Delaware
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Mon., June 30, 2014
The Longest Day. Here’s what a final day is usually like. Legislators drift in, and sessions generally begin around 4 pm or so. Dinner break a couple hours later. Because of, um, unfortunate instances of overindulgence in the past, members and staff generally dine in Leg Hall. In the past, lobbyists have paid for dinner. […]
Monday Daily Delawhere [6.30.14]
![Monday Daily Delawhere [6.30.14]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/14495442404_6f09312fab_o.jpg "Monday Daily Delawhere [6.30.14]")
A garden entrance in the People’s Republic of Arden. š Photo by xzmattzx.
Why Isn’t John Carney Supporting H.R.1852, the Email Privacy Act?
Since the Supremes pretty clearly told law enforcement that they needed to get a warrant to search your cell phone, there has been renewed attention on H.R.1852, the Email Privacy Act. Introduced by Representative Kevin Yoder [R-KS-3] in May 2013, this law would revise the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, requiring subpoenas to search emails, no matter how long they had been stored (they can now look at email stored for more then 180 days without a warrant) and allowing ISPs to communicate to the targets that their emails were requested by law enforcement. As of this writing (6.29.2014), John Carney has not joined the 220 Representatives (138 R, 82 D — BIPARTISANSHIP!) who are looking to refine the due process around law enforcement looking at your emails.
Sunday Daily Delawhere [6.29.14]
![Sunday Daily Delawhere [6.29.14]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/14516854743_859676e852_o.jpg "Sunday Daily Delawhere [6.29.14]")
The Cullen Bridge at the Indian River Inlet north of Bethany Beach. Photo by xzmattzx.
Saturday Daily Delawhere [6.28.14]
![Saturday Daily Delawhere [6.28.14]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14495442304_3fc95f269a_o.jpg "Saturday Daily Delawhere [6.28.14]")
The Procession of the Saints through Little Italy in Wilmington, Delaware. Photo taken by xzmattzx.
Hey! Don’t Forget the DL Get-Together This Saturday!
Well… in case you’ve forgotten… Saturday, June 28th 7:00pm Firestoneās (Wilmington Riverfront) If you haven’t RSVP’d in the comments (not that it’s necessary!)… have at it!
Delaware Political Weekly: June 21-27, 2014
Yes, Chris Coons has a Republican challenger. His name is <strong>Carl Smink</strong>. Here's what I know. He's filed, but hasn't announced.Ā He's from Milton. His website is under construction.Ā He has written a few op-eds, or maybe letters to the editor, for the Cape Gazette, none of which are readily available unless you're a subscriber. He <strong>IS, </strong>however,Ā a "Drill, Baby, Drill" kinda guy who hates socialism. Ok.
Two Kent County state reps may not even make it to November, and I must say I'm surprised. Both <strong>Harold Peterman (33rd RD) </strong>and <strong>Don Blakey (34th RD) </strong>are being challenged. Peterman's opponent is <strong>Charles Postles</strong>, who appears to be the chair of…the <strong>33rd Republican RD Committee. </strong>
Blakey's challenger is <strong>Lyndon Yearick</strong>,Ā who doesn't fit a Tea Party profile, at least not on the surface. Active in the United Way, mentoring programs,Ā and also the Chair of the 34th RD, Yearick looks like the kind of candidate R's looking to restore credibility to their Party would seek out. He's currently the Maryland/Delaware Campus Director for Kaplan Test Prep. He has an MBA from Penn State (OK, now <strong>that's </strong>a cult).Ā <a href="http://www.yatedo.com/p/Lyndon+Yearick/normal/a5ff349a0ada08c4fdcb0cf7b1c61be8">By far, one of the moreĀ interesting candidate profiles I've come across. </a>
My question is this: Why would two RD chairs primary sitting state legslators? Usually, the legislators themselves have a huge say in who the RD chair is. <strong>Is it possible that Peterman and/or Blakey are retiring even though they've filed?</strong> One would think so. C'mon Kent County, help me out here.
Friday Daily Delawhere [6.27.14]
![Friday Daily Delawhere [6.27.14]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/14495442414_e95e346cc3_o.jpg "Friday Daily Delawhere [6.27.14]")
Some more Italian Festival at St. Anthony’s in Wilmington. Photo taken by xzmattzx.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 26, 2014
The Senate approved a new Supreme Court Justice, Karen Valihura, and David Small as DNREC Secretary. I canāt let this go without a comment about Justice Carolyn Bergerās resignation from the Delaware Supreme Court and her seemingly āinjudiciousā comments. I donāt know it sheās right on the specifics of Markell not taking her seriously, but sheās right on point when it comes to, well, I guess the operative word is āpaternalismā, when it comes to women appointees to judgeships.
When I first started working in Dover, the operative word was āchauvinismā. Iāll leave it to others to decide whether paternalism is a step up from chauvinism. To me, itās āsame old wine in a brand new bottleā. From Philadelphia Business Journal:
Bergerās situation outlines a concern in some quarters in Delaware that women do not have enough of a role on the judicial branch. Berger said women have advanced on the stateās family court, superior court and court of common pleas. She is also the only female to serve on the Court of Chancery, which deals with business litigation.
āFamily court is the only court ever to have a woman chief judge,ā Berger said. āThe court of chancery has had no women judges for the past 20 years, despite the fact that several well-qualified women have applied in the past. And Iāve been the only woman on the supreme court. Many other states have more than one woman justice, and in several jurisdictions, women justices outnumber male justices.ā
Maybe itās the same menfolk arguing that Delawareās courts are the nationās most prestigious who, in their own paternalistic minds, donāt want the wimmenfolk messing with that reputation. Perhaps the wimmenfolk who are assuming the leadership role in the State Senate just might have something to say about this moving forward. I hope so. But, I digress. You can as well. In the comments section.
Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.26.14]
![Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.26.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/14495554842_4ed1848e42_o.jpg "Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.26.14]")
The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington’s Rodney Square. Photo by xzmattzx.
Delaware’s Special Education Program “Needs Intervention”
Public schools are required to provide the educational resources to meet the needs of students with disabilities can make progress in school. Today, the Obama Administration announced that they were tightening oversight and the rules for assessing whether schools were doing what they are meant to do under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Part of today’s announcement was an assessment of the status of various state’s programs according to the new guidelines. […]
In that reassessment, Delaware falls into the “Needs Intervention” category.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 24, 2014
I really didnāt think this would happen, and, I must admit, Iām almost stunned that the General Assembly would choose political expediency over our deteriorating infrastructure. The Governor is not exempt from criticism. Far from it. Jack Markell (a) waited until an election year to play a game of chicken on infrastructure spending; (b) likened the need to continue our ongoing periodic road maintenance program to swallowing bitter medicine rather than pointing out the benefits to our stateās economy from having those great construction jobs; and (c) decided to (pardon the expression) muddy the waters by making this a two-fer with a proposed clean water initiative. Horrible messaging, horrible staff work.
Still, I never expected the Delaware General Assembly, by dint of deliberate inaction, to blow (at least) a $70 million hole in the annual transportation capital budget. $70 million less spent on keeping our roads and bridges drivable in FY 15 than was spent in FY 14. (Well, maybe $60 mill, should the Honorables hike weekend tolls on Rt. 1.) This is blatant dereliction of duty. From the ridiculous (Valerie Longhurst proclaiming that she simply wonāt allow a gas tax increase) to the equally-ridiculous (Greengrocer Hocker claiming that, since the Dās canāt pass this by themselves, heās not going to āhelpā them). Never mind everybody who drives in this state who will suffer the consequences. Iāve been around a long time. This Profile in Cowardice ranks near the top of the most cynical gestures ever to emerge from Dover. When the roads become pockmarked, you know who to blame. Call them on it. And if you live in one of these idiotsā districts, and you have the chance, vote against them.
While ignoring public safety, the Honorables appear poised to provide another $10 million to help bail out the bad business decisions made by greedy racino millionaires who were literally given licenses to steal by the State. Who could possibly argue that our legislative luminaries have their priorities in order? Looks like weāre headed towards a horrible conclusion to what has generally been a good legislative session.
QOD — Why Can’t Delaware’s Utilities Participate in Consumer Conservation Programs?
I know I’m late to this — it was in the NJ in late May — but I keep thinking about this and wonder WHY exactly this is:
Delmarva is currently banned from providing help with home efficiency upgrades, with the SEU designated as the primary provider in this regard. Rather than reaching 1,500 homes, the SEU could reach 30,000 homes by involving Delmarva Power in the program’s execution, O’Mara said. The bill would also allow utilities to credit some energy efficiency toward their renewable power purchase requirements after a utility achieved a full 15 percent reduction in overall energy usage through efficiency measures.
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