General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 24, 2015

The Del-Tech stench grows fouler by the hour.  Despite the fact that no public notice was given, as required by Senate rules, the Senate Finance Commitee (illegally) met today and voted the Del-Tech Relief Act out of committee.  It’s on today’s agenda, just as it was on yesterday’s agenda.  The difference being that only one Senate rule was violated instead of the two rules that were violated in order for it to be placed on yesterday’s agenda. Make no mistake. The committee met because of what we wrote here yesterday.  They’re gonna try to railroad this bill through, and every homeowner will pay w/o having any say over the so-called ‘Community College Infrastructure Fund’.

As Al Mascitti pointed out yesterday, this is not the first time this exact same scheme has been proposed by Del-Tech. When Lonnie George did it, he at least announced the legislation in January, which gave legislators and the public enough (or, for those of you supported it, too much) time to reject it for the blatant rip-off it was.  It’s no coincidence that Mark Brainard and the bill’s supporters waited until June 11 to introduce the bill and try to sneak it through w/o any public input. The bill still sucks. As Al also pointed out, tuition at Del-Tech is far below the national average, and a very modest increase in that tuition would pay for this scheme w/o bilking homeowners who have no interest in Del-Tech and have no idea they’re about to be bilked. I call on many of the fine legislators who inexplicably have signed onto this bill to put the brakes on this cynical maneuver.

The Senate defeated the second leg of a constitutional amendment that would have prohibited bail for certain violent offenses other than murder.  The bill required a 2/3 majority, and didn’t muster a simple majority, 7 Y, 11 N, and 3 NV. Didn’t I tell you that the second (and final) leg was always tougher? I’m glad that SB 126(Ennis) was defeated. Get this: The bill would have ‘created a presumption’  that “a covered firefighter who has heart disease, hypertension, lung disease or certain cancers contracted the occupational disease arising out of and in the course of actions in the line of duty.”  Uh, sure. Because they had to be occupational diseases, right?

Oh, jeezus. The House passed the opt-out bill, but added an amendment removing the provision that 11th graders may opt-out as well.  The bill now returns to the Senate where it will hopefully receive final approval.

Here’s yesterday’s Session Activity Report.

Today’s committee meetings are not as chockful o’ bills as I might have suspected. I think it’s because leaders in each chamber made every effort to get committees to clear as many of each chamber’s own bills in order to provide enough time for consideration in both houses. Of course, some bills will be introduced and passed by waiving the rules, and they’re often the bills to fear the most. Anyway, today I will simply focus on house bills in house committees and senate bills in senate committees. I’ll assume that I will have previously covered any bills of interest that have passed one house and moved to the other.

House Committee highlights:

*Hmmm, more hootch at auto races. What could possibly go wrong? In the Business Lapdog Committee.

*Hoo boy, those downstaters are at it again.  Hey, why not elect the members of the Sussex Tech School Board instead of having the Governor appoint them? What a distinguished crew that would be. Education Committee.

Senate Committee highlights:

*Hmmm (I know, I find I use that term more as sessions near the end), here’s yet another downstate-inspired bill. The bill appears designed to provide more compensation from the state to Kent and Sussex Counties for properties owned by the State. Community/County Affairs Committee.

*Loads of nominations for the Executive Committee to consider.  You can click on the Session Activity Report above to access the entire list.

* When it comes to public health, Sen. Bethany Hall-Long has been an invaluable asset to people who need services. Both SB 142 and SB 148 would expand urgent and preventative dental care to Medicaid recipients under certain circumstances. In the Health & Social Services Committee.

Sen. Harris McDowell holds the dubious distinction of sponsoring both the worst bill (the Del-Tech cash grab) and the best bill on today’s Senate Agenda. SB 130:

defines criteria for any local government to promote economic development by entering into an agreement with the Department of Transportation to create transit-oriented development districts, called “Complete Community Enterprise Districts”. Complete Community Enterprise Districts may be designated in downtown or urban core areas, traditional towns or villages, or regional activity centers. They are characterized by their mix of land uses, efficient use of public infrastructure, efficient use of public services and multiple modes of public transportation combined with environmentally friendly private transportation.

I love this bill. It has bipartisan support (as opposed to the Del-Tech cash grab which, truth be told, other than Mike Ramone, appears to be a Democratic inside job), and is progressive in that it can (figuratively) pave the way for a future that is both economically and environmentally friendly.

Finally, I can’t help but highlight a brand new bill which raises this question: “What the bleep are they thinking?”

Ladeez and gentlemen, may I introduce to you HB 207(Bolden), which is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would, wait for it, ‘…increase the term of office for members of the House of Representatives to four years and members of the Senate to six years.‘  Yes, we’re talking the Delaware General Assembly, meaning that, while our Congress Critter is elected every two years, our state reps would only have to face the voters every four years.  And our State Senators could be even more aloof from their constituents.  I have a serious question: With the (inexplicable) exception of Rep. Peterman, who has been absent for virtually this entire session, the other sponsors are from the City of Wilmington.  Cassandra, or someone, any idea why this appears to be an idea that appeals virtually solely to members of the city delegation? This is a serious question and I have no answer.  The bill’s not going anywhere, of course.  Just trying to understand the mindset of the sponsors.

OK, kids, have at it!