The Headline: EVERYTHING FALLS APART IN HOUSE.
We (well, I) first noted the marathon break between the recess for Caucus and the time the House eventually went back into session (3:15 to 7:45) last evening. We (well, I) noted that the House site changed the scheduled hours of session 4 times during the course of the day and evening. Well, guess what? Despite only doing a minimum of work yesterday, the House Of Representatives is taking today off. Leadership has told legislators not even to come to Dover. Joke all you want, but this is a power play by Speaker Pete and his minions. Plus there’s a shitload of stuff that needs to get done.
And, yes, Seaford, of all things, figures into it. Pete really wants this bill, who knows why, except–it can’t be principles b/c Pete is as unprincipled as they come. Has INVISTA, the current owner of what used to be the Seaford nylon plant, offered him their Head Of Security gig? Remember, kids, the Town of Seaford has not requested that corporations be allowed to vote in municipal elections, three people, two Council members and the Mayor (who cast the tie-breaking vote after a 2-2 deadlock on Council), have made that request.
Oh, and now House leadership is floating the possibility (likelihood?) that Rethug legislators will vote en masse against the Bond Bill because they’ve chosen the Seaford Charter Change as the hill they want to die on. Really now? Time for a Senate staffer (since Pete ‘n Val have run off most of the good House staffers) to make a list of all of the projects that won’t get done in Rethug districts because of this.
Did I mention that Democratic House members have good reason to mistrust Speaker Pete? Remember when he cut a deal with then-Sen. Greg Lavelle to bypass his own caucus in fiscal deliberations? It happened. He sold out his own fucking Caucus. He can’t really do it again because the Senate D’s won’t have it. Bottom line: The House is now at a standstill b/c Speaker Pete is having a moment. Oh, and because there are more than a handful of duplicitous D’s willing to back him no matter what. At least Pete can share his down-time with his Beloved Disgraced Auditor. Both are as dirty as they come. That’s right, the Speaker of the House is dirty. Those who enable him have dirt on their hands.
Which brings me to the Senate. I doubt that they’ll sit idly by here. If I’m them, any and every bill that Schwartzkopf and Longhurst want gets tabled until they re-engage.
The Senate, at least, was productive yesterday. Even the House passed a few decent bills, with Rethugs going no or not voting on several of them. Personal to prospective opponents of Mike Ramone and Michael Smith: You can each do hit pieces on these two based on yesterday’s votes alone. Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report. The Senate passed several key environmental bills, including HB 99, HB 12, HB 11, and HB 10. Also, the polystyrene ban.
Today’s Big Question: What happens to the Bond Bill in the Senate? It’s first on the Agenda, and it requires a 3/4ths majority. Even though two Senate R’s are on the Bond Committee and are co-sponsors (Wilson and Richardson), they could likely vote no and sink the bill for now. If so, I think it’s up to the Senate D’s to smoke out why they’re voting no. Get them on record as willing to trade their support only for a blatantly undemocratic bill.
What the legislative R’s in both chambers and the House D leadership is doing is nothing short of an absolute disgrace. Time to eliminate all niceties: Call them out on it and demand that they act like reputable elected officials. Who knows? Maybe the Governor can roust himself from his torpor to try to do something.