Delaware Liberal

What Does The Chamber Want?

El Somnambulo

Don’t worry, the answer is much clearer than Dr. Freud’s query about women.

It would be an oversimplification to say that the Chamber wants the bad stuff, and wants to kill the good stuff.  But not by much:

When the General Assembly returns, there will be 13 legislative days remaining, and there are many bills they’re still working through. Here’s an overview of the bills the State Chamber is following and their status:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • HB101 (Expedited Review of Permit Applications) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee. State Chamber Position: Support
  • HB102 (Entrance Permits) – Status: Awaiting Governor’s signature. State Chamber Position: Support
  • HB103 (Traffic Impacts) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee. State Chamber Position: Support
  • HB104 (PLUS) – Status: On Senate Ready List. State Chamber Position: Support

ENVIRONMENTAL 

  • SB7 (State Energy Office) – Status: Awaiting consideration in Senate Finance Committee. State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • SB51 (Polystyrene) – Status: On House Ready List. State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • SS1 for SB103 (EV Charging Infrastructure for Residential Dwellings) – Status: Passed the Senate and now moves to House for consideration.State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • HB 8 (Clean Construction Preferences) – Status: On House Ready List.State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • HB11 (Solar Infrastructure) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Natural Resources & Energy Committee.State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • HB98 (Notice Requirements for DNREC Permits) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • HB99(Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act) – Status: On House Ready List.State Chamber Position: Working with stakeholders on a friendly amendment (pending), which is to be introduced by the sponsor.
  • HB171 (Title V Fees) – Status: Assigned to House Natural Resources & Energy Committee.State Chamber Position: Support

TAX

  • SS2 for SB72 (Tax Deduction based on Membership Status) – Status: Passed the Senate and now moves to House for consideration.State Chamber Position: Oppose
  • HB36 (Realty Transfer Tax) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Appropriations. State Chamber Position: Support
  • HB89 (Increase in the Standard Deduction) – Status: On Senate Ready List. State Chamber Position: Support
  • HB128 (Change in Personal Income Tax Brackets) – Status: On House Ready List.State Chamber Position: Oppose

CHILD CARE

  • SB58 (Removal of Copay Requirements for Delaware Families In Need) – Status: Awaiting consideration in Senate Finance Committee.State Chamber Position: Support
  • SB59 (Statewide Rate of Purchase of Care for Childcare Providers) – Status: Awaiting consideration in Senate Finance Committee.State Chamber Position: Support

DATA PRIVACY & TECHNOLOGY

  • HB41 (Digital Right to Repair) – Status: On House Ready List. State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • HB154 (Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Appropriations. State Chamber Position: Opposed and seeking amendments

OTHER BILLS

  • SB43 (Display of Human Trafficking Signs) – Status: Awaiting consideration in Senate Finance. State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • SB81 (Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death Actions) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Judiciary Committee.State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • SS1 to SB102 (Prevailing Wage) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Labor Committee.State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • HS1 for HB55 (Homeless Individuals Rights) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Judiciary Committee. State Chamber Position: Under Review
  • HB127 (County Fire Protection Fees) – Status: On House Ready List. State Chamber Position: Opposed
  • HB175 (Accessible Parking Spaces) – Status: Awaiting consideration in House Health & Human Development Committee. State Chamber Position: Under Review

While most of this surprises nobody, my Spidey Sense was triggered when I saw this one:

  • HB99(Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act) – Status: On House Ready List.State Chamber Position: Working with stakeholders on a friendly amendment (pending), which is to be introduced by the sponsor.

We all know that Rep. Heffernan’s commitment to the environmental cause has been malleable at best and, during the previous session, dismissive.  We know that Bobby Byrd is her money-man, and that he has more Chamber clients than anybody.  I know that I needn’t point out that a ‘friendly amendment’ is, in this case, an amendment that is friendly to the Chamber.  We know that the so-called ‘stakeholders’ do not include environmentalists.

So, Rep. Heffernan, if you sell out those who are deeply concerned about environmental justice and climate change, you will be called out on it.  Put the bill on the floor, and allow it to be voted up or down on its merits.  That way, even were it to fail, everybody would know which legislators place the Chamber’s influence above the rights of Delaware citizens to breathe clean air and to drink clean water.  That way, we can hold them accountable.

We’ll be watching.

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