El Somnambulo's Latest Posts
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., March 27, 2012
The big news broke after the General Assembly adjourned. John Atkins ‘voluntarily’ stepped down as a member and the Vice-Chair of the House Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee. Anyone who read his ‘statement’ and who has also read anything else Atkins has written, knows that Atkins did not write that statement. No matter. He has been sanctioned in a manner that fit his offense, and we still have Atkins around to provide us with fun-filled entertainment.
Were Mitt Romney and Miles Davis Artistic Collaborators?
I never would have thought so. But that was before I read this entry from that online truthiness encyclopedia.
John Atkins ‘Voluntarily’ Steps Down From House Committee
Good. And, let’s face it, we know it wasn’t voluntary. From today’s News-Journal story (firewall protected): In a memo Thursday, House Speaker Robert F. Gilligan said he removed Millsboro Rep. John Atkins from the (House Public Safety and Homeland Security) (C)ommittee at Atkins’ request, effective Tuesday. He had served as the panel’s vice chairman. Atkins […]
Delaware Political Weekly: March 17-23, 2012
I like this, I like this a lot. Ray Adkins (no, not Atkins, be still, your beating heart) of Seaford has filed for the 40th RD seat. The district is currently represented by Rep. Clifford G. ‘Biff’ Lee (R-Laurel), a, wait for it, retired state trooper who inherited the legislative seat from his father upon his death. The district has a nominal D registration edge, so it’s not impossible that the right kind of Democrat, as defined by Sussex County voters, could win the seat. Adkins is a real estate agent, and it appears that portions of Seaford are new to the district, so this could be a sleeper race. What do our Sussex County spies think? Regardless, this is why candidate recruitment is so important, and also shows that Pete Schwartzkopf is damned good at it. I mean, does even Sussex County want to be represented by someone whose preferred name comes from a spelled-out Batman sound effect?
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap=Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 22, 2012
As predicted by Yours Truly, legislation adding public employees to the State Employee Benefit Committee has been assigned to buried in the House Administration Committee, where Pete Schwartzkopf will help Jack Markell kill the bill, just like Pete Schwartzkopf is helping Jack Markell to kill HB 126. While the House Administration Committee has generally been seen as the counterpart of the Senate Executive Committee, the leadership of the committee has rarely exercised the same kind of heavy-handed tactics employed by Thurman Adams and Tony DeLuca on the Senate side. That is, however, what they are doing with these two bills.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 21, 2012
An item I found intriguing was the fact that SB163(Marshall), which would increase Delaware’s minimum wage by $1 over a two year period, and which passed the Senate on January 26, was finally assigned to a House Committee yesterday. And not the committee that you’d expect, which would be the House Labor Committee. No, the bill has been assigned to the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee. It could be nothing, but my Spidey Sense is tingling here. First, the bill is slow-walked. Then, it’s assigned to a committee whose history has been to remove any pesky impediments to economic development, including regulation. Not the most worker-friendly committee, IMHO. Let’s just see what happens here. I do know this: If Jack Markell supports this bill, it passes. If he doesn’t, well, it just could get buried in an inhospitable committee. Stay tuned.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., March 20, 2012
When we last left the House Democratic Caucus, black smoke was pouring from the Leg Hall chimney and nobody, not even the crickets, was making any noise about the fate of Rep. John Atkins. A reasonable person would have concluded that pulling rank on state police for having the nerve to pull Atkins over for speeding was not considered sufficient grounds by the Caucus to sanction Atkins for his action. End of story.
Until Sunday. Thanks to Cris Barrish’s story in the News-Journal, we find out that Atkins had to be lying about his (lack of) involvement in a tire-burning incident at his father-in-law’s place. We also found out that the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Chief, the 911 dispatcher, and a couple of others helped Atkins to cover up the nature of the fire and Atkins’ involvement in it. In other words, we found out what we already knew: Atkins is incapable of telling the truth; Atkins holds himself above the law; and Atkins consistently has public officials covering his back. The Caucus now knows that this story is yet another example of Atkins’ unfitness to hold public office.
Delaware Political Weekly: March 10-16, 2012, feat. BREAKING NEWS!
Rich Krett has withdrawn from the NCCo Executive race because his candidacy apparently would be a Hatch Act violation. This sounds like dirty tricks on the part of Paul Clark. Put the guy’s name on a Federal grant application w/o his knowledge, and then threaten him with a Hatch Act violation. I wish Krett would stand and fight, but people simply can’t afford to throw away their livelihoods, and I understand why he feels he can’t.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 15, 2012
Cassandra has already reported the Big News, and it took place at Wilmington’s Latin American Community Center. In fact, the DREAM Act has not been officially introduced, or at least its introduction has not yet made its way to the official General Assembly page, but it will be introduced, and it will serve as a Rorschach Test for members of the General Assembly and the public at large. I strongly support the bill, it is a bill where the benefits to the state far outweigh any costs that might be associated with it. Unless, of course, you are opposed to an educated and upwardly-mobile citizenry. You know, taxpayers, productive citizens. I don’t know whether the cowardly followers in the Delaware General Assembly will dare pass it during an election year, but I believe that the Dream Act’s passage is ultimately inevitable–eventually. I salute Bob Marshall, Helene Keeley, Joe Miro, and whoever else signs onto the bill as a sponsor; as well as one of my favorite Delawareans, Maria Matos. Maria has served as Executive Director of the LACC since 1994, and her dynamic leadership has made such a difference, and continues to make a difference, in the lives of so many in Delaware’s Hispanic community.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 14, 2012
The House unanimously passed HB 245(Heffernan), which essentially eliminates the ‘R’ word from the Delaware Code. Those of who missed the Al Mascitti Show with yours truly missed a strong disagreement on this issue between us. I was all for the bill, and pointed out that, in many ways, children are ahead of adults now when it comes to respect for their peers who might have unique challenges. Al thought, and I’m paraphrasing here, and I’m not good at paraphrasing, that it was part of some Liberal Groupthink thingy. If you’re not listening from 10-12 every Tuesday morning, you’re missing some damned lively radio.
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The overriding question of the day is: Will the issue of John Atkins’ behavior surface in today’s House Majority Caucus meeting? I spoke to two caucus members in the last few days, and got two distinctly different opinions about what would happen. Neither, to put it mildly, is a strong supporter of John Atkins. One expressed pessimism that the rank-and-file would have the opportunity to weigh in on the issue, and told me that they expected leadership to back Atkins. The other told me that Speaker Gilligan is really angry over Atkins’ behavior, and that they expected a frank discussion of what should be done.
Delaware Political Weekly: March 3-9, 2012
I know a lot of party political types enjoy this site and/or at least tolerate it b/c we do bring something to the table. If you are one of those types, and have not yet had the opportunity to hear our interview with Bryan Townsend, please avail yourself of the opportunity. He is running a serious campaign, has been attending civic association meetings for over six months, and has a real chance to defeat incumbent Sen. Tony DeLuca. That would be, to put it mildly, a huge upgrade, and would put ethically-challenged politicians throughout the state on notice that it’s not back-room business as usual. Plus, just listen to the interview. Wouldn’t you want someone like Townsend as your State Senator?
‘Law-Abiding’ Rep. John Atkins Reverts to Form
Pulled over for speeding, then lying about the consequences. Someone should ask Pete Schwartzkopf whether enabling this chronic miscreant is worth it. Wait a minute, I’m asking that question. But first, the latest antics from Sussex County’s ‘Bad Boy’. The News-Journal’s (buy it to read the story) Maureen Milford reports that, after being stopped for speeding on his way to Dover, and being let off with a warning….
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