Well–not exactly.  This article has been embargoed until after 9 am because of Breaking News.

I won’t keep you waiting long–in fact, not at all.

1.  FOUR Delaware Progressive candidates secure major national endorsements:

Kira Alejandro has been endorsed by Run for Something (RFS), a national organization that recruits and supports the next generation of progressive leaders for state and local office. Alejandro is the first candidate for state or county office in Delaware to receive Run for Something’s endorsement this year.

Past candidates endorsed by RFS include Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay and Congresswoman Sarah McBride. RFS focuses on candidates aged 40 or under, a demographic that is underrepresented in elected office and among voters. Alejandro is 30 and is a lifelong Delawarean who grew up in Hockessin, attended Cab Calloway and UD, and now lives in Yorklyn.

Alejandro is running for the 3rd NCC District currently held by Janet Kilpatrick.

And now, the reason why this article was embargoed:  BREAKING NEWS:

State Senate candidate Shay Frisby has officially been endorsed by SEN. BERNIE SANDERS.  Frisby is seeking the Democratic nomination in SD 5, a seat currently held by Ray Seigfried.

“I am incredibly proud and honored to receive this endorsement from a true champion of the people,” Frisby stated.  “Not only does Sen. Sanders stand with those whose voices are too often ignored, but he inspires those of us who refuse to take corporate money.”

Both Adriana Leela Bohm and Rae Krantz have also been endorsed by Bernie Sanders.  Thanks to Karl Stomberg for the link.  For reasons that only they can explain, the NYTimes article did not actually provide a link to the list of endorsed candidates.  Bernie doesn’t make all that many endorsements as you have to meet a strong progressive standard.  These three superb candidates do just that.

2.  Will The Last Rethuglican Rep. Leaving Dover Kindly Turn Out The Lights?

Two more R’s announced their retirement this week–Reps. Hilovsky and Hensley.  They join fellow R legislators Reps. Gray,  Collins and Postles, and Sen. Lawson in taking their leave from the General Assembly.  There could well be others.  The Hensley retirement in particular gives the D’s a great chance to reach the 2/3rds majority that would effectively render the R’s even more useless than they already are.  Democrats Gemma Lowery and Michelle Wall are in a primary in that RD 9.  The R’s have not yet announced someone to run in Hensley’s stead.  I think whoever wins the D primary would be the favorite.

An R has already filed for Rep. Hilovsky’s seat.  He has run for office, but in a different county.  I remember the name, because who could forget a monicker like ‘Zitofsky’ which, allow me to caution, is not the name of a Polish acne medication.  I will not countenance cheap jokes here.  Anyway, Dan Zitofsky previously ran against both Quin Johnson and Rae Moore in RD 8, a New Castle district that is south of the Canal.  He got 36% against Johnson in 2018, and 43% against Moore in 2020.  D Gregg Lindner got 42.1% against Hilovsky in 2024.  The registration numbers are pretty daunting for the D’s here, but who knows?

Zitofsky seems like a self-styled character, at least based on what I see on the intertubes.  He’s yet another capital finance manager, don’t know why he didn’t run for State Treasurer.  I have no idea what kind of roots, if any, he has in this Suxco district.  Who wants to fill me in?

3.  No Other Filings This Week.

4.  The following incumbents who have not announced their retirement have not yet filed:

RD 1: Nnamdi Chukwuocha–he’s running.  The lobbyists are throwing a big bash for him and Dan Cruce at the Columbus Inn on May 26.  Because they both happily take corporate $$’s.  And they know who owns them.

RD 3: Josue Ortega

RD 5: Kendra Johnson

RD 7: Larry Lambert

RD 8: Rae Moore

RD 15: Kamela Smith

RD 17: Melissa Minor-Brown

RD 18: Sophie Phillips

RD 19:  Kim Williams

RD 21: Frank Burns

RD 22: Michael Smith

RD 25: Cyndie Romer

RD 27: Eric Morrison

RD 32:  Kerri Harris

RD 35: Jesse Vanderwende

RD 36: Bryan Shupe

RD 39: Dan Short

RD 40:  Timothy Dukes.

SD 9: Jack Walsh

SD 12: Nicole Poore

SD 13: Marie Pinkney.

To be clear, the vast majority of those who have not yet filed will indeed file. Perhaps all of them.  Just wanted to share.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

One notable bill passed the Senate yesterday.  SB 22 (Townsend), which aims to increase affordable access to mental health care services in Delaware, unanimously passed and now heads to the House.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Happy to see that SS1/SB 23 (Huxtable) cleared committee despite some opposition from local governments.

Today’s Senate Agenda features SB 249 (Pinkney), which:

‘… (1) Establishes a regulatory framework for substance use harm reduction programs that provides immunities for program providers and staff. (2) Modifies the definition of drug paraphernalia. (3) Decriminalizes possession of paraphernalia for individuals who use drugs, while retaining prohibitions for paraphernalia used in the manufacturing or distribution of drugs and the selling of certain drug paraphernalia.’

We also have Nicole Poore’s sop to RV dealers as well.  She’s gonna need those campaign contributions.

Today’s House Agenda features HB 369 (Gorman), which ‘ codifies Executive Order No. 9 issued on May 1, 2025, by Governor Matthew Meyer regarding the establishment, within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety.’  Y’see, executive orders expire when there’s a new Governor.  This bill ensures that there will be an ongoing Office of Gun Violence Protection and Community Safety’.

Allow me to point out that the much-heralded SB 1 is not on an agenda.

Allow me also to point out that HB 183 (Gorman), which reforms the special elections process, is not on an agenda.  That is due to deliberate malign neglect from Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown.  If the Speaker continues to block this bill from the Agenda, we’ll hopefully have a more favorable environment come 2027.  Gorman will likely be in the Senate, ideally without those senators who benefited from the undemocratic process that enabled their election, and, should the primaries go as hoped, perhaps with a less anti-democratic Speaker of the House.

Marie Pinkney and Matt Meyer With A Legit Healthcare Proposal.  I’ve come to the conclusion that all the posturing against ChristianaCare will amount to nothing because legislators have no intention to allow it to amount to anything..  But this I like:

Delaware lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that would greatly increase the number of patients eligible to receive free treatment, often called charity care, from the state’s nonprofit hospitals.

The legislation, Senate Bill 13, comes months after a Spotlight Delaware investigation called into question the charity care practices at the state’s largest healthcare system, ChristianaCare.

The new legislative push also follows a separate effort last summer in which the state paid off medical debts for thousands of Delawareans, despite hospital charity care policies that could have made that treatment free.

Nonprofit hospitals, like ChristianaCare, are required by the Internal Revenue Service to provide a “community benefit” to earn their tax-exempt status. Historically, that benefit has been charity care.

But changes in recent decades to federal and state guidelines have allowed nonprofit hospitals to set charity care policies at their own discretion, removing any requirement of providing it in order to receive a tax break. 

And Spotlight Delaware’s investigation found ChristianaCare had reported massive excess revenues to the IRS while its free care remained stagnant for more than a decade.

Now, it appears lawmakers are hoping to open the door for more patients to receive free treatment through SB 13. The bill would raise the income cutoff level for receiving discounted or fully covered care. 

Senate Bill 13 would dramatically increase the level at which patients can receive charity care.

In October, Spotlight Delaware reported hospitals had to provide free or discounted care to patients living at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Line, or $55,860.

Under the new proposal, all of the state’s nonprofit hospitals would be required to provide free care to patients living below 300% of the Federal Poverty Line, with large discounts for patients in higher percentage brackets.

• Below 300% of the FPL ($46,950 a year) – Full discount
• 300-350% of the FPL ($46,950 to $54,775 a year) – 75% discount
• 350-400% of the FPL ($54,775 to $62,600 a year) – 50% discount

Separately, the legislation allows people living at 500% of the Federal Poverty Line — $78,250 a year — to seek out a 50% discount if the billed expenses are greater than 10% of their income.

The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Marie Pinkney (D-Bear), said SB 13 would protect patients from “aggressive” medical debt collection practices, expand notification and screening requirements for hospitals to determine if patients are eligible for financial assistance.

According to the bill, patients can’t have their outstanding medical debt sent to collection agencies while they have pending financial assistance claims. And if those hospitals do send patients to collections, the proposal would require them to invalidate that debt.

Hospitals must also “prominently” post their charity care policies in admission and registration areas in addition to on patient bills.

“This bill recognizes something very simple,” Pinkney said. “Healthcare is not truly accessible if people are afraid that getting care will financially ruin them.”

Bottom line:  ChristianaCare has deliberately ignored its responsibility to provide charity care.  This bill seeks to rectify it.  Which reminds me:

State Senator Ray Seigfried (D-Arden) called the trend, “totally unacceptable.”

He added the increase is reflective of a rise in hospital prices over the last 25 years, that significantly outpace worker earnings.

“That trickles down to the average person in terms of co-pays, premiums, and they’re paying way, far too much.”

Is this mic on?  Ray Seigfried’s profession was as a bean-counter for ChristianaCare.   He knew all about how the system was rigged against patients for all that time.  Enabled it. This is nothing more than a (political) deathbed conversion designed to minimize his professional complicity in this systemic rip-off.  But, I digress.

Ah, yes, post-game wrap-up.  Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  As I predicted, the licensing fee increases passed on a straight party-line vote in the Senate, and heads to the Governor.

Today’s Senate Agenda features one notable bill designed to improve access and affordability for mental health treatment.  The bill:

…known as the Fair Standards in Mental Health Care Act, builds on previous work to advance mental health parity and aims to ensure patients with private insurance can access timely, evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder care in Delaware.

While I didn’t excerpt the entire synopsis, it’s well worth reading as this is a pretty comprehensive bill.

OK, let’s check out today’s Committee meeting highlights.  Starting in the Senate:

SB 309 (Seigfried) ‘removes authority from the Department of Corrections to deduct pay from inmate accounts for a proportionate share of the costs of incarceration of inmates in the facility in which the inmate is housed.’  Corrections.

SS1/SB 161 (Pinkney) ‘revises Delaware law governing behavioral health treatment provider organizations by establishing a comprehensive statutory framework governing licensing, oversight, enforcement, client rights, provider duties, incident reporting, and investigations relating to behavioral health treatment services.’  Health & Social Services.

SB 308 (Hansen) ‘provide(s) the (Public Service) Commission with authority and responsibility to: (1) Review and evaluate load forecasts submitted by Delaware Commission-regulated electric distribution companies to PJM’.  This is needed because ‘electricity demand across the PJM footprint, including Delaware, is projected to grow due to data centers, electrification of vehicles and buildings, and other large load additions.’  Meaning, accurate forecasts are essential. Environment, Energy & Transportation.

SS1/SB 168 (Walsh).  Alcohol delivered right to your door.  Yep, special interest legislation.  Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.

SS1/SB 23 (Huxtable).  The synopsis is complex.  The purpose of the bill is not–increasing the availability of affordable housing.  Sen. Huxtable is the leading legislative expert on this issue.  Housing & Land Use.

SB 294 (Cruce) ‘makes full-time students attending post-secondary education for an associate or baccalaureate degree eligible for child care assistance.’  Education.

SS1/SB 300 (Sokola) strengthens licensing requirements for deadly weapons dealers.  Executive.

Time for another cuppa before I tackle today’s House Committee highlights:

HB 355 (Morrison):  ‘The purpose of this Act is to protect victims of sexual assault, discrimination, or harassment from retaliatory lawsuits that arise when a victim of sexual assault discloses information regarding an act of sexual assault, discrimination, or harassment.’  Judiciary.

HS1/HB 356 (Burns) ‘prohibits the sale of class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals starting January 1, 2028.’ Health & Human Development.

HB 387 (Hilovsky) ‘temporarily addresses Delaware’s childcare crisis by gradually increasing Purchase of Care eligibility from 200% to 275% FPL over 5 years starting July 1, 2026, reducing benefit cliffs and supporting moderate-income families.’  Hey, Reps. Morrison and Wilson-Anton are on the bill as co-sponsors, making this a rare constructive bill from an R.  Health & Human Development.

As usual, I didn’t quite finish this in time for today’s very first committee hearing.  But, my intentions were good–which must count for something.

It was bound to happen.  I forgot all about writing this post–until now.

So, whatever I spew out will probably be a bit truncated.

Looks like Michael Dell is skipping town before the multi-billionaire has to spend less than a pittance for licensing renewal fees.  HB 400, which has already passed the House, is on today’s Senate Agenda.  It ‘alters (aka ‘increases’) various fees assessed by the Delaware Secretary of State’.  Not a single Rethug voted for the bill in the House.  Look for a similar straight Party line vote in the Senate.

We also have the ‘DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act’, which codifies the Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council (which projects how much money Delaware has to spend on its budget) as an ongoing entity.  The name is apt, which is why it kinda sickens me, as both DuPont and Cook embodied The Delaware Way at its worst. This one passed the House unanimously, and I’m pretty sure we’ll get the same result in the Senate.  I don’t mind the bill, just the name of the bill.

Didn’t find much of interest on today’s House Agenda, although I suspect the session will be of interest, if only for Kevin Hensley’s announcement that he won’t seek reelection.  Quite a few R’s heading for the exits.  Coincidence, or common sense?

Today’s House Committee highlights:

HB 392 (Ross Levin) ‘is designed to uphold and safeguard the long-standing principle of nonpartisanship for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations operating within the State. The bill reinforces the protections established by the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from engaging in partisan political activities, including endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

Kids, you might find this interesting.  While AIPAC is not a 501(c)(3) non-profit, its sister organization, the American Israel Education Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) organization.  This is how AIPAC itself defines their relationship:

The AIPAC Tomorrow campaign, a planned giving and endowment initiative of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), allows our supporters to invest in the future strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

‍AIEF is the charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby. All gifts to AIEF are subject to the discretion and control of its Board of Directors. AIEF will support only AIPAC programs that are consistent with its status as a charitable and education organization, tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Ho-kay.  Glad we cleared that up.

HB 374 (Lambert) ‘requires that the Office of Management and Budget prepare an annual report regarding hiring for state large public works projects with an aggregate cost of $3 million or more. The information in these reports will help identify if Delaware workers, particularly individuals who live near a state public works project, are being hired to work on these projects and for how many hours.’

Rep. Lambert was at our Democratic RD Committee meeting last night.  He explained that, when companies, many of whom are being gifted grants from the taxpayers for these projects, brag about how many jobs are being created, they provide no information as to how many jobs go to Delawareans.  Labor.

Well, that’s about the short and short of it.

I’ll try to do better tomorrow.

According to one of my best spies, he dropped the news at a constituent coffee this morning.

Conventional wisdom holds that the later one’s campaign starts, the less likely it is to be a winning campaign.  I mean, it only makes sense, right?  A finite number of days to prevail over a presumably better-known incumbent with financial resources already at-hand.

This week, however, marked the start of two campaigns which, for reasons I’ll detail, have every opportunity to upset the conventional wisdom.  Do I start with the breaking news, or the semi-breaking news?  Decisions, decisions.

1.  BREAKING:  Dover Community activist LaChelle Paul announces candidacy in RD 32.  Who, you may ask, is the incumbent in RD 32?  None other that Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris.  It’s hard to think of someone who sold out as quickly as Kerri Evelyn Harris did.  A lot of us were inspired by her story of triumph over hardship.  We came to believe, ultimately mistakenly, that this was a truly empathetic person whose principles would be guided by that empathy.  Instead, after a half-hearted campaign against Tom Carper, she was installed as the Democratic National Committeewoman (I liked that at the time), and was subsequently elected to the General Assembly, where she prioritized establishing coalitions with Val Longhurst and then Mimi Minor-Brown and others who expressly have thrown every roadblock imaginable at the passage of progressive legislation.  They’ve decided that fighting members of their own caucus is more important than passing good legislation.

All of which might not mean anything if LaChelle Paul hadn’t already proven herself to be a change agent in this Dover area district.  Here is her website.  Here is why she is running:

I have been on the front lines in Dover, speaking up on public safety, government accountability, and transparency when others chose not to. I shown up, asked the hard questions, and demanded answers on behalf of our constituents.

Now, I am running for State Representative to take that work to the state level where laws are passed, budgets are decided, and oversight happens.

​My votes will reflect the priorities of the constituents I represent. I will hold my office to a standard of full accountability, maintaining an open door policy with consistent, responsive communication so residents can raise concerns at any time and expect action not just during election season.

​I won’t just talk. I will fight, take action, and be held accountable for delivering results.

​Dover deserves leadership that is present, accountable, and committed to action.

​I will ensure your voice is heard, your concerns are represented, and decisions are made with transparency, accountability, and sound judgment.

​I will not just talk. I will fight for you, take action, and be held accountable for delivering result residents are followed through.

She walks the walk:

Paul On Dover Budget.

Paul On Pedestrian Safety.

Here is the map for RD 32.  You will note that the bulk of the district’s population comes from the northwest portion of the district, most of which is in the City of Dover.  The primary in effect is the general, as here are the voter registration figures for the district:  6688 D; 3018 R; 6686 I.  

I think Chelle Paul has a great chance as it’s at least possible that she’s already as well-known in the district as Kerri Evelyn Harris, whose current renown doesn’t extend much beyond Leg Hall.  Hmmm, wonder how much of Phil Shawe’s $$’s Speaker Mimi will commit to protecting her sidekick.  In checking Kerri’s 2025 annual finance report, it’s striking how virtually all of her money comes from PAC’s and lobbyists. There may, or may not, be two non-lobbyist contributors from the 32nd District.  I couldn’t tell. There are no more than two, I can tell you that.  She’s beholden to the Delaware Way.  They own her.

2.  KEONNA WATSON IS THE REAL DEAL!  She recently announced that she will primary Nicole ‘No Longer’ Poore in the 12th Senate District.   I had the chance to speak with her this week, and I can tell you that, although it’s a late-starting campaign, she is incredibly well-organized, has her action plan all set, and has some of the best political minds in the state helping her out.  Plus, she’s the kind of person you’d want to see in the State Senate.  Here is her website.  Here is why she’s running:

I’m for the people. I am the people. As a Black and Brown woman, a mother, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a lifelong Delawarean, I don’t just fight for this community — I am this community. Together, we’ll build a Delaware where every family has a home, every person has access to care, and no one is left behind.

I’ve dedicated my career to public service and advocacy, earning a doctoral degree not to distance myself from my community, but to bring more tools back to it. My education deepened my understanding of the systems that shape people’s lives — housing, healthcare, food access, safety, rights — and strengthened my resolve to change the ones that fail us. I know what policy looks like on paper, and I know what it feels like when it falls short in real life.

Long before I decided to run for Senate District 12, I was already here — listening, organizing, and advocating alongside the people of this community. I was a young single mother who figured out how to keep going when the road was hard. That experience taught me resilience, yes, but more importantly it taught me empathy. I’ve spent years showing up to community meetings, knocking on doors, and making sure that the voices of everyday Delawareans were heard by those with the power to act on them.

Now that Val Longhurst is in the electoral, if not jurisprudential, rear-view mirror, Keonna is running against the General Assembly’s most blatant surviving double-dealer in Nicole Poore.  (One more, because I like it.)  You might recall that, following Sarah McBride, Kyle Evans Gay, and Marie Pinkney being elected to the State Senate, the first thing the Caucus did was to dump Poore from leadership, largely because she and President Pro-Tem Dave McBride (who Marie Pinkney defeated) had broken their promise to allow common-sense gun reform to be considered.

If you look at the map for SD 12, it’s a district ripe to be won by a challenger.  It runs from New Castle to south of the Canal and west to Caravel Farms.  Two progressive challengers recently won election from the innards of SD 12–Kam Smith, who defeated Speaker Val Longhurst in RD 15, and Eric Morrison, who defeated incumbent Earl Jaques in 2020.  7 of Kam’s ED’s are in SD 12, as are 5 of Eric’s.  Most of the area south of the Canal is represented by R Kevin Hensley, where there is a two-way D primary to challenge him.  Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown represents the Delaware City area, which actually might be a bone of contention between her and Poore.  Val Longhurst bailed out of Delaware City during the 2020 redistricting, leaving Minor-Brown to deal with the corrupt mess that Poore and Longhurst had created with the ‘Underwater City At Fort DuPont’.  Franklin Cooke has the other ED’s and, let’s face it, he’s in no position to get involved in this primary.

When I was knocking doors for Kam in 2024, what struck me wasn’t so much that people disliked Val, but that, even though she was the House speaker, few had ever heard of her.  I suspect that Nicole has been equally non-diligent in attending to her constituents’ concerns.  Meaning, there’s no reason why Keonna can’t follow in Kam’s footsteps.

They both have ‘Donate’ links. Now’s the time if you’ve got the dime.

3.  Oh, Gawd, we have another D candidate for State Treasurer.  If you have your hopes up, prepare for them to be dashed.  It’s that Mike Miller guy.  Not quite a perennial candidate, but a joke nonetheless.  One excerpt:

Miller ran for Congress in 2000 and 2002 against Republican Mike Castle; he was defeated in both races. A graduate of Cape Henlopen High School, Miller ran unsuccessfully for a seat on Cape Henlopen School Board in 2009.

In June 2009 – one month after the school board election – Miller was involved in an argument at Shields Elementary School. He was ultimately banned from school property and prohibited from making contact with school personnel.

*Sigh*.  I guess this means I have to invite him to our RD’s Candidate Forum.

4.  Filings:  Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton (D-RD 26); Incumbent Levy Court At-Large Terry Pepper(D).

I know I promised you a list of those incumbents who have not yet filed for reelection this week.  But the press of news and opinion intervened.  Next week, I promise–unless the press of news and opinion intervenes.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Very happy to see that HS2/HB 151 (Gorman) unanimously passed the Senate yesterday, and now heads to the Governor.  No private prisons for Delaware!  If you look at the bills that Rep. Gorman has introduced this session, you will see a true commitment to civil liberties.  Too bad that Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown refuses to place Gorman’s bill reforming the special elections process on an agenda, but there’s prospective hope there:  Mimi’s Mean Girls’ Coalition might be in even more jeopardy. See tomorrow’s Delaware Political Weekly for details.  Regardless, Gorman projects to be quite the worthy successor to Dave Sokola.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Also happy to see Sen. Pinkney’s bill expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists unanimously passed the Senate.

The highlight of today’s sparse Senate Agenda is consideration of the nomination of Robert Storch to be Delaware’s first Inspector General.    To put it mildly, he is certainly qualified.  And there’s no shortage of targets for, um, inspecting.  This could be ground-breaking.

Today’s House Agenda features HB 337 (Ortega), which addresses a legitimate issue of which I was unaware.  The bill ‘requires that effective amounts of folic acid be added to corn masa flour and corn masa which are staples in many minority diets…Minority communities in the United States face a greater risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), which are serious birth defects that occur during early pregnancy. NTDs include spina bifida, characterized by an opening along the spine that can cause mild to severe nerve damage and disability, and anencephaly, a fatal condition where parts of the brain or skull are missing in newborns. Research has shown that daily intake of folic acid can reduce the risk of NTDs by over half. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated folic acid fortification in enriched cereal grain products in 1998, resulting in a 35% reduction in NTD cases. However, this policy did not include corn masa flour, a staple in many minority diets. 

I also like HB 338 (Gorman), which ‘clarifies that individual, group, and blanket health insurance carriers must provide for and pay for services (including immunizations) that were recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that were in effect as of January 1, 2025. They must also cover immunizations that were supported by national clinical guidelines or national standards of care in effect on January 1, 2025.’  Got that?  The bill essentially tried to prevent health insurance carriers from eliminating payment for these services just because we have RFK Jr. destroying public health at the federal level.

One last note.  Somebody, I don’t know who, voted ‘unfavorable’ on the release of HB’s 294 and 295 from committee.  Guess we’ll find out during the roll call, but it’s gotta be either Tim Dukes or Jeff Spiegelman.

Looks like a ‘Just the facts, Ma’am’ edition today.  But I’ll try to toss in a little snark to make it, if not interesting, at least readable.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Other than a stray ‘Not Voting’ by Sen. Lockman, with which I agree, not much else caught my eye–unless you count Rethugs voting against good legislation, which is as ‘dog-bite-man’ as it gets.

There are two notable bills on today’s Senate Agenda (meaning I like them).

There is more than a little irony, to me at least, concerning SB 283 (Pinkney), which expands the practice of dental hygiene to enable hygienists to fully realize the scope of their expertise.

Way back in 1983 or so, when I was the Research Analyst for the Joint Sunset Committee, the committee had passed some expansion of what dental hygienists could do.  However, the lobbyist for the dentists, one Ned Davis, who doubled as Delaware’s National Democratic Committeeman, skulked (he was a Skilled Skulker) into President Pro-Tem Cordrey’s office, and the next thing we knew, the hacks on the committee who had almost never bothered to show up had mustered up enough support to call an emergency committee meeting at which point the reforms were reversed.  Some things you never forget.  That episode still informs my thoughts on the Delaware Way.  The dentists now need to avail themselves of the skills the hygienists have long had, so I’m glad to see this bill finally make its way to the floor.

HS2/HB 151 (Gorman):

‘…prohibits the State, a unit of local government, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof, from doing the following with respect to a detention facility owned, managed, or operated by a private entity: (1) Enter into an agreement of any kind for the detention of an individual with; (2) Pay, reimburse, subsidize, or defray in any way any cost related to the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of; (3) Receive per diem, per detainee, or any other payment related to the detention of an individual in; (4) Give any financial incentive or benefit to any private entity or person in connection with the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of.

Y’see, privatized prisons are just like privatized nursing homes.  They provide as little service as they can get away with in order to maximize profits.  Who cares about the human toll?  Great bill.

Let’s see what’s cooking in committee this week.  Starting with the House:

HS1/HB 145 (Wilson-Anton) ‘ prohibits law enforcement and courts from requesting, issuing, or enforcing reverse-keyword court orders and reverse-keyword requests, with the exception that reverse-keyword court orders and requests may be utilized to investigate suspected Class A Felonies so long as the search query returns 5 or fewer search hits. It also requires the suppression of evidence derived from an unlawful reverse-keyword search.’ Judiciary.

HB 375 (Morrison) ‘…updates and modernizes Delaware law regarding birth certificates, death certificates, driver’s licenses, identification cards, and marriage license applications, licenses, and certificates (government documents) as follows: • Establishes uniform gender designations. • Provides uniform requirements when an individual seeks to change their gender designation. • Protects the privacy of records related to a change of an individual’s gender designation. • Revises existing law regarding marriage licenses and certificates to reflect current practices and to clarify current procedures.’  Health & Human Development.

HB 364 (Harris) ‘creates a film production tax credit.’ Revenue & Finance.

HS1/HB 216 (K. Williams) ‘expands Delaware’s campaign finance disclosure requirements to provide more transparency regarding the source of funding for contributions to and expenditures made from political committees in the State.’  On the surface, a good bill.  However, there’s already a lot of requirements on the books that the Department of Elections is not doing.  If there is an agency that requires a Sunset review, an Audit, and/or an investigation from the Inspector General, it’s the Department of Elections.  Also, bear in mind, if the General Assembly really wanted a fully-operational effective Department of Elections, it would provide the funding and mandate that the Department does its job.  Elections & Government Affairs.

Wait, What? Check out this bill in the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee.  It’s a constitutional amendment establishing the procedure for replacing the Lieutenant Governor should a vacancy occur.  Here’s what catches my eye:

“This Act is modeled after the process of holding a special election for a vacancy for a member of the General Assembly.”

We’re gonna have caucuses where insiders select the nominee?  Because that’s the current process for filling a vacancy for a member of the General Assembly.

It could and would change if Speaker Mimi placed HS1/HB 183 on an agenda, and it passed.  Her steadfast refusal to do so is an exercise in anti-democracy.  Next Speaker, please.

Signs point to ‘yes’.

Let’s take a trip in the Not-So-Wayback Machine to December of 2021.  December 30, to be specific.  Progressive candidate Becca Cotto is running an insurgent campaign against longtime Rep. Heffernan (Heffernan ultimately had both Sarah McBride and Matt Meyer come to her rescue just in time for the primary, but, I digress).

On December 30, 2021, Rep. Heffernan received a $600 contribution from Ed Mulvihill.  On that same day, she also received a $600 contribution from Peco Liquor Store, Inc.  Mulvihill describes himself as the sole owner and operator of Peco Liquor Store, which is officially a Delaware corporation.  Meaning, if he’s telling the truth, Heffernan, Mulvihill, and Peco Liquors violated Delaware’s campaign laws.

To be specific:

Del. Code Title 15, S. (I can’t do that fancy section logo, sorry) 8012 reads as follows:

A ratable portion of the contribution by the corporation, partnership or other entity shall be deemed to be a contribution under this chapter to the political committee by each such person who owns a 50% or greater interest in the entity, shall be included within the limit imposed by this section on individual contributions, and shall be so included in the reports filed by the candidate committee with the Commissioner under § 8030 of this title.

In other words (barristers, please prove me wrong), a business owner who’s a sole proprietor can’t max out an individual contribution and then max out a contribution from their business.  They can do one or the other. $600 in total for a legislative race, not $1200.

C’mon, folks, ‘fess up.

Also, per usual, the Department of Elections is far less diligent than they could should be.  The Department of Elections seems to not disclose ownership of business entities that donate, despite the fact that they are supposed to be keeping track of that information.  Does anybody seriously think that this apparent violation is the only sweetheart handshake deal that is illegal under Delaware law, but is done with a wink and a nod and no look whatsoever from the ‘enforcement agency’?

In some ways, I can’t blame the Department of Elections.  Delaware’s elected officials prefer a system where Delaware Way stuff like this remains opaque.  At least, they have up until now.  It’s long past time for our elected officials to insist on more transparency on these casual elections violations.

I sincerely hope that someone, anyone, will take this and run with it.  The alternative is–corruption as usual.

Let’s start with two bills whose fates remain uncertain:

SB 1(Townsend) was released to great fanfare, and promised to limit increased costs of primary health care.  The bill cleared its final Senate committee hurdle on April 14, and is ready for Senate consideration.  I remain skeptical of the bill’s final chances based on the success that ChrisianaCare has so far had on getting the General Assembly to bow down to their demands.  Not to mention Governor Meyer’s ongoing support for ChristianaCare’s priorities.  No, it’s not on today’s agenda.

HS1/HB 183 (Gorman) would put an end to the farce of caucuses that gave us Dan Cruce and Ray Seigfried as it enables primaries for special elections.  The bill has been out of House committee since January 14.  Word from a highly-dependable source is that Speaker of The House Mimi Minor-Brown simply refuses to put it on an Agenda.  BTW, to her credit, Rep. Alonna Berry, who was the beneficiary of the current system, is on the bill as a co-sponsor.  To their continuing discredit, neither Cruce or Seigfried are, not that that’s unexpected.

Enough about what’s not happening, at least today.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.  We’ve got more crypto-enabling legislation.  I would hope that we hear some questions from the senators before rubber-stamping this bill.

We’ve got legislation concerning damage to underground utilities.  I’ve got a question.  According to the legislation:

A facility owner’s or facility operator’s failure to perform an act required under the UUDPSA is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1 million, for violations that result in a death; up to $500,000 for violations causing damage to a structure, and up to $100,000 for all other violations. For all violations other than those resulting in death or damage to a structure, the Public Service Commission of Delaware may determine that training provided by the approved notification center may be substituted in lieu of a civil penalty.

That seems a little–generous–to me.  But, what do I know?

Today’s House Agenda features HB 310 (Heffernan), which:

…excludes large energy use facilities from the definition of a qualified facility for purposes of determining eligibility for a tax credit or license fee reduction for the creation of employment and qualified investment in business facilities.

Looking forward to that roll call.

The Senate has several committee meetings today.  Scheduled highlights include:

SB 22 (Townsend) ‘builds on previous work to advance mental health parity and aims to ensure patients with private insurance can access timely, evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder care in Delaware.’ Health & Social Services.

SB 302 (Sturgeon) ‘recognizes that the Public Education Funding Committee’s (PEFC) recommended hybrid model formula to determine public education funding is good public policy and that implementation of the hybrid model should not be delayed any longer than absolutely necessary. As such, this Act provides authority for the Department of Education (Department) to begin making the changes to systems that are necessary to implement the hybrid model for Fiscal Year 2028.’   Yep, looks like it’s finally happening.  Education.

SB 303 (Sturgeon):

‘…the Public Education Funding Commission (Commission) has studied how to improve Delaware’s public education funding policies so that public school funding is equitable and appropriated in a manner that allows public schools, including both school districts and charter schools, to not only spend all money that is appropriated but to do so in a manner that best meets the needs of the students in each school. This Act implements the Commission’s recommendation that the Public Education Funding Commission be established as a permanent body.’  Education.

I am immediately suspicious of SB 286 (Poore).  Poore has been funded to an inordinate extent by Delaware’s auto dealers.  Meaning, I question whether this bill is in the best interests of Delaware consumers or those who have bankrolled her campaigns.  The bill purportedly ‘clarifies portions of Chapter 84 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code pertaining to new recreational vehicle, vessel, or new recreational trailer manufacturer-dealer agreements.’  The length of the synopsis tells us it does a hell of a lot more than that.  Specifically, it requires manufacturers to cut more favorable deals with dealers.  An example:

Manufacturers are required to specify in writing to their new recreational vehicle dealers licensed in the state the dealers’ obligations for pre-delivery preparation, manufacturer-sponsored maintenance programs, manufacturer extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, manufacturer-issued service contracts, parts exchange programs, recall, and warranted service on the dealers’ products. In addition, manufacturers must compensate their new recreational vehicle dealers for these services and provide the dealers with a schedule of compensation and the time allowances for the performance of the work and services. Termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or alteration of a dealership. In the event a new recreational vehicle dealer terminates, cancels, or fails to renew a manufacturer-dealer agreement for good cause, and the manufacturer fails to cure the deficiencies, at the new recreational vehicle dealer’s election and within 45 days of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, the manufacturer must, in addition to its existing obligations, compensate the dealer for any transporting, handling, packing, storing, and loading of any returned parts, tools, and equipment.

We now know who wrote the legislation.  Oh, and now we know why Poore is sponsoring it. She needs the campaign $$’s.  Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.

Only two House committee meetings today. Let’s see if there are any highlights–why, yes:

HB 369 (Gorman) ‘codifies Executive Order No. 9 issued on May 1, 2025, by Governor Matthew Meyer regarding the establishment, within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety.’  Public Safety & Homeland Security.

HB 211 (Bush) ‘creates a tax credit for which accelerators may apply to incentivize the creation of industry and innovative businesses in Delaware. This tax credit may not reduce the recipient’s tax burden by more than 50% and the program will be administered by the Division of Revenue.’  Oh, so this bill could reduce the recipient’s tax burden by 50%.  So Delaware Way.  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.

HB 373 (Heffernan) ‘…allows manufacturers to operate in Delaware with authorization, and sets forth manufacturing and product requirements. Out-of-state and in-state manufacturers must deliver their infused beverages to licensed importers, who must comply with notice and testing requirements before the infused beverages can be transported from an importer’s warehouse to package stores for sale, and must keep detailed records of their shipments. Package stores may obtain authorization to sell infused beverages for off-premises consumption, and must comply with requirements concerning the placement of infused beverages in the store, signage, and packaging criteria. This Act also allows licensed retail marijuana stores to sell infused beverages.

Got that?  Package stores will get a big slice of this business if this bill passes.    A windfall, really.  Pecos Liquor wins, Ed Mulvihill wins, lobbyist Sean Finnigan wins.  So Delaware Way.  The losers? the so-called marijuana industry that was supposed to be the beneficiary of legalization.  Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce

Which reminds me–coming later today–more on the unholy alliance between Deb Heffernan and Ed Mulvihill.  Including the following question:  Were laws broken?

(Man, I’m getting better on these teases.  Pats self on back.)

The announcements were made at a Working Families Party event this morning at the Wilmington PAL.  The following were endorsed:

Adrianna Leela Bohm, SD 1.  Running against incumbent Dan Cruce.

Shay Frisby, SD 5.  Running against incumbent Ray Seigfried.

Shané Darby, RD 1.  Running against incumbent Nnamdi Chukwuocha, maybe.  He hasn’t yet filed.

Rae Krantz, RD 6.  Running against lobbyists’ puppet Ed Mulvihill–IF he files.

Pamela Salaam, RD 16.  Running against incumbent Franklin Cooke.

Will Imbrie-Moore, RD 19. Running against incumbent Kim Williams.  Neither candidate has filed yet.

WFP leaders called this the ‘first wave of endorsements’ as there may well be others.

1.  BREAKING: Nicole Poore Has A Challenger!  Keonna Watson.  Got this in my e-mail yesterday evening:

Friend,

I am Delaware.

I was raised in New Castle County—shaped by these streets, these neighborhoods, and the people who showed up for one another when systems too often failed us.

My roots run deep here.

My parents were one of the first Black couples to purchase a home in the Rosegate community in the 1960s.

Years later, in 1980, they moved to Holloway Terrace, where they were the only Black family in the neighborhood for years, at a time when integration was not always welcomed.

Still, they built a life there—and they taught me resilience, service, and the meaning of true community.

I grew up in Holloway Terrace, just off the Route 9 corridor—a road that connects so much of our community and so many of our stories.

Today, I proudly live in Delaware’s 12th Senate District.

My commitment to New Castle County has never been limited by district lines. I have spent my life listening, advocating, and fighting for change across our communities.

And now, I’m ready to do that in Dover.

For my birthday tomorrow, May 1st, I’m announcing my campaign for Delaware State Senate, District 12.

As a black and brown woman, a mother, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a person living with a disability, and the descendant of migrants who came here in search of opportunity, I carry those experiences with me every day—not as burdens, but as the blueprint for the work I know needs to be done.

I know what it means to struggle.

I know what it means to persevere.

And I know what it means to fight for what should already be ours.

I’m running because too many of us are living lives that the people in power don’t seem to understand.

Families priced out of homes their parents could afford.

Folks skipping preventative care because a visit costs too much.

Kids walking into school hungry.

None of this is inevitable.

All of it is fixable — if we send people to Dover who actually know what it feels like.

I’m for the people. I am the people. You deserve a State Senator who understands your life because she’s lived it.

If $25 isn’t doable right now, come knock doors with me instead — that means just as much.

>> SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER <<

Let’s build a Delaware where every family has a home, every person has access to care, and no one is left behind.

In community,

Keonna

P.S. The first 48 hours of a campaign matter more than you’d think — they tell every reporter, every skeptic, and every neighbor who’s still deciding that this campaign is real. If you’re with me, today is the day to say so. >> CHIP IN $10 <<

I don’t know anything about her.  I don’t know how much preparation she’s done.  But she’s running against a self-dealer who parlayed her office into a six-figure job with a worthless agency.  If she’s for real, she can win.

Whoa! Is this her?  If so, she’s got some serious cred.  Was just appointed to the Governor’s LGBTQ+ Committee:

Dr. Keonna Watson
Headshot
Dr. Keonna Watson is a Queer Black Woman, Educator, and Community Advocate dedicated to advancing equity, healing, and liberation for LGBTQ+ communities across Delaware. Since 2005, she has created affirming spaces that center joy, visibility, and justice, particularly for Queer People of Color. She is the Founder and President of FreeLee Life Services for Individuals & Families, Inc., established on March 17, 2016, a nonprofit organization committed to dismantling systemic oppression impacting LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and Women through advocacy, resource access, and healing-centered programming. Dr. Watson is also the owner of a holistic mental health practice that provides affirming, multipath care for individuals across the lifespan, with a strong emphasis on LGBTQ+ wellness of mind, body, and spirit. In addition to her clinical and community work, Dr. Watson serves as a Professor of Psychology and Sociology, where she integrates psychosocial, sociocultural, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical perspectives into her teaching. Through her ordained ministry, she also affirms and celebrates Queer love by officiating commitment and marriage ceremonies. Dr. Watson’s work is rooted in ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those at the intersections of race and identity, are seen, supported, and able to thrive.

2.  Julianne Murray Sez ‘Thanks, But No Thanks’:

Former Delaware Republican Party Chair Julianne Murray announced she will decline the party’s nomination for attorney general after delegates selected her during the April 25 convention, despite her not actively seeking the role.

“After careful consideration and thoughtful prayer, I have decided that I will respectfully decline the nomination for Attorney General,” she said.

In a statement from Murray, Murray said she was “deeply honored by the confidence” shown through the unexpected nomination.

Murray clarified that she was not present at the convention and had not entered the race. She noted that, at the time, no declared Republican candidate for attorney general had emerged, prompting delegates to take what she described as the “extraordinary step” of drafting her.

Yo, Rethugs:  There’s always Richard Forsten. Although…he probably doesn’t want to tout his R connections since he’s seeking reelection to the Appoquinimink School Board.  Uh, voters, you might want to remember that…

3.  This List Depresses Me.  There are about four people on this list who I like.  The rest define everything that sucks about the Delaware Way.  OK, I couldn’t cut-and-paste it.  It’s for Ted Lauzen’s Fundraiser.  The host committee consists of Laura Sturgeon (what’s up with that, Laura?), Marcus Henry, Jeff Bullock, Tony DeLuca, Bud Freel, Ed Freel, Margaret Rose Henry and Frank Vavala.  Among the others: Rebecca and Robert Byrd, Mitch Crane, Debra DeLuca, Sean Finnigan, Kim Gomes, Scott Kidner, Tanner Polce, and Rhett Ruggerio. 

I’m calling it–they see this guy as someone who they can ride to the Governor’s office.   His family has a long history in elected R politics in Ohio.  Tread carefully.

4.  Did I Mention School Board Elections?  Here are the candidates.  The elections are on May 12.  Did I mention Richard Forsten in Appo?  There are six filed candidates for three at-large spots.  Might I suggest–anybody but Rich Forsten?  Are there any endorsements out there?  Didn’t see any on the DSEA page.  I know that Shané Darby has endorsed Celita Cherry for a spot on the Christina School District Board, which is good enough for me.

5.  Kyle Grantham Files For NCC Council District 3.  He will primary Kira Alejandro to seek to succeed Janet Kilpatrick.  Here’s his webpage, which is not bad.  Although (a) some of the language is of the ‘it-can-mean-whatever-you-want-it-to’ school, and (b) I’m a big fan of Kira Alejandro, who has been on the front lines of activism, especially in Yorklyn.  So I’m hardly the most objective observer in this case.

6.  Filings: Rep. DeShanna Neal (D-RD 13);  Rep. Sean Lynn (D-RD 31).

Coming next week: Who HASN’T filed yet?  Expect lots of uninformed speculation.  I’m really good at that.

That’s all I’ve got this week (isn’t this enough?).  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

By insiders, I mean at least two of Delaware’s top corporate lobbyists, and blood relatives of Tiny Tony DeLuca.

As you know, Deb Heffernan announced her retirement last week. She will not run for reelection.

A great candidate, Rachel ‘Rae’ Krantz, has been running for that seat for several months now.  She would be an incredible legislator.

Because nature and Delaware Way insiders abhor a vacuum of vacuous empty vessels,  Ed Mulvihill posted his campaign page and announced his candidacy before the tears had dried on Heffernan’s speech.

He was, and is, the chosen candidate for the Delaware Way folks on that RD 6 committee.  It is a schizophrenic committee in that there are some great progressives on the committee.  It is also the home of two powerful lobbyists and three members of one family, a family who are blood relatives with the disgraced and disgraceful DeLuca.  Did I say three members of one family?  Actually three members of two families.  The other family?  Yep, the Heffernans.

Ed Mulvihill is the owner-operator of Peco’s Liquors on Philadelphia Pike.  He is a Republican-turned-Democrat who has maxed out to Deb Heffernan at least since 2021.  Feel free to go further back, should you desire.  I mean, there’s nothing really wrong with maxing out to your local state rep.

Here’s where it starts to get interesting.  According to his Facebook, Mulvihill has served as president of the Delaware Small Beverage License Council.  Nothing wrong with that–presumably a network of small liquor retailers.  Here’s where it turns from interesting to incestuous.   The Delaware Small Beverage License Council lobbies on pretty much every alcohol-related bill before the General Assembly.  Its chief lobbyist is Sean Finnigan who, yes, along with two other Finnigans, sits on the RD 6 committee.  Finnigan previously was the House Chief Of Staff for the House D Caucus.  He parlayed that into this position, and serves on the RD 6 Committee along with perhaps the uberest of uber-lobbyists–Bobby Byrd.  These are the people behind this candidacy.  

Here is Sean Finnigan’s client list.  Not only is the Delaware Small Beverage Council on the list, here are the bills that Finnigan has lobbied for on behalf of Mulvihill’s organization.  That’s a lot of bills and, in some cases, the Delaware Small Beverage Council took positions in opposition to what I would consider the public interest, and Finnigan ran interference for them.

While we’re at it, here is a list of Bobby Byrd’s clients.  It’s um, lengthy.  Byrd also throws around his clients’ money for ‘Food, Refreshments, and Entertainment’.  Looks like lotsa complimentary beer from Anheuser-Busch.

Which reminds me–Sean Finnigan has done something similar–once.   The beneficiaries?  Trey Paradee, Deb Heffernan, Ed Osienski, and noted Democrat (not) Jeffrey Spiegelman.

Which illustrates my point–the people from RD6 backing this Mulvihill guy are backing him because they are confident that he will support the business of their clients once elected.  After all, his organization is a client. In doing so, they expect him to take positions that directly conflict with the platform and policies of the Democratic Party.  I mean, just go back and look at the clients for Byrd and Finnigan.  In many cases, those clients are the enemies of positive change.  Delaware Way all the way.

I don’t know what the entire 6th RD Committee will do.  But if it’s a numbers game, perhaps enough Delaware Way insiders will do for Mulvihill what they did for Dan Cruce.  Which also reminds me–I’m just shocked, shocked that the first two ‘likes’ for Mulvihill’s candidacy came from Rethug-turned-D James Spadola and, wait for it, Dan Cruce’s spouse.

If you’re a Democrat with a conscience, head on over here and help elect a true progressive leader in RD 6.  While you’re at it, help elect a true progressive leader to replace Dan Cruce.