General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 19, 2016

You didn’t read about it in the ‘Paper of Record’, but the so-called ‘Delaware Competes’ bill flew through the House (only two no votes, Kowalko and Williams) and is now poised for equally-swift consideration in the Senate.  Actually, you didn’t read about it in the daily Session Activity Report, either.  Unless…you scrolled all the way down and saw that the bill had already been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee.  Stealth all the way.  So, I’ve got a legit question to some of our progressive legislators:  Did you vote Yes because you’ve been informed as to how the bill will be paid for?  If so, would you care to share it with us? If not, why did you vote yes? These are not snark questions, I really want to know.  I’m missing something (insert joke here), just don’t know what.

HJR 10 (Bolden), in which Delaware apologizes for its role in slavery, also passed the House. The one ‘no’ vote was John Atkins’ replacement, Rep. Richard Collins.

The Senate does not have an agenda for today.

Here is today’s House Agenda.  The one bill of interest (at least to me) is HS1/HB 219 (M. Smith), which “requires that health insurance offered in this state provide coverage for in vitro fertilization for persons who, along with their partner, are genetic carriers for spinal muscular atrophy. Coverage must be offered to the same extent as all other pregnancy related benefits.” I’m gonna ask the question, and then duck:  Is there no limit to these types of bills? Do they really serve the public interest? I’m as empathetic as the next guy, but these mandates increase everybody’s rates, at least until we get single-payer.

Highlights from this week’s committee meetings, starting with the Senate:

*As expected, the Senate Executive Committee will rush ‘Delaware Competes’ through on Wednesday.

*Yet another Special License plate bill.  This one for professional paramedics and retired professional paramedics. Presumably b/c getting a paycheck just ain’t enough. In the Senate Transportation Committee. Say-y-y, how about a license plate for former legislative staffers?  Many of whom, under the current House leadership, were constantly in the line of fire. The word ‘fire’ meaning whatever you think it means.

*The Delaware Apologizes for Slavery bill is in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  It’ll be interesting (well, not that interesting) to see what Bonini and Lavelle do when the bill is considered on the floor.

A serious minimum wage increase bill will be considered on Thursday in the Senate Labor & Industrial Committee.  SB 39 (Marshall) increases Delaware’s minimum wage by 50 cents a year each for the next four fiscal years.  It’s really a pretty modest increase, but it’s something that Markell and the Chamber successfully beat back the last time an increase was proposed.  The bill also ties subsequent increases automatically to increases in COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment as determined by Social Security).  We’ll get a chance to see who the real Democrats are. I can think of no reason why those who are willing to throw $22-plus mill annually to businesses with no promise of any return to the state would not support a higher minimum wage to people who truly are struggling to get by.

House committee highlights, all scheduled for Wednesday:

The House Business Lapdog Committee considers the latest special interest legislation being pushed by Total Wines.  The bill expands the permissible hours of operation for liquor stores during the months of October through December.  The stated reason is for the ‘convenience’ of customers.  Fine, I have no problem with that. The problem is that the same people pushing for this are the strongest opponents of legislation permitting sale of alcoholic beverages in, say, grocery stores.  Granting licenses to such stores would increase revenue to the state’s coffers.  Prospective licensees would be willing to pay a huge licensing fee in exchange for being granted the right to offer beer and wine. Plus, what is more convenient than picking up a bottle of wine along with the fixin’s for dinner?  Gov. Markell proposed this back in 2009 when the state’s finances were as dire as…they are now.  I think it’s time to reconsider the proposal.

Interesting bill in the House Education Committee.  HB 107 (Williams) ‘articulates the principle that local school districts and school boards should have the authority to select their own leaders and staff from a pool of qualified applicants. These are decisions best left at the local level rather than imposed by a central authority.’

Whoa! Check this out.  On the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee Agenda: “Brief presentation on fantasy football and betting, presented by representatives for the DraftKings”.  You mean the Draft Kings that blanketed the airwaves with ads for its daily fantasy contests, and then had a bunch of in-house winners trading on inside information? THIS Draft Kings?  Anybody with a brain can see that this is gambling by another name.  The question is, will it matter to Delaware’s legislators? Oh, did I mention that the committee chair is one Charles Potter?  Stay diligent, my friends.

The Pete ‘n Val Committee (aka House Administration) are scheduled to consider bills by two of its mortal enemies.  SB 26 (Peterson) ‘provides for recording and maintaining a record of all deliberations made by public bodies during public hearings, including any discussion made “off the record.”  The bill passed the Senate by unanimous vote and has been languishing in committee since April 22, 2015 for no good reason.  HB 167 (Williams) appears to be a response to the piss-poor job the Department of Elections has done when it comes to collecting fines for campaign violations.

I really like HB 221 (Lynn), which ‘extends the statute of limitations for certain civil claims relating to heinous human rights abuses to 10 years. It allows survivors more time to file claims for assault, battery, or wrongful death in Delaware state courts, provided their claims are based on acts of trafficking, genocide, torture, or crimes against humanity’.  House Judiciary Committee.

That’s it for  now. Back Thursday with an update and perhaps a preview of the State of the State Address, depending on the state of my stomach and its tolerance for empty platitudes.