General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 14, 2023

Inscrutable Vote Department:  We know that Delaware’s legislative Rethugs are a bizarre combination of climate change denialists and vocal opponents of any governmental interference into what they perceive to be their unfettered rights.  So,  you would expect the House R’s to unanimously vote against an otherwise innocuous bill that would ‘require new commercial buildings with a foundation footprint of 50,000 square feet or greater to meet certain requirements to ensure that their roof is able to support solar energy infrastructure.’  Which they did.  But–Sean Matthews?  I mean, why?  It’s no big deal, but he’s one of the most likely D’s to cast inscrutable votes.  It’s not like Stephanie Bolden, whose votes are dictated by contributions from Buccini/Pollin rather than her constituents’ best interests.  Or Kim Williams, whose allegiance to the NRA supersedes her allegiance to the majority of voters in her district. Anyway, just something that keeps me interested.  YMMV.

Let’s look at yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Only the self-righteously religious Sen. Richardson voted against legislation that ‘increases the limits on the dollar amount of awards of compensatory or punitive damages, or both, in cases of employment discrimination, establishing specific caps based on the number of the respondent’s employees.’  No doubt he prayed on it. And/or has preyed on his employees.  Lest you wonder, Richardson and his wife ‘are the owners of Morning Star Publications, Inc., which publishes the Laurel Star, Seaford Star, and Salisbury Star. Additionally, they publish biannual magazines for five local chambers of commerce and numerous specialty publications.’

Much to my pleasant surprise, SB 158 (Gay), which ‘permits an individual who is a reproductive health care services provider or employee to apply for participation in Delaware’s Address Confidentiality Program, which allows participants to keep their actual address confidential by applying to the Department of Justice for a substitute address to which all mail will be delivered’, passed the Senate unanimously.

Renters’ Right To Counsel is almost at the finish line.  The bill passed the House yesterday with a non-controversial amendment added to it there.  It’s #1 on today’s Senate Agenda,  so it could head to Gov. Carney’s office by day’s end.  Great legislating!

Claire DeMatteis’ Mommy Strikes Again.  You may recall the first, and only, time that DeMatteis responded to Delaware Liberal.  It was when I ridiculed a bill that would make Maypole Dancing the Official Dance Of Delaware.  Turns out it was the brainchild of Claire DeMatteis’ mom, and Claire castigated us in no uncertain terms.  How dare I criticize a former Delaware Mother Of The Year? (Nothing political in that designation, right?)  Well, its ba-a-a-ck. Sponsored by, who else, Mike Ramone.  Yo, Claire, why don’t you stick to what you do best–screwing Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens.  And state retirees.  I mean, we don’t even do the Maypole Dance in Arden any more (someone stole the Maypole about 20 years ago). Hey, it’s out of committee.

There’s no House Agenda today.  Here’s today’s Senate Agenda.  You will notice the following phrase:  ‘Executive Business, Pending Release From Executive Committee’.  That means nominations. As of now, none of the nominations just announced by the Governor, including Robert Coupe for Marijuana Czar, are on today’s Executive Committee agenda.

Highlights from today’s Senate Committee meetings (unless otherwise noted, I’ll only review Senate bills in Senate and House bills in the House):

SB 150 (Mantzavinos) ‘defines dementia care services and activity services, and it requires that all long-term care facilities that offer dementia care services have sufficient staff to meet the needs of each resident, including a sufficient number of dedicated activity staff. This Act also requires that the staff who work with residents receiving dementia care services complete dementia care services training and identifies certain requirements for such training.’  Great bill.  However, this needs to be extended to assisted living facilities which advertise dementia care, but are in no position to deliver it.  That’s a scandal. Health & Social Services.

Well, here’s a special interest bill.  SB 154 (Pettyjohn) ‘repeals the sunset of the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program, which provides tuition for an eligible individual to attend an approved nondegree credit certificate program that provides industry-accepted skill training and certification.’  So, the agency was terminated, and now Pettyjohn wants to bring it back?  If this happened in Wilmington, I’d be convinced that Stormin’ Norman was behind it.  Raising the question, who is Suxco’s Stormin’ Norman?  In fairness, the program was likely no more useless, and was far less costly, than Nicole Poore’s Jobs For Delaware Graduates, a leftover money-suck from Pete DuPont’s era. Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.

SB 167 (Pinkney) ‘establishes a wellness program designed to improve the well-being of first responders and first responders’ immediate family members, as well as civilian employees of police, fire, and emergency medical services agencies and their immediate family members, through the provision of wellness program services by trained peer support members. Wellness program services may include counseling, spiritual guidance, and education about financial resources, health resources, legal assistance, and stress management services.’  Great bill. Great senator.  Corrections & Public Safety.

SB 173 (Paradee) ‘completely restricts the ability of municipal, town, and city police departments to make arrests for speeding that occurs outside of the municipality, town, or city’s corporate limits.’ Yes. Fuck you, Cheswold!  Judiciary.

SB 118: Sen. Jubilation T. Buckson wants to resurrect Delaware’s death penalty statute.  Ain’t happening.  Judiciary.

Did I mention special interest legislation earlier?  SB 144 (Buckson):

This Act removes the language “in the capacity of Master” from Chapter 9 of Title 7. This language has the effect of prohibiting highly credentialed professionals who have earned the right to captain their own ships, via appropriate United States Coast Guard training, from being provided with a food fishing permit. Removing this criterion would make the existing requirements more flexible and allow families that rely upon fishing as part of their livelihoods to proceed unimpeded by time-consuming and costly requirements.