (D) Monday -- Senator Tom Carper (D) Tuesday -- Auditor Tom Wagner (R) Wednesday -- Treasurer Ken Simpler (R) Thursday -- Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart (D) Friday -- New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon (D)

Senator Simpson has filed a bill (SB 46) that proposes a state Constitutional Amendment that would require at least one member of both the Court of Chancery and the Supreme Court be residents of and been appointed from the Bars of each of the three counties. Already we have Constitutional provisions requiring that the Supreme Court have "equal" representation between the parties, which, given that is a 5 member Court, is impossible, but it means that there will be at least 2 Republicans on the Court at all times. Now, Senator Simpson wants 2 members of the 5 member Court to be from Kent and Sussex County. Screw whether or not any potential Justice is qualified or not, or whether the Governor wants to nominate them or not. Because, the primary consideration of all citizens has to be the feelings of downstate Republicans. But you know what, I am in a compromising mood. I would gladly support Senator Simpson's geographical balance Amendment if he and all Republicans agree to repeal the partisan balance provisions.

Senator Dave Lawson says that he will introduce legislation designed to keep foreign laws and lawsuits from intruding on Delaware's court system. And the legislation will naturally have a teabag Republican name, since the threat the legislation is addressing only exists in the fever dreams of teabag Republicans watching Fox News.