Day: June 22, 2016

Something rare: An important bill passes and goes to the Governor.  And the sponsors threaded the needle with this one. HB 325 (Osienski), which ends the ridiculous practice of automatically granting a gun permit if a criminal background check cannot be completed in three (!) days, barely passed the Senate with a Senate Amendment, and barely passed the House for a second time.  It now goes to the Governor.  For some reason, the bleeping legislative information system no longer enables me to provide a direct link to the roll calls.  So let me point out that, in the Senate, one R voted for the bill (Cloutier) and one D voted against the bill (Ennis).  In the House, not a single R voted for the bill, and the following D's (remember their names) voted against the bill:  Andria Bennett, Lumpy Carson, Mike Mulrooney, and Trey Paradee. Oh, and yet another important bill heads to the Governor.  SS1/SB 163 (Peterson) removes the requirement that those convicted of three non-violent felonies ('Three Strikes and You're Out') automatically be sentenced to life in prison.  Several R's voted yes during yesterday's House vote, and I salute them:  Hensley, Miro, Ramone, D. Short, and Yearick.  Only one D voted no: Lumpy Carson. Oh, and one notable bill was defeated or, more accurately, didn't achieve a 2/3 supermajority vote. SB 262 (Townsend)  would have created a regulatory framework for the Uber and Lyft networks, among others. Specifically, the bill would seek  'to ensure the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness of rides provided by Transportation Network Company Drivers within the State of Delaware and to preserve and enhance access to these important transportation options for residents and visitors to the State.'  The bill had 13 yes (the 12 D's plus Cloutier) and 8 no. One vote short of a 2/3 majority. Guess which side is getting those campaign contributions.