Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thursday, June 25
‘Bulo apologizes that this will be both late and short, but he just got back from hiking the trail.
Well, the big news is that SB 121 has passed both houses and has been sent to the Governor. Here is the House roll call. Anyone considering running against Greg Lavelle in his Brandywine Hundred district will want to note his ‘no’ vote here. He is the only legislator representing the entire Brandywine Hundred area who voted ‘no’.
Leadership in the Senate and the House deserve special praise. The new Senate leadership (DeLuca and Blevins) for finally getting the bill to the floor, and for following the bill through to roll call, regardless of how long it took. The House leadership deserves a special salute for not forcing the bill to go through committee (which only made sense, since it is identical to HB 5) and for bringing it up for immediate consideration (which also only made sense, since, for all intents and purposes, it was like a House bill that has passed the Senate). Leaders should lead and, in this case, they did. Anyone and everyone who supports basic civil rights for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, owe the leadership a big thanks today.
Lotsa other news from yesterday’s session as well, and you can click here to see it. The Beast Who Slumbers was pleased that the House of Representatives proved the naysayers wrong, and passed HB 198(D. E. Williams). This bill helps provide for the popular election of the President by having Delaware joining a compact officially committing Delaware’s electors to vote for the winner of the national popular vote once states with more than 50% of the electors ratify the compact. Here’s the roll call if you’d like to see whether your elected official actually believes in real democracy.
Strawberries edged closer and closer to becoming Delaware’s Official Fruit yesterday as well with the passage of HB 203 in the House.
All of the bills in the Governor’s Tax/’Revenue Enhancement’ package (HBs 260-268) cleared the House Revenue & Finance Committee.
And, of course, the Senate officially designated its new President Pro-Tempore yesterday.
More or less (the less being SB 121, which passed the Senate yesterday) the same Senate agenda that’s been posted since Tuesday.
More or less the same House agenda that was posted yesterday, except that there is a new Consent Agenda G.
There are some meaty educational reform measures and energy efficiency measures on House Agenda 1.
El Somnambulo is a bit surprised that the ‘revenue enhancers’ haven’t been added to the agenda. That likely means that not enough R’s have come on board yet. Without some significant R’s on board, the D’s will not walk the plank by themselves.
He is the only legislator representing the entire Brandywine Hundred area who voted ‘no’.
Heck, forget just Brandywine Hundred, if I read the roll call correctly, the only one north of Central Kent County. BTW, notice Atkins once again cancels out Schwartzkopf in an issue vital to his district.
…he just got back from hiking the trail.
Was she Argentinian?
No silly, Appalachian.
Thanks Bulo–this document is awesome, and I swear quicker than the outside links. Thanks…and oh…Way up high was a lonely goatman, lay-o-lay-o-lay-o-alay hoo, hoo…
sweet, now not only are we giving away any power we did have in the election, we are never going to see a presidential candidate again. I hope to god that this compact gets 51% and a repub wins the popular vote by 1 and would of lost in the electoral college……
the other stuff is good though. lol
Phil,
The law doesn’t go into effect unless enough states pass it (equally 271 EVs). That’s my understanding of how it works. Once that many states are in the compact then the law goes into effect. Does anyone have more info on this?
It’s not like we saw much action in the presidential election anyway. Wasn’t Obama the only one to come to the state?
I did mention 51%
Wasn’t Obama the only one to come to the state?
For this last campaign, McCain did, too, but I think that was primary time, not general time.
If you mean ever, I believe GWB did in 2000, (not positive) during the campaign (I’m sure you are all too aware of his visit to the experimental station at a different time).
Now, Gore did as a VP candidate in 1992 (I was there, in Old New Castle), but something is sticking with me that Clinton blew through (pardon the pun) either in 92 or 96.
I don’t remember Cinton, but the Elder Bush came in 1992 and the younger Bush did in 2000. Liddy Dole came in 1996. Naturally, once Biden was on the ticket, McCain wasn’t going to waste his time.
http://nationalpopularvote.com/ has information
The main point is that after enough states pass this, a vote is a vote. A voter in Ohio (or fellow swing states PA, Florida, Colorado, etc) is no more important than a voter in Delaware (Maryland, New Jersey, Mississippi, North Dakota, etc).
We get a president who garnered the most popular votes. How revolutionary!
I don’t remember Cinton, but the Elder Bush came in 1992…
Yup, that’s right. I got the Prez candidates in 92 mixed up. Gore (VP) most definitely did in 92. I do think, though, that Clinton paid a quick visit in ’96, but not 100%. When you mentioned the Elder Bush, that reminded me that they spoke then about how he was the first Prez candidate to come to DE ever since…??? Who was that? Did Nixon come through here way back?
Shoot…I better not forget or Maria will remind me of it…Goldwater was here in ’64, but I don’t think most people here have much reference to that race.
…we are never going to see a presidential candidate again…
If this ultimately goes through (enough states pick it up), then your concern all depends on how organizers in Delaware work with it. As a vital rest stop and traffic jam right in between Baltimore and Philly, we could do wonders in creating a one-stop-shopping layover for a candidate hoping to streamline his/her tour. I think, if worked appropriately, this could actually HELP UD’s chances to host a debate at the Carpenter Center…oops, I mean, “The BOB.” I don’t know that they ever tried to snag one, but if this flies, they should get on that phone within one minute and start working some sort of package to make it happen.
You people are so narrow minded when it comes to the electoral college. I’m sorry that you can’t grasp the simple concept of trying to show the true wants of a country as a whole.
Besides, using a legal trick to circumvent the constitution is corruption at its worst. I wouldn’t have a problem with this bill or compact if it was to push for an amendment.
Clinton came to Hercules Plaza the day after the 3d debate in 1992. The crowd was laced with longtime Republicans who were leaving the nest.
Paul is right. Without NPV, campaigns ignore voters in Birmingham, Brooklyn, Dallas and Fresno.
I had a comment, but it was inaccurate, so I edited it out. Poof! It’s maaaagic! Now, a little dance, from me to you…
Republicans are very committed to the idea of one acre, one vote, as evidenced by the Bush vote maps showing lots of red in low population areas.
What major nation gives their Presidency or prime minister position to a mere plurality of the vote no matter how small and geographically narrow?
There is no run off as in some countries. There is no coalition as in other countries. There would be no collection of states (U.S. or Switzerland) or districts (as in Britain or Canada). It is an abomination to the concept of legitimacy by either a Democratic majority or a majority of the republic’s federation.
It is a set up for failure in the long run. To put it bluntly it is a stupid idea to give the electoral votes on the basis of whatever plurality exists with no regard for either states or a majority vote. It is the worst of both worlds.
“What major nation gives their Presidency or prime minister position to a mere plurality of the vote no matter how small and geographically narrow?”
What exactly are you concerned about?
US presidents have periodically been elected by a plurality of votes. The most recent significant case was the 1992 election when Clinton won with 44.6%, Dole got 36.9%, and Perot got 18.6%. Having the president selected from the ticket with the greatest (even if not majority) of the popular vote did not end civilization in 1992.
Nixon in 1968 was elected with well under 50% of the popular vote (and not much more than Hubert Humphrey, as George Wallace got over 10% of the vote).
What is your fear of having the president selected by the most votes? Why don’t you trust the US voters?
Greg Lavelle probably understands SB 121 is not needed and will result in more litigation costs for small business. Hard to believe with a huge budget shortfall this legislation is a priority.
There is no need to change the electoral college.
I would agree we can discuss changing the natural born requirement to be President.
Mike Protack
Leave it to Mike to place potential litigation costs above a basic civic right.
And ‘bulo, kudos to you for what you do for the rest of us who check in here frequently.
On a ratio of electoral votes to population, a Delaware voter has the fifth most powerful Presidential vote in the country.
Our legislators just gave that away.
Wow Mike, you would change the natural born clause in the constitution? Holy shit, that would be an epic fail of massive proportions.