The General Assembly’s (Not So?) Special Session
It takes place on Wednesday, and was originally planned to help the General Assembly put lipstick on the pig that is the Carney/Dematteis scheme to screw state retirees on their health care benefits.
The plan was to consider legislation (drafted, but not yet introduced) to provide some oversight of what Highmark might do, and to try to place some guardrails on potentially egregious practices.
However, that was before Delaware’s Superior Court issued a stay on the implementation of the conversion of the retiree plan to Medicare Advantage.
So, I don’t even know whether the General Assembly will consider legislation on Wednesday. What they should do, and what I think they are obligated to do, is to let the public know how this dirty deal was done in the first place. I think they should call witnesses, including officials who enabled the plan, to testify on the floor.
This entire scheme falls within the framework of the secret dealings that take place every day in Delaware, but are kept from the people these dealings impact. You know, secret dealings planned and executed by the self-styled ‘grown-ups’ who are the silent servants to the Delaware Way. Jeff Bullock is a name that immediately comes to mind.
If the General Assembly and/or members of the General Assembly were either complicit or ignorant of this plan, the public deserves to know. I want to know. Ya think the Governor will deign to let Claire Dematteis testify? She should, as a co-conspirator.
Speaking of the Delaware Way, do you know what the only official business that has been posted on the General Assembly website?:
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARD
APPOINT:
The. Hon. Charles M. Freel
That’s right. Now that his term of office is coming to an end, Bud will be back on the Industrial Accident Board. Most of those who serve on that board are politically-connected ‘team players’. They get paid $22,500 a year. In fairness, a lot of claims come before them. I don’t begrudge Bud his appointment, I just find it ironic that the Governor actually called the Special Session and that this is the only official business that might get done. What’s old is new again.
This article includes the copy of a bill expected to be introduced on Wednesday:
https://www.wdel.com/news/medicare-advantage-alternative-bill-introduced-in-delaware-general-assembly-for-wed-session/article_e42a20ce-53a6-11ed-9698-633a35f07797.html
I suspect it may not be the ONLY bill to be introduced, especially since not a single member of leadership is on it.
Which doesn’t mean it’s not a worthy bill. It’s almost certainly better than any alternative we might see.
I have filed/released my bill (HB 500) to be introduced and considered during Wednesday special session. It would direct that the current Delaware Medicfll Supplement to Medicare plan be offered as an option to run concurrently for three years with the Medicare Advantage privatization plan being mandated by this Administration. Very straightforward opportunity for the GA to fulfill its obligations and promises to retirees. 17 sponsors and co-sponsors on the bill so far.
Do you expect that this will be the only bill to address this?
Do you think this will receive a roll call?
If we have a session I will be asking for a suspension of rules roll call to bring it to the floor and a roll call on the bill. No more hide and seek.
Do you know how this whole thing happened? I still don’t.
Any chance that witnesses can be called to explain to all of us how this went down?
No go:
https://www.wdel.com/news/update-del-general-assembly-will-not-consider-retiree-health-insurance-measure-this-week/article_6a7fe3c6-53e2-11ed-ae1c-a355d9bf7ffc.html
“Delaware lawmakers will not devote a session this week to considering a bill related to healthcare coverage for retired state workers.
The State Employee Benefit Committee has voted to extend the current state-managed “Special Medic-Fill Supplement Plan” for up to 12 months. The same panel earlier this year voted in favor of a switch to Medicare Advantage, but last week a judge issued a stay of the transition to the privately-managed plan, which many saw as inferior.
Legislative leaders said Monday that they will continue to look into ways they could have more oversight. The House will not meet in Dover Wednesday, but the Senate will hold a special session to consider several nominees from Governor John Carney.”
Was told yesterday that this extension will cost $7 million per month, or $84 million for the whole year. Don’t be surprised if we see All the Governor’s Men complaining that this will mean cuts in services or state employee pay raises to offset next year.
The foul stench that has emanated from this so far is only just the beginning. The Governor and his band of merry marauders (including dozens of members in the GA) have a lot of explaining to do.
At least we’ve got MedicFill for one more year.
So far, the only nomination that has been made public is that of Bud Freel.
Bud Freel? He’s supposed to be part of an independent judiciary?
Good to see that far from being a do-nothing, Carney is there to take care of his handlers.
Utterly shameful.
Pete and Val have gone too far this time. They’re carrying the Governors water on this one and don’t want Kowalko’s bill considered.
Pete’s final gift to Kowalko.
Is Longhurst supporting Pete’s big final f u to his own caucus? And she wants to be in leadership again?
The original purpose of the session was to address the impending healthcare situation for retirees with a short deadline. The SEBC reversed course after the court stayed the new system and extended the existing system for a full year, averting the crisis.
The problem isn’t going away, but the clock has been extended. The GA can lean on this next year and get to a more thought-out solution to protect retirees. Isn’t that the goal here anyway?
I agree.
Here are the minutes from the latest meeting of the State Employees Benefit Committee.
https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/sebc/documents/2022/0919-minutes.pdf
As you can see, Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger carried Carney’s water. But here’s what interested me:
“Secretary Geisenberger provided an overview of the purpose of the Retirement Benefits Study Committee (RBSC)and how it was established.
Governor Carney re-established the RBSC by Executive Orders 34 and 51. There are approximately thirteen members of that committee that are made up of representation from each General Assembly caucus.” WHO WERE THOSE 13 MEMBERS?
More: “The RBSC findings were that the State’s unfunded liability could not be solved with a single change, but it is feasible to fix this problem over time with several changes. The combination of enhanced funding and benefit reforms (meaning cuts, not reforms) provides the most effective reduction in future unfunded liability. The next report will be in March 2023.
Just to help Secretary Geisenberger out, the problem is not how to reduce a deficit but how to provide medical benefits to retired state employees, alleviating suffering. Mr. Secretary, your perspective is disturbing in any administration, but in a Democratic one is intolerable. Please resign.
^This
I DO have one more question: Didn’t Geisenberger and his, wait for it, ilk, say that they couldn’t reup with MedicFill b/c the state had already signed a three-year contract with Highmark?
Was he prevaricating?
No these callous clowns of the Carney circus are prefabricating their latest grift. Rep Kowalko
Senate will consider Judicials. I don’t know why it isn’t posted on legis site.
Governor Carney Announces Judicial Appointments
Governor John Carney | News | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Friday, October 14, 2022
https://news.delaware.gov/2022/10/14/governor-carney-announces-judicial-appointments/