Vote Tracker for February 4, 2015

Vote Tracker for February 4, 2015

We are starting to get some serious legislation now. Rep. Helene Keeley's Marijuana Decriminalization Bill was introduced last week. As HB 39, the purpose of the bill is to decriminalize the possession or private use of a personal use quantity of marijuana, or more specifically, persons who possess one ounce or less of marijuana shall be assessed a civil penalty that will not become part of a criminal record and must forfeit the marijuana. These persons will also not be subject to incarceration. In other words, you will get something similar to a traffic ticket. Section 2 of the bill treats public use or consumption of an ounce of marijuana or less shall be considered an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a $200 fine or imprisonment of not more than 5 days, which is in line with the penalty for possession or consumption of an open container of alcohol. Current laws make possessing one ounce or less of marijuana in the First State a misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail, a criminal fine of up to $575, or both. Republicans have also introduced their Estate Tax Repeal. Currently, the Delaware Estate Tax only applies to estates worth more than $5.43 million. So let's all be honest and call this bill the Making the Rich Richer Bill.
Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up: January 27-29, 2015.

Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up: January 27-29, 2015.

As a would-be oligarch, Jack Markell introduced a proposed budget that will make him a welcome guest at Chateau Country's finest soirees. As a putative Democrat, his budget is disgraceful and indefensible.  Guess whose taxes will increase? Seniors who get a modest tax break on their homes. That's it. You know why that break was implemented in the first place? To make seniors less likely to oppose public school referenda due to the impact it would have on their fixed incomes.  For Markell, it's a two-fer: Screw seniors on a fixed income and make it harder for public school districts to raise funds.  BTW, it's time we face reality.  We really are an oligarchy and not a democracy.  Take some time to read this, and then come back.
Simpson (Guilelessly) Proposes Repealing Delaware Estate Tax

Simpson (Guilelessly) Proposes Repealing Delaware Estate Tax

The most interesting thing about this proposal to abolish the estate tax is that it is so transparent and honest. All the malarkey about this benefiting "farmers" and "small businesses" has been mercifully dropped, and the ranking Republican in the Senate simply states the truth - this is to help rich people.