New Workmans Comp Ratepayer Advocate To Do the Job the IC Won’t

New Workmans Comp Ratepayer Advocate To Do the Job the IC Won’t

33 Comments
This didn't get alot of press, except from WDDE -- but Delaware's workmans compensation rate-payers now have an advocate and watchdog. The Ratepayer Advocate position was one of the recommendations of the Workers Compensation Task Force that was charged with taking a hard look at excessive increases (26% over two years) in workers compensation rates -- made especially critical by the fact that the Insurance Commissioner seemed ready to approve another set of increases without regard for the ratepayers. Lt. Governor Matt Denn headed up this commission and he and this group were able to submit to the Governor a set of reform recommendations that built on the reforms that Denn implemented when he was IC. So basically, the Governor and the GA asked Matt Denn to take up the work of reducing the impact on ratepayers -- the job that the IC is *supposed* to do. Mr. Fred Thompson has been named to the position and he is a former Deputy Insurance Commissioner.
Carper, Coons & Carney voice unequivocal support for Obama

Carper, Coons & Carney voice unequivocal support for Obama

5 Comments
It was refreshing to read of our congressional delegation's open and unhedged support for the President in this morning's News Journal. In the interest of balance, Delaware's bipartisan-to-a-fault DC delegation usually finds something to like about the GOP's spin on every issue. On NOT rushing to bomb Syria, however, there is uniform agreement. Obama is right. This is a Democracy. Let's have a vote. Obviously recent history supports the President's decision to be wary of the intelligence and to wait for (even this worst ever) Congress to return to DC and do their jobs to debating the nation's affairs. But that doesn't stop the GOP from taking the contrary position for the hell of it.
Treasurer Flowers to Speak at next PDD meeting

Treasurer Flowers to Speak at next PDD meeting

As you may recall, Treasurer Flowers’ plans to invest state funds to achieve higher returns for the Treasury ran into some push back from the Governor and some in the General Assembly at the close of the legislative session at the end of June. So the Progressive Democrats for Delaware (PDD) invited Treasurer Flowers to speak in an open forum on his plans for investing state money and his goals for the Treasurer’s office. The forum/meeting is Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at 7 pm, at the Democratic Party Headquarters, 19 E. Commons Blvd., in New Castle.
Carney Misses Chance for Bipartisanship

Carney Misses Chance for Bipartisanship

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When it comes to John Carney's cherished bipartisanship vs. the obligation to do the job he was elected to do, John Carney has chosen...neither. According to this article, 162 members of the U. S. House of Representatives have called for a debate in Congress prior to any authorization of attacking Syria. 62 Democrats are among those signing the letters to call for such action. John Carney is not among them.
A 10 Day Around the Horn [8.16.13 to 8.27.13]

A 10 Day Around the Horn [8.16.13 to 8.27.13]

9 Comments
Sorry for the delay in getting this around the horn to you. I meant to have it ready on Friday, but I had my physical. So I delayed it to Saturday, but then I had my Fantasy Football draft. And then on Sunday and Monday I was toying with the idea of just waiting until Friday for a two week round-up. But then I started writing it and it was getting too big. So I am just going to post what I have now, and do another Around the Horn column on Friday, September 6. So here is what the Delaware blogosphere was talking about this past 10 days. I have organized the postings into individual subjects. Organization FTW! This week we are talking about Bloom Boxes and the Newark Data Center, Teachers and Testing, the constitutionality of Charter Schools, the New Castle Tire Incinerator, the looming and dooming Highmark monopoly.
From the First State to the Last State: The State of Sussex

From the First State to the Last State: The State of Sussex

7 Comments
So some disgruntled Republicans in northeastern Colorado, displeased with the recent election results that elected Democrats, have gotten a ballot question on the ballot in one local northeastern Colorado county about whether that local county, along with several other northeastern Colorado counties, should seccede from the State of Colorado. This notion has inspired our local wingnuts downstate to dream of a State of Sussex. First, it should be pointed out that the procedural hurdles for the sore losers to form a State of Sussex are quite high.