Neither the House nor the Senate have agendas today. At 2 p.m. , we’ll find out whether Gov. Carney has an agenda for this session and, if so, whether there’s any substance to it. We know what he has to address–the disaster that is the state’s corrections system, the mess that is our state’s public education system, and the state’s ongoing economic malaise.
However, what does he want to do? Yes, he signed off on paid family leave for state employees, but that is/was a legislative initiative that he ultimately embraced. So, does he want to throw even more economic incentives at the Fortunate Few? Will he even consider a minimum wage hike? Will he promote anything that addresses Delaware’s economic inequities? Will he embrace the Public Advocate’s call for consumers to benefit from Trump’s gift to the public utilities? Actually, I have an answer to that last question, and it’s good news:
DOVER – The Delaware Public Service Commission yesterday approved a petition from the state’s Public Advocate to ensure that consumers will receive the benefits of any savings realized by regulated Delaware utilities under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
The order directs each regulated utility to estimate the impact of the new tax scheme on the utility’s cost of service, and to propose procedures for reducing rates to reflect those impacts on or before March 31, 2018.
Gee, I might have to bring back the MVP Award next year just to make sure that the Public Advocate’s name is on the list.
Back to Carney. Will he demonstrate anything that could be construed as a vision for our state’s future? We’ll post the address as soon as we get it. Until then, what would you like to see him discuss?
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report. While committee reports aren’t generally read into the record until each chamber reconvenes, I can tell you that the Rethugs’ thinly-veiled attempt to pass Right To Work For Less In Sussex County did not make it out of committee. Both paid family leave for state employees and Rep. K. Williams financial disclosure requirements for elected officials did make it out of the House Administration Committee.
Check back later today as we scope out the State of The State.