Fact: Bushweller is a Horrible Person
Delaware Public Radio is reporting that Bushweller didn’t vote on minimum wage because he wants to trade his vote for Casino Welfare. What a dick.
Legislation hiking Delaware’s minimum wage failed in state Senate Tuesday by one vote. But passing tax relief for casinos could revive the bill’s prospects.
Legislation sponsored by Democratic State Sen. Robert Marshall would raise the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 an hour to $8.75 an hour starting this fall and take it to $9.25 in October 2019.
But because every Republican senator opposed the bill, Marshall needed every Democratic vote and Dover-area State Sen. Brian Bushweller choose not to vote.
Bushweller, a longtime champion for the casino industry, said it’s unfair for the state to take 43 percent of the revenue the three casinos generate. Increasing the minimum wage on top of that could drive a casino out of business. So he said he’ll trade his vote on the minimum wage for casino tax relief.
Yeah, he’s the sort of top-flight talent Carper Democrats go for. From Wikipedia:
Raised in New York, Bushweller received an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Ulster County Community College, a B.A. in Music from Oklahoma City University, an A.M. in Education from Stanford University in 1970, and an M.A. in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University.
Originally a junior high school music teacher at a public school and an elementary school teacher at a Christian school, Bushweller became a labor union official in Florida and then New York. He moved to Dover, Delaware when he was given a job with the Delaware State Education Association union.
Bushweller left the union in 1993 when Governor Tom Carper hired him as his Legislative Liaison. Five years later, Carper appointed him Secretary of the Department of Public Safety. When Carper was elected to the United States Senate in 2000, Bushweller became his State Director until leaving the position in 2007 to launch his campaign for the Delaware Senate.
Basically, once he left music education, he’s never held a job he’s been qualified for.
What kind of fuckwad appoints a music teacher to head the Dept. of Public Safety? A Carper fuckwad.
Looks like someone has been taking kick backs from Dover Downs….Time to launch and investigation !!
Bushweller’s last stand?
Dover Downs’ last stand?
After Bushweller retires, who can Dover Downs count on for such leverage?
If Bushweller thinks a boost in the minimum wage would kill Dover Downs, maybe he should amend the minimum wage bill so that casino operators would not be affected.
Problem solved … until everyone working at the casinos goes to work across the street for a buck an hour more.
As you said … what a dick!
When Dover Downs is crying about not haivng money, keep in mind that Dover Downs Executive compensation has gone up 25% in the past four years.
I’ve known Bushweller for a long, long time.
I have no idea what he stands for.
Dover Downs execs now pocket $1.4 million a year.
@jason: But they could earn much more in the private sector!
You’ll notice that, despite their “losses,” Dover Downs never talks about selling out. If they put their business up for sale and nobody puts in a bid, then I’ll believe they’re in financial trouble. I’m not holding my breath.
I guess being able to brazenly carp about how you are losing money and need Government help to survivie the rigors of monolopy capitalisim takes some sort of talent.
The question is how much of the $1.4 million did Bushweller pocket from Dover Downs…..
The irony being that it’s the government that gave DD, for free, the casino license in the first place.
Bushweller ought to STFU and be glad the state doesn’t decide to run the casinos itself. It would certainly give lawmakers more patronage jobs to hand out.
DoverDem- Bushweller was cheap to buy. Probably less than $10,000 over a number of election cycles. I think the big pay off comes on his first post-elective office job.
The Dover Downs does what other big companies do, they split their business up into separate companies. Dover Motor Sports hosts the car races and events like Firefly, the profits from those events are kept in a separate pot from the casino business. When the Sheraton in Dover became DelState housing, all of the conferences, events and hotel business from the Sheraton went to the Dover Downs, so it baffles me that the hotel isn’t making money, their ballrooms and conference rooms are booked solid, unless the hotel money is also kept in a separate pot from the casino money. But that’s how it’s done, downplay the profits and wail about your sliver of losses.
Not a very impressive career resume. It really does show how he has lived off the system his whole life. You are probably right headed for a six figure job next at Dover Downs to do nothing as usual.
Lost by one vote! Bushweller’s vote. interesting Carper keeps these cats closer and closer as he grooms them for years ie. the pot dispensary cop. Can we please spend on election cycle and get these cretins out of our government.
Millions for education, the arts, the homeless and damn near any other group you can think of other than the conniving management of Dover Downs. How long have we been playing this game? Knew that once they got a pay off they’d be back for more, repeatedly.
I’m sure this was a very coordinated vote on the Dem side that ensured the bill didn’t pass – allowing Bushweller to be the fall guy since he’s leaving. Small business swear the end is coming if they have to pay more to their workers and they are all cozy with our dem leaders. Nicole Poore especially (the anti-min wage personal photographer) – there is no doubt in my mind that this worked out the way she wanted.