General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 23, 2017
“Shared Sacrifice”.
Does that phrase sound familiar? It is the phrase that Gov. Jack Markell used during the economic crisis of 2008 and beyond. It meant that all Delawareans would have to share in the pain in order lift Delaware out of the economic recession.
It is the exact same phrase that Gov. Carney has used to preview the budget proposal he will unveil today.
There is, I might point out, information we have now that we didn’t have then. We now know that all of the benefits derived from Delaware’s economic recovery since 2008 have gone to the 1% of Delaware’s wealthiest, and ONLY to the I% of Delaware’s wealthiest. Everybody else is worse off or, at best, no better off, than they were in 2008.
So, will Carney’s budget reflect this fact, and will those who benefited disproportionately actually be asked to do their bit in the name of ‘shared sacrifice’? I’ll be watching. Rep. Kowalko’s proposal for two new tax brackets is fair and, so far, is the only proposal I’ve seen that even tries to rectify the economic disparity that has taken place since 2008.
We’ll have our answer later today. Not getting my hopes up.
It appears that the Russians may have hacked Delaware’s Legislative Information System. It hasn’t been updated since yesterday around noon. Which is not typical. If it gets updated, I’ll give a full report on what happened and what’s supposed to happen.. Until then…
OK, I’ve contorted myself and dug up a Senate Agenda for today, although it cannot be found under ‘Senate Agenda’. It consists of two House bills. More to come?
Annnd, we finally have the House Agenda.
We also have a Daily Activity Report, although it’s incomplete as several committee reports have not been posted.
“Shared sacrifice” – Which Delaware progressives will have the courage to condition their vote for this budget on tax increases for upper brackets and franchise tax?
@Puck: Kowalko, and no one else. The rest will shake their heads and glumly say “this was the best we could do.”
We need 5 or 6 Dems pushing Carney from the left but we will be lucky to get even three. Maybe Baumbach, maybe Matthews … as you can see, I’m reaching. That’s not nearly enough to keep Carney from doing the bidding of the state chamber and the Chateau Country survivors.
First we must survive Trump, add Carney to that list as well as he’s actually more of a corporate stooge than Markell. And you didn’t think that was possible.
“There is, I might point out, information we have now that we didn’t have then. We now know that all of the benefits derived from Delaware’s economic recovery since 2008 have gone to the 1% of Delaware’s wealthiest, and ONLY to the I% of Delaware’s wealthiest. Everybody else is worse off or, at best, no better off, than they were in 2008.”
And, not an evil Republican in sight.
Markell’s budget proposal in January will prove to be more progressive than what Carney proposes today, especially if Carney follows thru on his statement that the plan to fill the budget gap will be half budget cuts and half new revenue. Jack relied more on new revenue and less on cuts (though I would have liked to see even more new revenue with a new income tax bracket). If Carney really does propose cutting approximately $180 million from the budget, it is going to hurt a lot of middle class or poor folks who progressives want to help and will show that he spent way too much time with Colin Bonini at Trump’s inauguration.
Mediawatch: I’d add Kim Williams, David Bentz, Ed Osienski, and Sean Lynn to the list on the House side. Also, JJ Johnson and maybe (?) some of the city reps. It’s not an insignificant bloc. Even Jaques on income distribution.
Carney will have no problem getting Republican votes for a budget that has no tax increases and screws the poor and the working class hard enough.
ElSom — OK, I’ll agree that those you named can apply budget pressure from the left.
But the real question is whether they, like the House Freedom Caucus threatens to do with Trumpcare today, will actually block passage of a budget they don’t agree with.
A) Raise Rt1 tolls for out of state drivers – $1/DE and $3/ out of state weekdays
$2/DE and $5/out of state weekend
B) rental tax from 8% to 9.5% for vacation and short term rentals
C) DOE is dismantled along with its federal oversight as a regulatory agency and is built as a pure assistance agency to the schools. Staffing consists of specialists, paras, and teachers to provide assistance in needed schools. Staff there with teaching certificates can remain in the department
D) Car registration fees up 15%
E) Get rid of state library. it can be absorbed by the county libraries
F) State employees/officials/politicians making more than $60k a year pay an additional 25% towards benefits
G) State retirees with a pension more than $50k a year and married state retirees with $75k or more in pension also pay at least 25% more in benefits.
H) At $100k of AGI an additional 10bps of income tax, $200k = 20 bps, $300k = 30bps, etc. if you make over a million the income tax is an additional 1%
I) Any politician wanting to provide funds for private job growth needs to be bonded and personally responsible for paying back 10% of the funds provided should that private institution not meet its requirements (including tax bills)
J) No Lt. Governor office
Mediawatch, they won’t do that. But, two years ago, there were several progressive positions that were supposed to be part of the budget negotiation, including an increase in the incorporation fees.
Pistol Pete Schwartzkopf swaggered down the Hall and cut his own deal (with the tacit support of Markell) with the Senate R’s and gave the finger to progressives.
It’s for sure something that the grassroots should be looking at when they consider primary challenges.
Arthur,
While you’re at it, let’s admit that the Department of Correction has failed miserably at “correction,” disband the agency and let all the inmates out. Begin the reform by starting over.
@Arthur: In other words, anybody and everybody but you should pay more, and yet it still wouldn’t raise as much money as eliminating the property tax break for seniors.
I’ll bet you’re a big hit at parties.
El Som — exactly. They start out talking a good game but they can’t convince the governor and the speaker to start acting like true Democrats.