General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, June 10, 2021
Today’s the day that marijuana legalization comes to the House floor. It’s likely to be a lo-o-o-ng day. After all, it’s a lo-o-o-ng bill. HB 150 (Osienski) already has ten pre-filed amendments to wade through. There could well be more, including perhaps an omnibus amendment that incorporates whatever is needed to get enough votes for passage. Four have been filed by the prime sponsor. It appears that none of the amendments are ‘killer’ amendments designed to deep-six the bill. That, at least, encourages me. I know that there are a lot of supporters of this bill who read this blog. What do you think about the amendments?
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report. I neglected to mention SS1/SB 93 (Poore) in yesterday’s preview. It passed the Senate unanimously, and I think it’s an excellent bill. It ‘provides protections for consumers in connection with contracts with automatic renewal provisions. Multiple states have enacted laws regulating the automatic renewals of contracts, often described as “evergreen” clauses. These state laws are aimed at protecting consumers from unknowingly entering into these types of agreements by requiring that evergreen clauses be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner and that sellers of such contracts provide notice to consumers about an upcoming renewal. This Act also requires sellers of such contracts to provide consumers with a means to cancel the contract that is at least as easy to use as the means available to sign up for the contract’.
The much-discussed (in yesterday’s Comments thread) SB 155 (Gay) is on today’s Senate Agenda. While there has been a pre-filed amendment placed with the bill, it might make sense to delay consideration of the bill until the concerns that have been raised are addressed. There are some excellent bills set for consideration today, including SB 147, SB 148, and SB 2.
Having said that, the real action is in the House today. Not only will HB 150 be considered, but we will see yet another attempt to pass HB 75 (Bentz), the second leg of a Constitutional amendment ‘that would eliminate from the Delaware Constitution the limitations as to when an individual may vote by absentee ballot’. The first leg passed handily, but that was before the Rethuglican Party conjured up The Big Lie and decided that, as a Party, it would seek to keep as many people from voting as possible. In other words, the fate of HB 75 remains in doubt. Will even a single Rethug stand up for democracy? We’ll see.
One final note: Yesterday was the last regularly-scheduled House committee day. There will likely be additional committee meetings, but every legislative day until June 30 will also consider legislation. There’s a lot to consider.
The House has only committees scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, per the agenda
Harold, my point is that voting sessions are now scheduled every day in the House thru the end of session. Until now, the House had previously had one, and sometimes two, committee meeting days a week when the House didn’t even convene.
You’re right, though. There will still be meetings to serve as clearinghouses for bills, especially bills coming over from the other chamber.
I stand corrected. The House will have committee meetings, and ONLY committee meetings, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Harold clearly has better reading comprehension skills than I do.
A amended Senate Agenda just came out. SB 155 has been removed.
Thanks. This bill clearly required more consideration.
As in, either it improves FOIA, or it shouldn’t be run.
It should be noted that if a Republican-dominated state sought to place as many restrictions on voting as Delaware already has, it would be held up as a national disgrace.
It also should be noted that, in spite of such onerous restrictions on the franchise, no Republican has won a statewide election to a meaningful office since the Castle defenestration.
That’s how lame Delaware’s GOP has become — even with restrictions the GOP could only wish for they can’t get within 10 points.
Well then https://twitter.com/MatthewCBittle/status/1403001168867979269
Well, that sucks. Reads more to me of ‘I don’t yet have the votes, I need to regroup’.
Especially since Carney has done all he can to keep it from becoming law.
I’m leaning towards Carney in a Minner/Carney contest for Worst Governor in recent history.
I have two questions I’d like answered by Speaker Pete:
Do you plan to take any action regarding Steve Smyk?
Will the minimum wage bill be on an agenda next week? If not, why not?
I, um, guess that’s THREE questions.
Rethugs kill ‘no-excuse absentee voting’. Not a single R voted for it.
Rep. Longhurst changed her vote from yes to no to enable the bill to be revived procedurally. Someone from the ‘prevailing side’, in this case ‘no’, has to move for the bill to be restored. So she switched so that she can move to restore the bill.
Rethugs in the Senate voted against two incremental, but significant, improvements on police reform. Both SB 147 and 148 passed, 14-7. All D’s, including former state cop Bruce Ennis, voted yes.
All R’s, except for Bonini, voted against legislation that codifies a uniform public school registration process. Bill passed, 15-6.
Ask your legislators if they support legalization. Pretty ironic that the legislators who represent the communities most impacted by illegal weed, the war on drugs and the unfair/unjust application of enforcement efforts are holding this bill up…