Senate Special Session: Tuesday, July 25, 2022
This Special Session has been called by the President Pro-Tempore to initiate action to remove State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness from office.
Here is the Resolution the Senate will likely vote on today. Please note that concurrent action will be required by the House.
Session begins at 3:10 pm. BHL is presiding.
Senator Sokola presents the key resolution for consideration. He points out that the charges were filed in October 2021. At that the time, the Senate called on KMG to voluntarily step down from her position pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. KMG refused. Following her conviction, the Senate leadership called on KMG to step down.. She refused, and instead continued campaigning for reelection. He explains why and how the General Assembly can act. The resolution calls for the Senate and the House to notify the Auditor that it will institute proceedings to remove the Auditor.
Sen. Pettyjohn ‘stands in opposition’ on behalf of the entire Republican Caucus. Because, as of now, ‘this individual is still innocent.’ He submits a Motion To Table the Resolution. Sen. Lopez actually votes. Yes, of course. Darius Brown votes to table. Someone please explain to me why he didn’t get primaried. Motion fails, 7 yes, 13 no, one absent.
Bonini bloviates. I’m listening to this so that you don’t have to. God, he sucks. The question persists, Why are Rethugs so, um, lathered up over protecting KMG?
Sen. Lawson, of all people, quotes Voltaire, “Protect the innocent at all costs.” You know, just like he did when he was in law enforcement.
Roll call on SCR 128: 13 Y, 7 N, 1 Absent (Wilson). Darius Brown voted no. Ernie Lopez, who had a blatant conflict of interest, voted no. Senators with benefits.
Senate recesses at 3:51.
We shall now see what, if anything, the House does.
How can the Republican Caucus position be that she is innocent? Her lawyer never even tried to make that argument.
Woods argued that her guilt didn’t rise to the level of criminality. And a jury rejected EVEN that. And yet, the Republican Caucus is making pretend that the trial never happened. WTF?!?
Because, presumably the judge could throw out the verdicts, or they could be overturned on appeal.
The jury, in Rethugs’ minds, a Kent County jury at that, doesn’t count.
https://twitter.com/merenewman/status/1551671022591549447
Pete when it’s time to do something: 🦗
Pete when it’s time to do nothing: 🙋♂️
“I’ll absolutely NOT carry out my responsibilities as Speaker.”
I’m calling it–e-clip ‘n save: He’s not coming back as Speaker.
Big fan of Voltaire (Candide rocks!), but not these jerks. She’s guilty and needs to go, rapidly. This is yet more crap from the people who have made it an art form.
The Rethugs are probably hoping (in vain) that Kathy Jennings gets in trouble for overzealous prosecution. We KNOW that Speaker Pete hopes the same.
I’ll just say this: Jennings has done something that NO AG in my memory has ever done: Gone after corrupt politicians. She has earned my vote for reelection on that alone.
Trivia question: What TV talk show used a snippet from Leonard Bernstein’s musical score for Candide as their intro music?
Is Dick Cavett still with us, anyway?
Yes. Here’s the theme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj2hkwz-LD0
Anyone have a house whip count on the convicted state auditor? It could be that Pete is gone with or without a vote.
Without breaking a confidence, I’ve been told by a sage head that 3 flips in September, and the entire Kop Kabal is out of leadership.
That’s eminently doable.
Senator Lawson: truly the worst of all possible worlds.
Having listened to today’s proceedings, I respectfully disagree.
It’s Colin Bonini. I don’t give a shit if it’s the RWNJ Gun Momma who beats him–I just want him out so that I never have to hear him again.
I think that Bonini will be beaten by the legacy of one of the original RWNJ’s that 17 day sulky driving Guv, Dave Buckson 🙂
I think Bonini may finish 3rd out of three. An excerpt from a piece in the Delaware State News:
“Sen. Bonini has not participated in the social media back-and-forth between his opponents, though he was called out by Ms. Petters in a post, citing a lack of productivity in the 151st General Assembly.
In her post, Ms. Petters referred to a Delaware State News analysis of legislation introduced in the previous legislative session. The chart showed that Sen. Bonini had introduced eight bills in the session, with all eight failing. Ms. Petters responded to commenters who pointed to the role of the minority party in the legislature, stating that she is the candidate who will “do the legwork” to make sure legislation that benefits her constituents is passed.”
This is a dangerous wish. What’s that old saying about sticking with the devil you know? Colin may not be ideal, but given the choices and knowing would could come out of this district, I’d say he is the safest choice out of three. Unfortunately, he’s not doing the work.
@A: Watching this guy collect a paycheck all these years — funny how that’s one line item of state spending he’s never protested — is reason enough to want him gone.
Sure, the others are crazier, but they’ll get no more accomplished than Bonini did. I just pity the janitorial crew, which will have more spittle to clean up.
Give Bonini this: Being a Republican politician nowadays consists of whining incessantly while doing as little actual work as possible. Bonini was decades ahead of that curve.
Andrew C caught the Lawson Voltaire quote! Very good.
Bill & I went down and just wrapped our recording. Committed to the bit.
Well its good to know that every black person in prison with an ounce of pot is innocent until the supreme court rules they are guilty after numerous appeals.
Exactly.