John Carney, The Chamber, and ??: The Unholy Trinity

Filed in Delaware by on May 7, 2019

The Unholy Trinity that conspires to keep Delaware economic development efforts, partially funded by millions of dollars in state revenue, from the prying eyes of the public.

I’ll get to the ??’s in just a second. We can add to this list all of the legislators who voted for the creation of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, which exempted this new public/private agency from FOIA requirements.

Meaning, we don’t know how our money is being spent…except we do know how they’re spending SOME of that money.

Enough so that I can introduce the Delaware Prosperity Partnership as the third member of the Unholy Trinity.

Check out the Chamber’s announcement of its upcoming End-Of-Session Legislative Brunch.

You will no doubt notice that, yes, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership is one of only three ‘Gold Sponsors’ for the event, along with Bank of America, and PSEG Nuclear LLC.  Do you think it’s OK for this FOIA-exempted body to spend public money to prop up the Chamber’s legislative agenda? I don’t.  Carney was utterly clueless (willfully so, as many of you know that he has been ‘honored’ with an award from the Chamber) when he mumbled the Chamber’s talking points about why these giveaways had to take place far from the public eye.  Members of the General Assembly were too busy pocketing campaign contributions and/or, in the case of House sponsor (and original ‘partnership’ member) Bryon ‘Mimbo’ Short, polishing up his resume for his post-legislative lobbying gig.

Progressive legislators should sponsor a bill removing the FOIA exemption. By backing the Chamber’s lobbying activities, the so-called ‘partnership’ has demonstrated that it’s not an honest broker. Delaware is the Secrecy State. This is one of the latest manifestations of such secrecy. Let the sunshine in. Oh, the Chamber e-mail is below:

You’ve heard the talk, now join the conversation…

 

 

Thursday, June 6, 2019

10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

 

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

1131 North DuPont Highway

Ballroom C 

Dover, DE 19903

PRESENTED BY:

 

 

We find ourselves, year after year, facing budget deficits that underscore a fundamentally broken system and legislative remedies that are too often short sighted. We face critical structural problems that need to be dealt with today, not just pushed into another fiscal year. Our discussion will be focused on issues that must be addressed now.

 

As in years past, we will also hear from the Senate President Pro Tempore, David McBride, and Speaker of the House, Peter Schwartzkopf, who will discuss the current state of affairs in the 150th General Assembly as we near the end of the legislative session.

 

DSCC Members: $75

Future Members: $85

 

 

THANK YOU SPONSORS:

 

Gold:

 

 

 

 

 

Silver:

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media:

 

 

About the Author ()

Comments (4)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. jason330 says:

    “We find ourselves, year after year, facing budget deficits that underscore a fundamentally broken system and legislative remedies that are too often short sighted. We face critical structural problems that need to be dealt with today, not just pushed into another fiscal year. Our discussion will be focused on issues that must be addressed now.”

    I have a feeling that the remedy for these pressing issues isn’t going to be an additional tax bracket.

  2. bamboozer says:

    There should never be an exemption from FOIA, it’s an invitation to games and dirty dealing if ever there was one. By all means, introduce legislation to remove the exemption, and then go after all politicians who vote against it.

    • jason330 says:

      And that they are using taxpayer money to fund a Chamber public relations campaign IN THE OPEN, you can imagine what is happening behind closed doors.

  3. What were you thinking says:

    I thought Markell fixed that problem, ooops he did nothing.

    Delaware has not economic plan just an agenda to pander for Democratic voters.