Delaware
Thursday Daily Delawhere [1.30.14]
![Thursday Daily Delawhere [1.30.14]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/12163228023_0ae55aa365_z.jpg "Thursday Daily Delawhere [1.30.14]")
This is titled “Frohoboth Beach” by Dancer Burns / Moxie Photos on Flickr. But doesn’t look like Rehoboth to me. More like Cape Henlopen.
![Wednesday Daily Delawhere [1.29.14]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/12170792095_aef728c8d5_z.jpg "Wednesday Daily Delawhere [1.29.14]")
In Case You Were Wondering If Republicans Got Their Act Together And United…
They haven’t. Here’s who the GOP has responding to the President’s State Of The Union address:
1. The official GOP response is to be delivered immediately after the SOTU by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
2. Americans will also get a rebuttal from Tea Party Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
3. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) will give a pre-recorded address (because he’s psychic?)
4. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) announced Monday she will deliver her own State of the Union response in Spanish
That’s four – count ’em, FOUR! – different Republican responses.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 28, 2014
Well. That was quite an ambitious, and welcome, State of the State Address from Governor Markell last Thursday. There is no surer way to jump-start our state’s economy and, not coincidentally, address long-postponed infrastructure deficiencies, than by proposing a massive capital upgrade. Our roads and bridges need it. So do our workers. I suspect that we will hear this week how Gov. Markell intends to pay for the proposed $500 million program. No doubt an increase in the gas tax will be one of the proposed revenue generators.
I, for one, strongly support such an increase. People have choices as to what kinds of vehicles they drive. If they want to drive massive gas-inhalers, that’s their choice. If they opt to downsize, that’s their choice. The fewer massive gas-inhalers out there, the less pollution gets emitted. Those with mass transit and/or car pool options would be more likely to consider them should gas prices rise. There would be fewer unnecessary trips if people really were concerned about higher gas prices. Less traffic, smaller vehicles, less pollution. Why not raise the gas tax to help pay for this engine of economic recovery? There no doubt will be other revenue sources. I, of course want to see some equity restored to our tax code. But I’m completely on board with this proposal.
Lotsa other good stuff in there as well, including specific job skills training for high school students, and an intense campaign to clean Delaware’s waterways. The question is, will D’s respond favorably to one of the best and only Democratic proposals from our D governor. Here are two early reactions….
Tiny Facebook Page Critical of NCC Government Subpoenaed by AG’s Office
This tiny facebook page with only 312 likes (as of yesterday afternoon) has someone mighty stirred up. Whoever is behind the page had apparently been doing some intriguing and often inflammatory writing about some Wilmington and NCCo fixtures until it seemed to have run out of steam. The recent lack of momentum may be associated with the fact that they went off the deep end, throwing around unsubstantiated rumors of affairs. Or it may be because they felt the heat coming on.
Either way, this subpoena is intriguing. Who could induce Beau Biden to get involved with this small potatoes BS? What are they after? It appears Biden is asking for the names behind the page, but to what end? And why did someone think it was a good idea to employ the Barbara Streisand effect on this?
Well, PRW has a theory…
![Tuesday Daily Delawhere [1.28.14]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/12171204434_31c4c5ef02_z.jpg "Tuesday Daily Delawhere [1.28.14]")
Inequality for All is Showing Courtesy of Pacem in Terris
Inequality for All is a great documentary that gives Robert Reich an opportunity to explain in great detail how and why the most powerful middle-class on the planet is now shrinking and fighting for survival. I saw this in the fall and it is as entertaining as it is sobering. Pacem in Terris is sponsoring a showing of this film — so-sponsored with Common Cause Delaware — Tuesday, January 28th at 7pm at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. The church is located at 1502 W 13th St, Wilmington, DE 19806. I think the showing is free (somebody confirm?), but they usually ask for a free will donation to help defray costs.
Monday Open Thread [1.27.14]
![Monday Open Thread [1.27.14]](http://delawareliberal.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Obama-240x180.png "Monday Open Thread [1.27.14]")
New York Times notes Obama “realizes that he has little chance of major legislative victories this year, with the possible exception of an overhaul of immigration law that Republicans are also making a priority. As a result, aides said, he will present a blueprint for ‘a year of action’ on issues like income inequality and the environment that bypasses Congress and exercises his authority to the maximum extent.”
And he should be doing this. He should say tomorrow…
“Hey, look, I can’t trust this Congress not to send the planet into a self inflicted world wide financial apocalypse. Twice in the last three years, the majority in the House has threatened to do just that if they do not get everything they wanted in budget negotiations. And now they are doing it again. I can’t work with these people. They are clinically insane. And I will not have the business and progress of our nation delayed or impeded simply by the unfortunate reality that they hold one House of Congress.
So I am going to do what I can, under my existing executive authority, under existing laws, to do good for the American people. To create jobs. To save the environment. To provide those who need it with affordable healthcare. And if Congress wants to join me in this effort, they are more than welcome. But America cannot rely on the Majority in the House.”
![Monday Daily Delawhere [1.27.14]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/12171204424_d515f56f38_z.jpg "Monday Daily Delawhere [1.27.14]")
Governor Markell’s State of the State Address
We didn’t get to talk about this on Thursday when he delivered this address, but I hope you all had a chance to see it or to read it (there is a video of the address as well as a transcript of the speech at the link). The Governor choose the theme of Unleashing the Potential in Every Delawarean, which is certainly an excellent launching point to get to job, school, infrastructure investment as well as revitalization opportunities for Delaware downtowns. Here’s a summary of the major points from a recent press release from the Governor’s office:
Helping Progressives in Kent County!
Assignment time — there is a solid effort by Kent County Progressives to network and share ideas and they have a spanking new Facebook Page here.
Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 18-24, 2014
Marie Mayor has filed to run for the 20th RD seat currently held by the odious ex-state cop Steve Smyk. You may recall that Mayor ran a superb campaign, handily won a primary for the seat, and was poised to win until…a two-week blitz of fear and hatred stirred up the local yokels.
Meanwhile, in the absence of any other breaking political news this week, I’d like you to predict what comes next politically for the following Delaware figures, especially considering that Gov. Markell is term-limited…
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 23, 2014
Today’s highlight, of course, will be Governor Jack Markell’s State of the State Address. I, for one, want to hear whether the Governor has developed even the slightest empathy for those Delawareans who have been hurt by the increasing concentration of wealth that the Governor has helped to enable. Something, anything, to provide hope to those who don’t live in Greenville, and don’t attend the same cocktail parties the Governor attends, and can’t afford to. My prediction? Whether this week, or next week, when he introduces his proposed budget, those who have been screwed will be asked to make even more sacrifices. The wealthy will not. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong. For once.
All Senate and House committee meetings were canceled yesterday, and none were rescheduled for today. Many thanks to House and Senate staff who provided the public with today’s agendas yesterday.
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