General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 16, 2022

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 16, 2022

Gun bills are in the cross-hairs today.  Man, when you look at the bills the House has sent over to the Senate, you can’t ignore the exceptions in them that make them thin gruel indeed.

HB 450 (Longhurst), which purports to ‘prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, or transport of assault weapons in Delaware’, includes so many exceptions as to render it almost useless.  As in the following:

One exception is that the Act does not prohibit the possession and transport of firearms that were lawfully possessed or purchased before the effective date of this Act; although for these firearms there are certain restrictions relating to their possession and transport after the effective date of this Act. There are also exceptions for law-enforcement and military personnel in the course of their official duties, and a limited exception for retired law-enforcement personnel. Finally, a person lawfully in possession of an assault weapon prior to the passage of this Act may lawfully transfer the weapon to a member of their family, through inheritance or otherwise.

HB 451 (Schwartzkopf) could well increase firearms offenses.  Or, to be more precise, to legalize gun offenses.  HA 8 is literally one of the worst amendments to any bill that I’ve ever seen.  It guts the bill and creates in essence a backdoor ‘stand-your-ground’ bill in Delaware.  For people under the age of 21 no less.  If the Senate does not remove this from the bill via amendment, they will have proven derelict in their duty.

The House has SS1/SB 6 (Sokola) on the Agenda.  Will they once again cut the legs out from under it as they did last year?

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.   First, let’s talk about a two-fer from Sen. Darius Brown. His special interest bill on behalf of at least one real estate agent passed unanimously.  This often happens near the end of session when bills like this don’t get the scrutiny they deserve.  He also introduced a bill giving tax-exempt status to the Riverfront Development Corporation. Specifically, the properties they own.  You know, the entity that created a platform for Mayor Mike to become Mayor Mike and to hand tens of millions of dollars to Buccini/Pollin.  House prime sponsor?  Stephanie Bolden.

John Kowalko’s IG bill cleared the House Administration Committee.  HB 220 (Wilson-Anton) is scheduled to be considered in another House Administration Committee meeting today.  As is HB 366 (Morrison).

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.  Gonna be a long session.  In addition to six gun bills, including this monstrosity from Sen. Pettyjohn, we’ve got vote by mail.  Sen. Bonini has threatened/promised to waste everybody’s time by speaking early and often today about this existential ‘threat to democracy as we know it.’   I predict he’s gonna cry. For those of you unfamiliar with Delaware legislative proceedings, once a certain number of legislators stand to call for an end to debate, a roll call to end debate will be taken.  Meaning, from a practical sense, there is no true filibuster in Delaware.   Doesn’t mean he won’t introduce a bleepload of amendments, though…

Today’s House Agenda is less notable, albeit lengthy.  Allow me to point out that Lumpy Carson’s whitewash of possible public health dangers at a poultry plant has generously been placed on a Consent Agenda by Speaker Pete.  Again, you’ve got to pay close attention to bills like this that invariably show up near the end of session when everybody’s suffering from bill fatigue.

Me? Not suffering from fatigue.  Looking forward to tomorrow’s Political Weekly.  Lotsa news/lotsa snark.

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  1. Arthur says:

    Why are they even called bills since what is voted on are the amendments? just call them what they are – the watereddowns.

  2. bamboozer says:

    A song, a dance and watch the politicians prance as if something is being done, but we all know nothing of consequence will be done. This is mere window dressing and nothing more in the grand tradition of political cowardice.

    • Certainly the case on police reform. If you go back to all that grandstanding after the police killing of George Floyd, and you see how quickly the General Assembly and, more particularly, the Kop Kabal, buried any chance for reform, you understand why the Kabal must be killed.

  3. Bonini has filed something like 25 AMENDMENTS with the vote by mail bill.

  4. Another Mike says:

    Bonini is doing everything he can to gum up the entire Senate today. He’s objecting to bills even being considered, forcing a roll call just to consider each bill, and wants bills read in their entirety.

    For example, on SB268, which has to do with using space in administrative offices of courts, had to go through this bullshit. The vote to hear the bill passed, 18-3, with Bonini, Richardson and Lawson voting no. Then there was a move to table by Bonini. They had to do a roll call on that. It failed, 3-18. Bonini then moved to defer the bill, and another roll call was necessary. The same 3 miscreants voted yes. Finally, they voted on the bill. Four votes for a noncontroversial bill. And Bonini voted for the bill, as did all 21 senators.

    This is going to happen with every piece of legislation.

    And Bonini thinks people would elect him governor?

    • Bonini’s just trying to get reelected. Won’t be easy. Three-way primary that figures to be brutal. I think the D’s should find a candidate. Might be able to pick up the pieces.

      • Jason330 says:

        This is the modern GOP in miniature. It’s all performance art and red meat for the base.

  5. Bonini is making an utter mockery of the legislative process. And himself. Motions to table amendments, motions to table bills.

    I think the Senate should have run SB 320 first, bit the bullet, and then moved on.