The Big Story:
Police Athletic League Of Delaware: $200,000
Jobs For Delaware Graduates: $1,395,197 (!!)
That’s the funding that these two agencies will receive through the Grants-In-Aid bill. Two agencies run by two unqualified state legislators who receive their undeserved salaries and benefits because they feed at the public trough in an unethical manner to keep their agencies afloat. Our PAL Val Longhurst and Nicole ‘No Longer’ Poore, in case this is your first time visiting the blog.
Jobs For Delaware Graduates has been worthless since its inception (by Pete DuPont) right around 1980. Created in such a way that any federal standards that would apply to this ostensible jobs program did not apply to JDG. Which is why Delaware taxpayers pay for it.
I guess that PAL of Delaware needs the funding because otherwise Hockessin would turn into a haven for youth crime. Of course, Our PAL Val uses her dual positions as Speaker and as head of PAL to threaten and cajole other jurisdictions into fattening her coffers.
I highly recommend that you go through the Grants-In-Aid bill and identify other suspect recipients of the state’s largesse. Pro-tip: Look at some of the new recipients. OK, I’ve got one: Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: $50,000. The organization that lobbies against waitstaff earning sufficient wages has an educational foundation now? To train lobbyists to convince legislators NOT to enable waitstaff to earn survival wages?
Frankly, and maybe I’m missing something here, several of these items look like they belong in the Budget Bill. A lot. I’d heard that there was some trickery going on–anyone care to elucidate? For example $750K for a Child Care Licensing System. Admirable, I support it. But it’s a direct result of legislation, and the duties are to be carried out by a state agency. If there are capital costs involved, those should go in the Bond Bill. But none of it should be in the Grants-In-Aid. What’s going on here?
Where’s Nancy Willing when I need her? Something sneaky is going on here.
Today’s session, which can, and almost certainly will, end before midnight, is a clearinghouse for all the stuff that hasn’t been worked yet and/or that Our PAL Val has deigned to be allowed to be worked today.
Multiple agendas in both chambers. Plus, there will almost certainly be a few stragglers that have to go through both houses today:
The final scheduled item on the Senate Agenda is the ‘designation of the Orange Crush’ as the State Cocktail. Just the right note to send Speaker Pete back to his Suxco roots. Hey, he can have a few, and there ain’t a cop in the state who would pull him over.
I know that some of you have concerns about particular bills as I’ve been receiving your texts and/or e-mails. Please share those concerns in the comments section.
That’s a wrap. Except for the wrap-up.