Speaker Pete has given the D Caucus their marching orders: Pass HB 240, don’t dare deviate. Those who deviate will be marched up to the Governor’s office for a one-on-one with The Kingfish The Jellyfish.
There are some progressive legislators who strongly believe that those least able to afford it are being inordinately impacted by the tax hikes and the reduction of deductions (ah, that felt good) while the wealthy once again skate. No means testing on anything, not even the Senior Tax rollback. Pete has made clear that there will not be an added second top rate. The LLC bill sits in limbo. (Whenever I get depressed or angry, I find that music is the best antidote, especially music like that. My links are gifts to you. Please click on them. Now bolded for your convenience.)
Per usual, the Leaders are counting on ordinary people to beg that HB 240 be passed to restore cuts while knowing all-too-well that said leaders have crafted a proposal that places most of the shared sacrifice on those same ordinary people. Utterly cynical.
And, yes, lots of stuff that should be considered in separate bills is being crammed into the Budget Bill Epilog Language–including legislation permitting school districts to raise taxes w/o referenda.
BTW, and this will be the subject of a future article, it appears that the State has failed to collect a significant amount of taxes owed to it for years–largely under the stewardship of Tommy (Hey, guys, I’m Nancy’s kid!) Cook. Rick Geisenberger, the current Finance Secretary and one of the more capable officials we have, is working to address this, but some of that money is gone forever. But, hey, at least the Cooks kept it all in the family. Nepotism sucks.
Oh, and Connie is correct:
Also- epilogue language- the transportation fund for Charters– STILL THERE! Also- $7 million for Charters. All this while forcing districts to use the match tax.
Meaning, while JFC gouges public education and flatlines grants-in-aid, charters are held harmless. They’re almost as sacrosanct as state cops.
In other words, ex-state cop Speaker Pete expects progressives to fall in line so he can cut a bad deal with the Rethugs. Some things never change. And won’t until there is new leadership in the House.
Deep Cleansing Breath.
John Carney and the Chamber will get their Public/Private Partnership. HB 226 (B. Short), which eliminates DEDO and gives a non-state agency the right to disseminate public funds in its stead, passed the Senate yesterday and heads to the Governor. Only Senators McBride and Townsend voted no. Mark my words (e-clip and save), it is inevitable that some scandal will result from this giving away of state dollars by a group of business people operating a non-public agency.
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.
And, like clockwork, we have today’s House Agenda. More accurately, House Agendas. You will note that the bills in the revenue package, including HB 240, are right up near the top. Excluding, of course, Rep. Kowalko’s bill establishing two top rates and Rep. Kowalko’s bill charging a modest fee increase for LLC’s. The question becomes, will all D’s fall in line, or will Pete have to troll for R votes, or will there be lengthy caucuses while negotiations continue? The D’s can pass the revenue bills in the House if all D’s stick together. The questions are: Will they and should they? I understand that there will be a couple of progressive amendments introduced to HB 240, let’s see if leadership lets them through. If so, maybe crisis averted. If not…
Today’s Senate Agenda features the Coastal Zone Permit Conversion Act. It appears that most of the opposition to this Act has dissipated in light of the amendments that have been passed and placed with this bill. This bill is clearly far less than the Chamber and the serial polluters wanted. Having said that, once you open it up…it never gets closed again. Will future legislatures withstand the inevitable pressures to allow additional despoiling in the Coastal Zone? If past is prologue, the answer is no.
It looks like Fan Duel and Draft Kings must be spreading around some campaign cash. There is no other explanation for HB 249 (Potter) appearing on today’s agenda. Well, yes there is. Perhaps the senators don’t read Delaware Liberal. No, that can’t be.
Total Wines will also receive its nearly-annual sinecure from Rep. Heffernan in the form of HB 166, which permits the would-be alcohol monopolists (The Trone Family) to be open on Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. Not that it upsets me, but it is special interest legislation. Just thought you’d like to know.
What happens today will in large measure determine what happens tomorrow. Either the revenue bills will be shipped off to the Senate, or there will be drama in the House as we head into June 30/July 1.
Tune in tomorrow.