Delaware
Republicans Love Minority Protections, for themselves
Senator Simpson has filed a bill (SB 46) that proposes a state Constitutional Amendment that would require at least one member of both the Court of Chancery and the Supreme Court be residents of and been appointed from the Bars of each of the three counties. Already we have Constitutional provisions requiring that the Supreme Court have “equal” representation between the parties, which, given that is a 5 member Court, is impossible, but it means that there will be at least 2 Republicans on the Court at all times.
Now, Senator Simpson wants 2 members of the 5 member Court to be from Kent and Sussex County. Screw whether or not any potential Justice is qualified or not, or whether the Governor wants to nominate them or not. Because, the primary consideration of all citizens has to be the feelings of downstate Republicans.
But you know what, I am in a compromising mood. I would gladly support Senator Simpson’s geographical balance Amendment if he and all Republicans agree to repeal the partisan balance provisions.
Protect Us From Sharia Law, Senator Lawson!!!
Senator Dave Lawson says that he will introduce legislation designed to keep foreign laws and lawsuits from intruding on Delaware’s court system. And the legislation will naturally have a teabag Republican name, since the threat the legislation is addressing only exists in the fever dreams of teabag Republicans watching Fox News.
![Tuesday Daily Delawhere [4.7.15]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/16836882379_7fc0578d88_c.jpg "Tuesday Daily Delawhere [4.7.15]")
Punkin Chunkin Tort Reform
Republican Senator Brian Pettyjohn tried to enact a state wide $1 million damages cap for any personal injury or wrongful at a special event, otherwise known as Republican Tort Reform, under the guise of saving the Punkin Chunkin competition. The Democrats on the Senate Executive Committee weren’t having it. And good for them.
How about we try some other things first before we change the only protection a citizen has against corporate malfeasance and negligence: the civil jury system. How about having those ATV riders sign a waiver? How about you inspect the field for holes and dangerous conditions prior to the competition? How about you train these volunteers better? How about we wait to see how this pending litigation involving the ATV accident plays out? It may be that the jury finds no negligence and/or awards a much reduced amount than what the Plaintiff is asking for, thus rendering the supposed need for this legislation moot.
Vote Tracker For the Week of March 30-April 3, 2015
Last week the Delaware Senate passed again, as they did last year, the repeal of the Death Penalty. And as last year, the voting produced odd bipartisan ‘alliances,’ which demonstrates that on this issue, and perhaps only this issue, partisan considerations take a back seat to considerations of faith and conscience. Republican Senators Cloutier, Lopez and Republican Minority Leader Simpson all voted to repeal. Democratic Senators Hall-Long, Ennis, Marshall and Poore voted to keep the Death Penalty. Monsignor Lavelle, as El Som is fond of calling the Minority Whip, was absent, in today’s display of a lack of courage or conviction.
Senator Poore’s bill implementing the IEP Improvement Task Force Recommendations was rescued from the table and passed the Senate 20-1, with the sole No being Republican Gubernatorial candidate Colin Bonini.
Senator Townsend’s SB 47, which modernizes and reorganizes the Public Defendant’s Office in order to ensure that indigent people charged with crimes are well represented, passed the Senate 20-1. The sole NO vote? You guessed it. Republican Gubernatorial candidate Colin Bonini.
Rep. Lynn’s bill to require the use of helmets when bikers are riding their motorcycles on Delaware roads (HB 54) has met the anticipated opposition (wearing helmets = tyranny) and has been left in limbo in Committee. The Committee did not table it, nor did it vote it down or release it. It’s just hanging there in mid-air in suspended animation. Much like a biker is when time slows down after an accident has thrown him or her from their bike into air. It is during that moment in time that the biker realizes he or she is about to die, and probably really should have worn that helmet. Lucky for all of us, we no longer have to deal with the idiot opinions of that biker, because he or she will be dead.
![Monday Daily Delaware [4.6.15]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/16261155954_77d14476e5_c.jpg "Monday Daily Delaware [4.6.15]")
Sunday Daily Delawhere [4.5.15]
![Sunday Daily Delawhere [4.5.15]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/16835326278_c0e6097e53_c.jpg "Sunday Daily Delawhere [4.5.15]")
Trinity Episcopal Church, at Delaware Avenue and Adams Street in Wilmington’s Trinity Vicinity. The church was built in 1890, and is the descending congregation from Old Swedes Church. Happy Easter!
Saturday Daily Delawhere [4.4.15]
![Saturday Daily Delawhere [4.4.15]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/16267948643_9d96324be3_c.jpg "Saturday Daily Delawhere [4.4.15]")
An often flooded road to Prime Hook Beach in Milton, DE. Photo by Mike Mahaffie on Flickr.
The Weekly Addresses
President Obama address the Iranian Nuclear Agreement between the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Iran that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and will make our country, our allies, and our world safer.
Governor Markell explains the importance of global trade and the state’s Strategic Export Plan in his weekly message.
Here is this week’s Legislative Update features a bipartisan group of women lawmakers from the House and Senate unveiling a package of bills this week that address issues facing women across Delaware.
![Friday Daily Delawhere [4.3.15]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/16372025558_d5d8dec055_c.jpg "Friday Daily Delawhere [4.3.15]")
Thursday Daily Delawhere [4.2.15]
![Thursday Daily Delawhere [4.2.15]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/16895833005_f356bcc7c3_c.jpg "Thursday Daily Delawhere [4.2.15]")
Houses on Shallcross Avenue in Wilmington’s Forty Acres neighborhood, the city’s historically Irish section. Photo by xzmattzx.
Governor Markell to Hold Open Auditions for Lt. Governor Vacancy
From the Press Release:
Dover, DE – Recognizing the obvious void felt following the departure of former Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn who was recently sworn in as Attorney General, and his anxiety about a possible Jeff Bullock term as Governor, Governor Markell announced today he would be holding open auditions to fill the Lt. Governor vacancy. Candidates must be Delaware natives, have a 5th grade reading level or a degree from Yale Law School and children more photogenic than the officeholder.
“During his tenure as Lt. Governor, Matt spent a majority of his time at elementary schools or attending events I was ‘too busy’ to attend,” said Governor Markell. “One of his most endearing qualities was his ability to blend in with the crowd – whether it was a bunch of 3rd graders or a knitting club in Long Neck. Any respectable candidate should embody that same quality.”
Wednesday Daily Delawhere [4.1.15]
![Wednesday Daily Delawhere [4.1.15]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/16708421210_1925d70a96_c.jpg "Wednesday Daily Delawhere [4.1.15]")
Yes, this is not an April Fools Joke. This Mushroom-looking House at the Winterthur Country Estate and Museum in Montchanin is actually called the Tulip Tree House, and it is located in the Enchanted Woods portion of the estate’s gardens. The Enchanted Woods and Tree House were built in 2000 and 2001 as a family-friendly, […]
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