The Final Legislative Pre-File*

*Before the new General Assembly is sworn in tomorrow.  They consist of bills filed on January 9 and 10.  You can find them all here.  The highlight, of course, is the bill creating the Office Of Inspector General:

This Act establishes an independent and nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the position of the Inspector General. Under this Act, the OIG would be unique in state government as a non-political agency with a sole mission to investigate and prevent fraud, waste, mismanagement, corruption, and other abuse of governmental resources.

I think this bill has a legitimate chance to pass this session.  Note the bipartisan sponsorship. Note that the Senate Democratic leadership members are all sponsors.  Note that no Democratic House leadership members are on the bill as sponsors.  Meaning, I think, that it all boils down on whether or not the Speaker of the House will allow the bill to move forward.  Since she has been unmasked as a double-dipper who collected money from two jobs while she was only working one at a time, the bill’s fate remains uncertain.  I mean, unless she’s mended her ways.  Has she?  Does anybody know?

Rethugs have introduced a campaign brochure bill, giving the General Assembly the authority to review agency regulations.  Uh, need I point out that the General Assembly has granted agencies the right to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the mandate that the General Assembly has given them?  No?  I’ll do it anyway.  Just did, in fact.

I like the idea behind HB 292 (Morrison), which:

‘…requires the Department of Elections to review every political committee’s contribution and expense report and to note the report, on the Department’s website, as either “Submitted but Not Reviewed” or “Reviewed and Final”. If the Department discovers any violations of this chapter, it must work with the candidate to rectify the violations. Once the violations are corrected and the candidate submits an amended report, the report’s status shall be updated on the Department’s website and clearly marked as “Reviewed and Final”. This Act will apply to all contribution and expense reports submitted after March 1, 2026.’

However, DOE has demonstrated it lacks the resources and willingness to do this.  I think the task should fall to the AG’s office, with attendant funding coming from DOE, if necessary, and that the AG’s office should be granted authority to pursue legal action in cases where wilful campaign violations are evident.

HB 34 (Romer) ‘amends the Newark Charter by authorizing the City of Newark to levy and collect a per student, per semester tax on Colleges and Universities that host in person classes which are located within the boundaries of the City of Newark.’  I love this bill.  The University of Delaware has long been dismissive of its civic obligations.  With a strong unified Newark progressive presence in the General Assembly, I hope the area legislators lead the fight to require the university to open its books and to release information on legislative double-dippers.  Otherwise, no dough on June 30 every year.

OK, the stage is now set for the First Legislative Day of the 153rd Delaware General Assembly.  Which also means the first Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show of the session, premiering tomorrow.