What Do You Want To See The Delaware State Senate Address Next Year?
For probably the first time in the history of Delaware, the Delaware State Senate has progressive leadership, and more than enough progressive senators to tackle longstanding issues that have been kept on the backburner for years.
Keep in mind that, if they try to do everything at once, they may end up getting little done. However, despite the fact that the Kop Troika kontrols the House leadership, bear in mind that the House D Caucus itself is much more progressive this year, and not even the leaders can kill all progressive initiatives. Neither, for that matter, can John Carney. Not even, says I, pot legalization. He’s even made a couple of noises towards bowing to the inevitable. The police, OTOH…
So, which measures do you want the Senate to take up this year? I’ve got some thoughts of my own, but I want the senators to hear yours.
You helped to elect them. Tell them. They’ll listen.
I would love to see them abolish the Smarter Balanced Assessment for all-time from Delaware education. Hey, a guy can dream, right? Marijuana legalization should’ve happened years ago.
Kudos, Kevin. Do away with all but NEAP.
The question become how do we get rid of the fame Kop Troika or perhaps neuter their power. As ever I have zero faith in the Delaware electorate to wake up and do what is needed.
Gun control, while we’re still untainted by a mass hs shooting in DE; Police reform, cameras? Systemic racism reform, making generational wealth available to more children. Transparency, making DE government more transparent. Appropriate regulation of utility providers, moving services like internet under a utility regulatory framework, especially pricing and the uber annoying fees. Same with wireless provision, like the regs on old ma bell. Reform Administrative training and evaluations. End standardized testing except for NEAP.
Tax reform. Add more higher end brackets, to make the framework more progressive, generating necessary revenue for services Delawareans want.
I second this.
Hopefully there will be a bill introduced – and passed – to advance the progressive goal of increasing clean energy use. The legislation should have come up last year but didn’t because of the limited nature of the session. The utilities were able to sneakily convince state regulators to get rid of an incentive program for homeowners to install solar panels. The bill would reinstate the “SREC” program, which is even more important because the federal tax incentives will go away next year. Joe Biden is committed to restoring the federal incentives, but who knows what Moscow Mitch will go along with.
I’m with Paul on gun control. Every sale must be background checked, person to person, gun show, and gun shop, all of them. Large capacity magazines and assault type weapons must be banned.
Top priority for me: End open carry.
Please don’t give me the song and dance “what about the hunters”. No hunter needs an assault style weapon and large magazine for legitimate hunting. If skilled hunters can take large game with bow and arrow any moderately skilled legitimate hunter should be well able to take their prey with shotgun or rifle.
The second amendment has nothing to do with hunting
The second amendment means whatever the SCOTUS says it means. And it has said it means that gun controls are legal.
Require counties to perform regular equitable property reassessments:
“Delaware is one of just a half-dozen states that does not require regular, comprehensive updates to property values used for taxing purposes, allowing county officials to avoid the politically unpopular process for decades.”
“Gov. John Carney has previously said a reassessment is needed, but on Thursday his spokesman declined to comment on whether he has been part of discussions with the counties on a statewide policy, or whether he would support a bill requiring property values to be updated periodically.”
Put an end to civil forfeitures. The bill was passed ostensibly as a means of putting drug kingpins out of business. Instead, the police have used it as a tool to steal stuff from mostly powerless citizens, often using the ‘I smell pot’ canard to toss someone’s belongings. Police steal stuff and, in Delaware, all the proceeds from the thefts go to–law enforcement.
Do something to get dark money out of DE politics. It is fucking absurd.
Civil asset forfeiture without a criminal conviction has to go. And as long as it exists, enforce the law requiring police to report how much is seized and how that money is spent. Make police discipline reports and arrest reports public.