Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 8, 2016

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues. March 8, 2016

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We already know what won't be addressed by the returning General Assembly this week: Abolition of Delaware's death penalty. However, it's for the best of reasons.  It's quite possible that the United States Supreme Court has already sounded the, um, death knell for Delaware's capital punishment statute.  The ironies involved in this are dee-lish.  The Delaware legislative hardliners some twenty years ago decided that juries were sometimes too namby-pamby when it came to doling out the death penalty, so they decided to give the judges (who must come before the State Senate for  nominations and renominations) the exclusive life and death authority. Which is precisely why Delaware's statute appears to have run afoul of the recent Supreme Court ruling, which 'deemed unconstitutional part of a Florida statute that grants exclusively to judges the right to determine a sentence of death in capital cases'.  Delaware has the same language in its statute, which is why the Delaware Supreme Court has placed a moratorium on any capital case moving forward until it can review the statute and determine whether Delaware's statute can pass constitutional muster.
Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 26-March 3, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 26-March 3, 2016

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After missing much of the last session due to health reasons, State Rep. Harold Peterman (R-33rd RD) somewhat surprisingly sought, and won, reelection. He first survived a primary challenge from Charles Postles by a 64.5 to 35.5 margin, and then defeated D John Kevin Robbins, 58-42. However, two Republicans have already filed for this seat, which they likely wouldn’t do if Peterman didn’t give them the go-ahead. Postles is once again seeking the seat, and one Morgan Ann Hudson has also filed. Hudson’s website seems…incomplete and kinda weird. All I can say is that I could find nothing about her doing a Google search. Anybody out there with any info?
Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 19-25, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 19-25, 2016

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City Treasurer Henry Supinski has announced his retirement after 26 years in the post.  I don't remember a single scandal during that time that was attributed to any problems in the Treasurer's Office.  And, when you read the linked bio, pretty much all I can conclude is that this is/was a dedicated and effective public servant.  Politics abhors a vacuum, so a politician has rushed in to fill this one.  City Councilman Darius Brown has announced that he will not seek reelection to City Council, and instead will pursue the City Treasurer position. From the News-Journal article:
Brown, 34, said he will establish Open Checkbook, a program to show accountability for city expenditures; Money Matters, a program to provide financial literacy for constituents; and Economic Index to disseminate economic and financial data about Wilmington publicly each quarter to highlight the city's progress compared to economic activity in the region, state and nation.
State Chamber Fixes Its Guns On Coastal Zone Act

State Chamber Fixes Its Guns On Coastal Zone Act

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Having apparently despoiled all there is to despoil within the law or, to be more accurate, within the see-no-evil boundaries ignored by DNREC on a daily basis, the big business boys are now targeting Delaware's Coastal Zone Act. Here is the article from the Delaware Business Magazine, titled 'Modernizing the Coastal Zone Act,' that a wonderful tipster shared with me. You see, the CZA has created a 'logjam':
Whether it was meant to eventually force manufacturing and industry to “wither on the vine” or to balance the types of allowable companies with keeping our natural resources pristine, it has created a logjam in the process. Regardless of the intent of the legislation, it is clear (to the Chamber) that Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act must be modernized in order for Delaware to grow.
You already see the false meme, don't you?  The implication that perhaps, just perhaps, such radical environmentalists as DuPont Company alumni former Gov. Russell Peterson and  former State Senator Andy Knox must have wanted to force manufacturing jobs to wither on the vine.  Don't worry, there's more.
Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 12-18, 2016

Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 12-18, 2016

22 Comments
Some people have a pathological need to run.  I don't know why. (Well, actually, yes I do.  Every now and then, the stars align and one of these losers gets elected. Including Williams. And, uh, Karen Weldin Stewart, anyone?) Dennis E. Williams is one of those people.  No, he's not running for Congress, his nascent candidacy apparently having died aborning.  Instead he's gonna give the voters of the 10th Rep. District a chance to admit they were wrong when they threw Williams' sorry ass out of the General Assembly in 2014.  Problem is, Sean Matthews proved the voters right.  Even with Pete & Val parking political operatives in the 10th to save one of their lackeys, Matthews defeated Williams by a 55-45 margin.  It will be much larger this time, but, hey, Dennis, thanks for the filing fee.  Although I now must dig into my pockets to send some $$'s Matthews' way.  He is already one of the most valuable legislators we have in Dover, especially on education.
Have We Witnessed the De Facto Repeal of the Death Penalty in Delaware? Yes. Maybe.

Have We Witnessed the De Facto Repeal of the Death Penalty in Delaware? Yes. Maybe.

6 Comments
Hear me out. This is exciting. As you may be aware, a hold has been placed on all death penalty cases in Delaware by the Delaware Supreme Court. The reason? The U. S. Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional part of a Florida statute that grants exclusively to judges the right to determine a sentence of death in capital cases. Guess what? Delaware has the exact same provision in its statute.  The irony is that it didn't used to be that way.  No, AG Jane Brady, Sen. Tom Sharp, Sen. Jim Vaughn and others demagogued the sheep in Dover into taking the power away from juries and giving it to judges.  Why? 'Coddling criminals', blah blah blah. How great would it be if they ended up sowing the seeds for death penalty repeal? I'm not a lawyer, but I don't see how Delaware's statute can be constitutional if Florida's is not. Here's where it gets interesting.  Only the Delaware General Assembly can change the statute.  Come inside to see why that's important....
Delaware Political (More Or Less) Weekly: January (More Or Less) 22-28, 2016

Delaware Political (More Or Less) Weekly: January (More Or Less) 22-28, 2016

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Kathleen McGuiness is for real.  Except for that whole residency thingy.  BTW, turns out she moved out to Park Slope b/c a couple of her kids are competitive snowboarders.  Yes, she raised a lot of money. What really surprised me is that almost all of the money comes from Delaware.  Pretty much every D in Sussex County with money has ponied up. Guess there are more D's with money in Sussex County than I thought. Bethany Hall-Long has raised a lot of $$'s as well.  Ciro Poppiti has enough money to be competitive. Sherry Dorsey Walker, Greg Fuller, and Brad Eaby don't. Trinidad Navarro better get his ass in gear.  Those who deal with the insurance commissioner's office have apparently resigned themselves to, or more likely, fallen in love with the idea of, Incompetent Karen Weldin Stewart serving as Insurance Commissioner.  He's only raised $11K?  Vs. $83K?
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 27, 2016

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 27, 2016

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We could still have an epic week in store--or it could turn into a nothingburger.  The minimum wage bill still awaits Senate action, and death penalty repeal maybe gets considered in the House. Or not.  Probably depends on whether the respective sponsors think they have the votes.  If you haven't contacted YOUR legislators, what are you waiting for? The minimum wage bill has already been amended primarily to reflect the fact it wasn't considered last year.  Senate Amendment 3, which passed by a 13-8 vote, adjusts the effective dates for the increases, and accordingly delays the implementation of the COLA increase until 2021. Pure party line vote. The bill appears to need at least one more D vote to pass. DINO Brian Bushweller is one of the holdouts.  Who are the others? BTW, check out Colin Bonini's amendment to the bill. The guy is a joke.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 26, 2016

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 26, 2016

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Undaunted by the prospect of blowing yet a greater hole in the budget for the next few years, the State Senate joined the House in passing legislation that would 'remove disincentives' for job creation for the corporate overlords.  The Senate passed the bill with only one 'not voting' (Townsend, who was a co-sponsor on the bill), and the bill goes to the Governor.  Keep this in mind in June when the Honorables (ongoing h/t to Ralph Moyed) shrug their collective shoulders and lament the 'tough choices' (read screw anybody but the corporate overlords) they had to make.  They, of course, didn't have to make them. They made clear that bowing to their corporate overlords is business as usual.  A projected $50 mill shortfall to the budget over the first 2 1/2 years the legislation is in effect.  Just curious: Who, if anybody, will keep track of all those new jobs the corporate overlords will create now that the 'disincentives' have been removed?  Based on previous experience, my prediction is 'Nobody'. A pure unvarnished giveaway. Delaware's 'apology' for its role in perpetuating slavery passed the Senate. Three no votes.  Hocker, Lawson, and Bonini.  None of whom have likely ever cracked a history book and read of Delaware's role in perpetuating slavery.