Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
John Carney delivers his State Of The State address today. 2 p.m. I know not why. Anything of substance (insert joke here) was almost certainly addressed in his budget proposal. A victory lap for a tepid two-term governor? Perhaps. But, like his stewardship, the speech is unessential. I’m calling it: Worst Governor of the Modern Era.
Only one bill on the collective agendas today. It’s a good one: SB 20 (Townsend) ‘remove(s) the requirement that a public school district employee who donates leave to another employee must donate 2 days of leave for the other employee to receive 1 day of leave’. It was a pretty shitty requirement to begin with, so it’s good to get rid of it.
There are no scheduled committee meetings today in the Senate.
Here are the highlights from today’s House Committee schedule. Well, there’s only one:
…prohibits discrimination in life insurance based on genetic characteristics, genetic information, or the result of any genetic test that is not in a medical record as a basis for an individual’s medical diagnosis or the basis of a medical diagnosis included in an individual’s pertinent family history. In addition, this Act prohibits a person engaged in the business of life insurance from requesting, requiring, or purchasing information obtained from an entity providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
Good bill. Essential bill. I thought that then-Senators Blevins and Sorenson had done something similar years ago, but I suspect this bill takes it a step further. Strong bipartisan sponsorship.
Hey, man, I can only do so much with such a truncated session. Tomorrow will be meatier, I promise, as two of the RISE bills are scheduled for House committee consideration. Don’t look for in-depth analysis of Carney’s State of the State, though. I only have so many brain cells left.
Not to worry, The Gov. has fewer remaining brain cells than you do.
Carney’s lead-off initiative: “You were wrong on budget-smoothing. I’m right.”
I’m not making this up:
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/05/the-key-takeaways-from-delaware-gov-carneys-final-state-of-state/72757049007/
“Carney emphasized his desire to ensure that he leaves Delaware’s next governor “in the best possible position to succeed,” which means ensuring a balanced budget and sustainable investments.
To that end, Carney called on lawmakers to finally pass a constitutional amendment that will permanently control operating spending, commonly referred to as “benchmark spending.”
“I won’t be here next year. I know some of you may be happy about that,” he said. “But most of you will. Don’t set yourselves up for failure.”
I’m sure you all remember that Carney’s dire warnings are the diametric opposite of his dismissive brush-off of higher tax brackets for Delaware’s wealthiest. In what passes for his mind, cutting programs is the only way to balance budgets.
Is it me, or should have Carney immediately taken some leadership on voting rights after the recent court decisions? Seems like a wide open opportunity. But it probably required him to summon the sphincter of leadership, which he could not do without intestinal fortitude.
He probably just brushed off his speech from two months ago, didn’t give it another thought. But, you’re right.
Matt Meyer issued a press release denouncing the efforts to curtail voting rights and said if he is governor, he will sign legislation amending the state constitution to guarantee expanded voting access.
He actually wouldn’t have to.
Constitutional amendments, which must be passed in identical form in two consecutive General Assemblys, don’t require the signature of the Governor.
But he COULD sign legislation short of a constitutional amendment that meets the court’s muster. Or, the state Supreme Court could overrule one Rethug judge’s interpretation of the constitution. Which is why the AG is appealing.
Why Carney didn’t even mention that Delaware is now one of the four most draconian states when it comes to voting access says pretty much all you need to know about Carney.
Collin O’Mara awoke from his sleepy slumber of a “campaign” to show up to the 23rd RD candidate event on Sunday. He had some great policy ideas. He’ll make a great policy advisor to Governor Meyer.
I laughed at this and also nodded in agreement. Some savvy consultants are taking that poor son of a bitch for a ride.
But yeah I’m voting for Meyer. He has a pulse and ideas and has good people around him by all accounts. And he’s not accused of crimes. I know I have high standards.