Delaware Political Weekly: March 31-April 6, 2012

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This was quite a week. While I wish that this had happened two years ago, I am psyched that Charles "Trey" Paradee has decided to run again. You may recall that Paradee almost knocked off Pam Thornburg in this Kent County 29th District back in 2008. In fact, initial results indicated that he had. Willis has established himself more effectively than most during his first two years, IMHO. However, this has all the earmarks of a competitive race. This oughtta be fun.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., April 5, 2012

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A glimpse inside the Delaware Way, and what it has wrought. Helene Keeley's legislation seeking to reign in predatory lending in the form of payday loans, made it out of committee. But not before one of Delaware's most malevolent lobbyists got an interest rate cap stripped from proposed legislation. Which, of course, wasn't enough for him. From today's News-Journal story:
Speaking for the Online Lenders Alliance, a payday-lending trade group, lobbyist Dave Swayze said efforts to curtail short-term lending fly in the face of Delaware's landmark Financial Center Development Act, the 1981 law that eliminated the state's usury statutes and allowed banks to charge unlimited interest rates. "We will let the marketplace, we will let the buyer and seller, the contract entered into by them, determine the terms of the loan," he said.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., April 4, 2012

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So much for that 2-week meme about the R’s taking over the Delaware State Senate. Admittedly aided and abetted by moi. Just as Sen. Margaret Rose Henry’s switch from R to D swiftly ended then-Sen. Myrna Bair’s publicly-proclaimed dream of becoming Delaware’s first female President Pro-Tem, Sen. Liane Sorenson’s announcement that she would not seek reelection did the same to Sen. Gary Simpson’s. Even if Rep. Mike Ramone jumps into the race, Dave Sokola will almost certainly win, and Ramone’s House seat will flip to the D’s. If Ramone values his legislative pension, he will likely stay right where he is. Sorenson has been described as a moderate, and she certainly is in the mode of a Rockefeller Republican. However, I think she’s more of a progressive than a moderate, and she hasn’t hesitated to support causes that may not be popular with Republican constituencies. The fact that two of Delaware’s very best were tonymandered together is a significant loss to the legislature and the citizens of this state. The state is far better off b/c Liane Sorenson chose to dedicate herself to public service. Jack Markell would do well to ensure that Liane’s public service career continues. We cannot afford to lose people like her. Biff Lee, eh, not so much. But he too announced his retirement yesterday. He used to be a state cop. He used to be in leadership, and now he’s a back-bencher. And he put in 22 years. That’s about it.

Big Breaking News: Liane Sorenson Not Running!!

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Sen. Liane Sorenson (R-Hockessin) has just announced in Dover that she will not run for reelection to the Delaware State Senate, according to reliable sources. Sorenson and Dave Sokola had been placed in the same district by Tony DeLuca after both Sorenson and Sokola opposed DeLuca for President Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate. Sorenson's retirement is a real loss for progressives, as she has had one of the most estimable voting and sponsorship records in Dover. It is also, however, a likely death knell for any hopes that R's had of taking over the Senate chamber.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: April 3, 2012

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The most notable bill passed in the Senate was SB 174(Bushweller), which is designed to help first responders seek and receive critical counseling to deal with the stress they encounter. It’s a well-intended and even essential bill–as long as it doesn’t create a priest confessional type of situation. The House passed HB 202, which ‘makes it an offense to use a handicapped plate or placard issued to another person, unless that person is also in the vehicle’. The idea being, of course, to stop the use of handicapped parking spaces by those who don’t need them. I strongly support a newly-introduced piece of legislation. HB 287(Lavelle) places the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility under the requirements of state procurement laws. About damned time, as this Harris McDowell-driven vehicle has had more than its share of controversy. The bill has bipartisan support, including many of the more reform-minded legislators, and will likely pass the House. Uh, which raises the question of what Tony DeLuca, who counts McDowell as among his supporters, will do once HB 287 reaches the Senate. The bill is in the House Energy Committee, and John Kowalko, who is a co-sponsor, is the committee chair.

Delaware Political Weekly: March 24-30, 2012

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The scuttlebutt in Dover is that Judy Travis, who ran against Rep. Bryon Short in the 7th Rep District in 2010, is planning to primary Cathy Cloutier for the 5th Senatorial District seat. Chris Counihan has already filed for the D's, and is a strong candidate, having garnered 45% against Cloutier in a previous run. Travis has had her eye on elective office at least since she was passed over to run for Wayne Smith's vacated rep seat back in 2007. You remember. The newly reelected Smith left office to become the President and lobbyist for the Delaware Healthcare Association. Smith handpicked his next-door-neighbor over Travis to run for the seat. His neighbor lost to Bryon Short. Twice. But, I digress. For those who think that Cloutier would be a shoo-in in a primary, just remember that Cloutier also ran on the Working Families Party line in 2010. That's the line offered by Brian McGlinchey and other labor guys. Don't think that would endear her to Rethug primary voters, and I wouldn't be totally shocked to see Charles 'Bouvier de Flandres' Copeland do to Cathy what he's doing to Priscilla Rakestraw. Continue to banish moderates from the Party. Needless to say, were this scenario to occur, the R calculus for taking over the Senate would have to be, um, recalculated.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 29, 2012

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Speaker Gilligan said that lobbying reform legislation will pass this session, and I'm sure he's right. After all, yesterday's announcement of lobbyist reform was so important that Governor Markell's own Brian Selander was rolled out to tout this press release:
Dover, DE – A bill that would dramatically expand disclosure requirements for lobbyists was introduced today with broad bipartisan support. Governor Jack Markell joined Senate President Pro Tempore Tony DeLuca, House Speaker Bob Gilligan and legislators to introduce Senate Bill 185. (Bill hasn't officially been introduced, will probably be introduced today.) “How can you tell who’s working to influence the bills that could become the laws that will affect your life? The problem is, in many cases right now, you can’t, because state disclosure laws simply haven’t kept up. This proposal helps solve that problem, bringing needed light to the process,” Markell said. “As a Delawarean, you shouldn’t have to be in the lobby of Legislative Hall or in the offices of a state agency to know who’s trying to shape a law that matters to you. This bill would make that information more available.”

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 28, 2012

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In dramatic fashion, the House passed the first leg of a constitutional amendment which eliminates the five-year waiting period for voting privileges for eligible felons who have completed their sentences. The bill first fell one vote shy of passage (28 votes needed as it requires a 2/3 majority). However, the roll call was rescinded, and Rep. Debbie Hudson switched her vote from 'no' to 'yes', giving the bill the 28th and deciding vote. Democrats voting No: The 'Law-Abiding' John Atkins and 'Lumpy' Carson. R's voting Yes: Don Blakey, Debbie Hudson, Greg Lavelle, and Mike Ramone. A tip of my sombrero to them. And to sponsor Helene Keeley. It's on to the Senate, where I think it has an excellent chance to pass.