Delaware

Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 11-17, 2014

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 17, 2014 • 10 Comments

It’s time to recognize the possibility, perhaps likelihood, that Beau Biden will not be able to run for reelection. I think it’s pretty clear now that he’s battling a serious health challenge He is virtually invisible in public. When he does venture out, people are concerned about what they see. There has been no official update on his condition since August. His spokesman routinely makes statements that Beau previously would have made, most recently on the failure of the Senate to muster up enough votes to restore Beau’s signature legislation to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. I wish our AG a full recovery and a long productive life.

However, someone will be elected Attorney General this November. If not Beau, then who? Matt Denn? Or some blinkered law and order type who only cares about talking tough on crime, not on protecting consumers and the public from getting ripped off? It’s time we have this conversation. I know that there may be great comfort in imagining the Biden name on the AG line. But it’s less likely to happen each passing day. Who will step up?

Beau is the only one who can talk me down on this. Right now, he’s not talking.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 16, 2014

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 16, 2014 • 14 Comments

Well, one day in, and already one of my predictions has gone down in flames. (Or is it ‘up in flames’?) Thought it would be easy for the Senate to resurrect HB 88(Barbieri), which would establish procedures to try and keep guns out of the hands of the dangerously mentally-ill. We weren’t talking about passing the bill, we were just talking about restoring the bill to the Senate calendar. However, this signature initiative of Attorney General Beau Biden went nowhere on Tuesday, likely prompted by the notable absence of Beau Biden. From the News-Journal story:

Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, R-Milford, said he expected Biden to be in Legislative Hall to make his case.

“If this bill is that important, I would think the attorney general would be present to debate it,” Simpson said. “He should be on the job and seen and heard from, rather than his staff speaking in his name.”

Biden’s chief of staff, Timothy Mullaney, said Biden spent his day in meetings to discuss violence in Wilmington. Biden was not available for interviews to discuss a new Wilmington crime plan announced by Mayor Dennis Williams. Joe Rogalsky, who leads legislative efforts for Biden, said the attorney general would not give up on the gun-control issue.

Simpson’s right, you know. Perhaps a little cruel, but right. Were Biden up to the task, he would have been in Legislative Hall. It’s not a long drive from Wilmington. However, it proved to be a Route Too Far to revive his signature bill. You do the math.

‘The Unelected Cash Board’

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 15, 2014 • 64 Comments

Chip Flowers in full asshole mode. Words fail me. Count the number of times he says ‘unelected cash board’. Says Benner saved the state ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars. BTW, Benner is no longer on the state payroll. According to Chip.

Dog Bites Man: Carper AWOL on Climate Action

Filed in Delaware, National by El Somnambulo on January 15, 2014 • 6 Comments

Hey, didja know that 17 United States senators have formed a working coalition on climate action? Didja know that these senators are members of the two Senate committees best positioned to have an impact on climate action? Didja know that Tom Carper is a member of one of those committees? I think you can see where this is going….

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues., January 14, 2014

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 14, 2014 • 27 Comments

The 2nd Session of the 147th General Assembly begins today. For newbies, or for those who forget easily, here’s what you need to know. Each legislative term lasts two years, from election to election. The 147th General Assembly runs until Election Day. Since this is the second year of the Assembly, all legislation that was in play on July 1, 2013 remains in play today. Of course, that doesn’t even consider new bills, new nominees, new controversy and, of course, new snark from Yours Truly.

The General Assembly meets for three weeks in January, breaks for six weeks for Joint Finance Committee hearings until mid-March, meets until Easter, breaks for two weeks, meets until around Memorial Day, breaks for two weeks (this is usually when the fiscal bills are finalized), and then meets until the early hours of July 1. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.

This can and should be a busy and productive January session. It WILL be a contentious session. Here’s just some of the stuff that likely will be considered during January….:

Monday Daily Delawhere [1.13.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on January 13, 2014 • 0 Comments

Sorry this is late. I was sick with the flu all weekend, and at one point on Saturday I was so delirious I thought it was the 80’s. But I am better now so here is a picture of the Hoopes Reservoir in winter.

Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 4-10, 2014

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 10, 2014 • 26 Comments

The first full week of an election year=The Return of Delaware Political Weekly.

As a special bonus at no added cost, I’ll even include stuff that happened before this week, including all current filings.

Let’s Go!

The 62 Project: #’s 22 & 40

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on January 9, 2014 • 18 Comments

Ennis took the time-honored (or dishonored) route to the General Assembly. Retired state trooper straight to Leg Hall. His temperament, though, is different than others who have made the same trek. He’s not aggressive, he’s very friendly, does his homework, and maintains close ties to his constituents. He is in his Dover office almost every day, and he’s always meeting with constituents. Not those with the most money, I might point out. You might not think he’s all that smart when you first meet him, but he uses that to his advantage. He’s a lot smarter, and more politically canny, than he seems.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Bolden isn’t terrible, but she appears disinterested in, you know, legislating. One would hope that a district like hers would be served by someone more interested in their constituents’ problems than her own resume. She generally votes the ‘right’ way, but then so would anybody who represents this overwhelmingly Democratic and under-served district. I’d normally say that the district deserves better. But the voters sent the Plants back to Dover for something like 33 years. So maybe the 2nd RD deserves Stephanie Bolden.

PDD: Join the fight for Economic Equality in Delaware

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on January 8, 2014 • 0 Comments

As some of you know, I wear two hats in the Delaware political word. I am a contributing editor here at Delaware Liberal, and I am involved with the Progressive Democrats for Delaware. I am taking advantage of those dual roles right now by posting PDD’s annual fundraising and membership letter, should some of our readers like to join and/or contribute to PDD to advance progressive causes in Delaware or to help elect progressive candidates. And if you want to attend one of PDD’s monthly meetings, they are held the first Wednesday night of every month at the Delaware Democratic Party Headquarters, located at 19 E. Commons Boulevard in New Castle, off Rt. 141. In fact, they are meeting tonight at 7 pm. Click inside to read the full email.

Sunday Daily Delawhere [1.5.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on January 5, 2014 • 0 Comments

Finance Committee Hearing on the Bonds for the MBNA Charters on Monday

Filed in Delaware by cassandra_m on January 4, 2014 • 2 Comments

We talked about this here, when this item first came onto the City Council calendar. Monday — January 6, 2014 — at 5:00 is the Finance Committee hearing that will explore this proposal in some detail. You can see the agenda for the meeting here — this is the only item on the schedule. The meeting is open to the public, and is going to be held in the 1st Floor Council Workshop room (next to the Council Chambers) in the Redding Bldg. Pass this info along to anyone you think will be interested in what happens here.