General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 14, 2013

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Ladies and gentlemen, to the barricades! Or, at least, to your phones, your e-mail, you know the drill. The Forces of Ee-vil are afoot in Leg Hall. The gun nuts, the Chamber of Commerce shills. Their goal: Stop progressive legislation from passing. For the gun nuts, it's the backgrounds check on gun purchases. For the Chamber fat-cats, it's minimum wage. I believe that there is enough legislative support to pass both bills. But it won't happen unless you contact your legislators, and either let them know that you've got their back, or that you expect them to do the right thing. The background check bill is in House committee. An outpouring of gun nuts prevented the bill from moving out of committee yesterday. So, the committee meets again, next Wednesday, starting at 11:30 a.m. until...whenever all those who wish to speak have spoken. Here's what you can and should do. Contact your own State Rep and politely tell them that you support HB 35 and ask them to do the same. The odds are that you will speak to a staffer first. These are good people. Be polite and friendly. Make sure that they've gotten the message correctly. If you wish to participate in the discussion, either directly or via correspondence, here's how....

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up: Wed., March 13, 2013

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Delaware now has a proposal to eliminate the death penalty for capital crimes. I support it. In the past, I have been an agnostic when it came to the issue of the death penalty. But when I saw Thomas Capano, who carried out one of the most vile and grisly homicides/cover-ups in Delaware history, escape the death penalty (though not death) through legal legerdemain, my decision was made for me. The Tom Capanos of this world don't get the death penalty. Therefore, those with less influence shouldn't, either. Any death penalty statute should be administered equally, not on the basis of the (lack of) legal resources that one has at their disposal, IMHO. It's not, it never has been, and it should go. I note that police of virtually all stripes have aligned in near-unanimity in opposition. Need I remind you or them that, thanks to DNA projects all over this country, death row inhabitants are being cleared of homicide convictions, often caused by 'thin blue line' corruption and/or ineptitude? Yeah, yeah, I know, not in Delaware. Really? How can you be certain? This is a courageous stand by the sponsors. In case you haven't noticed, police are a potent political force in this state. Legislators, in general, prefer to take the path of least political resistance. They haven't done that here, and I thank them. By name: Senators Peterson, Simpson, McDowell, Bushweller, Henry, Sokola, and Townsend; Reps. Scott, Miro, Barbieri, Baumbach, Keeley, Potter, M. Smith, Williams, Kowalko, B. Short. Thank you.

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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Coming off its six-week break for Joint Finance Committee, the Delaware General Assembly begins in earnest its legislative sprint to...Easter break, three weeks hence. At least, this should prove to be an action-packed three weeks--especially when it comes to the introduction of key bills. Assuming that the Attorney General's and the Governor's legal counsel are productive, we could well have the major pieces of the gun control package finalized and introduced. Marriage equality could also surface.  We'll also get a much better sense as to what budgetary issues remain to be resolved. Plus, we don't need to wait for some intriguing story lines to develop. Take today, for example. Please.  HB 10 (Keeley), which would immediately restore voting rights to convicted felons who have paid their debt to society, is scheduled for floor debate. This is the second leg of a constitutional amendment, meaning that it has already passed both houses of the General Assembly during the preceding legislative session. Should it pass this time, it will become law. I think it will. In fact, the only obstacle that could stand in the way of its passage would be  near-unanimous  opposition from House R's. With Republican Rep. Don Blakey a certain yes, I don't see it happening. And, with Senators Lavelle and Cloutier co-sponsoring the bill, the Senate looks solid as well. Much much more inside....

Greg Schauer’s ‘Between Books’ To Close

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This is depressing. Beyond depressing, really. Between Books, a superb Claymont book/game store that specializes in fantasy, horror, sci-fi, graphic novels, comics and related genres, will soon close. Owner Greg Schauer has lost his lease. Greg Schauer is so much more than a bookstore owner. He is a one-man support system for authors and artists. He is a voracious reader who always has great suggestions for his clients. He holds workshops and readings for writers and would-be writers. He reads manuscripts at no charge and provides incredibly helpful feedback. He actively supports other local businesses. We need people like Greg Schauer.

A Shooting In Arden?

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As you know, I live here. Apparently, there has been a shooting at Harvey Road and Lorelei Lane, and the shooter is, or was, at large. Two victims reported, one of them seriously injured. Harvey Road was shut down, and we've had helicopters circling over us. The copters have left. Harvey Road has apparently reopened. I don't know any more than that, but it's definitely surreal.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, January 24, 2013

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Big doin's, today. BIG doin's. Senate Bill 3 is on today's House Agenda. I'd first like to thank everybody who made this vote possible. From sponsor Sen. Marshall; to Sen. Blevins, who assigned the bill to a favorable committee; to the 11 yes voters in the Senate, to the Speaker, to committee chair Bryon Short, and to everyone who has made consideration of this bill a priority. I'm not sure that this gets done without the blogs, the media, and some damn good public servants. This bill also demonstrates that elections matter. Think about it. The Senate vote was 11 yes, 9 no, 1 not voting. Had Tony DeLuca been reelected instead of Bryan Townsend (a yes vote), it would have been due in large part to the extraordinary intervention of Governor Markell in that election. Meaning that SB 3 could well have been buried in DeLuca's Executive Committee, never to see the light of day. If it had somehow made its way to the floor, DeLuca quite possibly would have sided with the Governor, leaving the bill one vote short of passage. Perhaps two, had Nicole Poore not defeated Dori Connor, since not a single R voted for the bill. Now onto today's doins...

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

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Lotsa fascinating (and otherwise) bills introduced last week. Let's take a look, shall we? You can follow along here, here, and here. For those with limited time, the first here here has the most there there. There there now, it'll be alright. First, and least, we have parts of the Rethuglican legislative agenda, courtesy of Rep. Ruth Briggs King. It's what you'd expect. Opposition to strong automobile emission standards, and two more shots at prevailing wage, HB 6 and HB 7. Thanks for playing. King also tackles the rampant problem of ticket-scalping at the Delaware State Fair. Ticket scalping elsewhere would presumably still be OK. As far as I'm concerned, anybody willing to pay excessive prices for whatever big empty hat country performer the Fair brings in has a right to pay excessive prices. Although it might not leave enough $$'s to pay for a few rounds of ammo, which would be a shame.

Speaker Pete Burying Port Bill?

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Signs point to yes. On Wednesday, January 16, the Senate passed Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3: http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LAH147.NSF/65d260a8f0fbce13852572360055cafe/f4c55b7e0e893ce785257af600176dee?OpenDocument Senate Bill 1, which pertains to the Bank Franchise tax, was assigned…

Double Shot O’ Somnambulo

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I'm back on Al's show today following my truncated appearance (please, no jokes about my truncated appearance) on Tuesday due to the swearing-in ceremony for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. We'll be talking the Port of Wilmington, the Governor's State of the State, and we will also (if they let me) introduce my new theme song, written by me. (Well, the lyrics, anyway.) Depending on how much time we have, I might even talk some Tom Gordon, Walmart, Lance Armstrong, and maybe even the bizarre story of Manti Teo's dead fictitious girlfriend. Today, Thursday, at 10 am on 1150 WDEL-AM Newsradio.

Senate Set to Vote on Port of Wilmington Bill Today

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Senator Bob Marshall wants to make sure that any sale/partnership/call it what you will regarding the Port of Wilmington must have legislative approval. And why not? Jack Markell and Alan Levin have not publicly acknowledged any legislative prerogative when it comes to having their preferred partner, Kinder Morgan, an Enron spin-off with numerous environmental and labor violations on its record, take over the operations of the Port. In this case, silence is not golden, unless you are Kinder Morgan. Keep in mind that, had Markell and Levin committed to the legislative process for this proposed transaction, none of this would be necessary. Methinks an unforced error. You'd think, at least I'd think, that all 21 senators would vote yes on SB 3. I mean, why not? We're talking about a transaction that would have huge impact to the State, the City of Wilmington, and hundreds of port workers and their families. You're talking about the principle of three co-equal branches of government, and the possibility, should SB 3 not pass, that the General Assembly would be removed entirely from this momentous decision. You're talking about the whole notion of legislative oversight and the public disinfectant of sunshine.