General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 17, 2012

Bath salts aren’t the sexiest story. At least,  not these kind of bath salts. But in the absence of anything more interesting, the unanimous Senate passage of a ban on the latest in dangerous designer drugs was the most newsworthy legislative story of the week.

Don’t despair. More fascinating doings are in the offing. Sen. Bob Marshall has introduced a two-tiered increase in the state’s minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $7.75 an hour in January of 2013 and to $8.25 an hour in January of 2014. It will be interesting to see where our Governor stands on this.

Rep. Brad Bennett has introduced legislation to place an added fine on ‘crimes against seniors’. Presumably, foreclosing on their homes and throwing them out into the streets will not be included. According to the News-Journal article, this $100 ‘users’ fee’ on those convicted of crimes, including misdemeanors, against seniors, would be dedicated to ‘new services’ for seniors, not as a stopgap for Medicaid cuts:

The new trust fund could raise between $200,000 and $300,000 in its first year, Bennett said. The money would be administered by the state’s Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities and would be monitored by the Office of Management and Budget.

Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, said Delaware will need more services for seniors as more and more baby boomers move into old age.

Two items of note here: (1) $200-300K won’t go very far. (2) This goes against the traditional argument, usually made by former Joint Finance Committee chair Nancy Cook,  that revenues should all go to the General Fund and not be dedicated. That’s the reason, for example, that lottery funds in Delaware don’t go to senior citizens’ services, as they do in Pa. Of course, the real reason why Nancy Cook fought the specific dedication of funds was so that Nancy Cook could consolidate even more power as chair of JFC. Having said that, with all the hands that will be held out for these dollars, I don’t see how this bill can ultimately have much impact. But I’m prepared to be proven wrong.

The Senate does not have an agenda for today. The House agenda features two bills. The only substantive one clarifies the rights of bicyclists.

Fear not, legislative junkies. Action is afoot, one day hence.  Hell, I could write close to 1000 words on  tomorrow’s House Administration Committee meeting alone. And just might, depending on time and caffeine.

Slow day, so I’ve got time to weigh in on the impending changes at the News-Journal. As you likely know, delawareonline.com will go behind a pay firewall come Feb. 1.  Employing ‘fair use’, I quote from News-Journal articles and I provide links to online articles. Since I am a subscriber, I will continue to quote from the articles, and will continue to credit the reporters when I do so. Whether or not I’m able to provide story links, only subscribers will be able to view them. If you’re not a subscriber, I suggest you do so. There is no way that bloggers can do the job of professional reporters. The News-Journal has increased the amount and quality of local reporting, especially reporting on politics and government. They really have, whether would-be freeloaders want to admit it or not. If you’re looking for in-depth reporting, you get what you pay for. In  his letter to subscribers, publisher Howard Griffin stated that, “(t)hese improvements will strengthen our ability to deliver the high-quality watchdog journalism…”.  That’s enough for me to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I encourage you to do so as well. If you value what we do here at DL, please understand that, the better the coverage in the local media (and WDEL does a superb job, and you’re missing out if you’re not checking them out), the better we are as a blog. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise.