Delaware
![Friday Daily Delawhere [6.28.13]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3769/9136098504_9ef600fc8f_z.jpg "Friday Daily Delawhere [6.28.13]")
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 27, 2013
Now the days dwindle down to a precious few two… Today and Sunday, and it’s a wrap for the first session of the 147th Delaware General Assembly. We are not in the denouement phase just yet, but we’re getting there. The Senate will give final approval to the Budget Bill today, the House will likely […]
![Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.27.13]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/9136098388_bc19020548_o.jpg "Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.27.13]")
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 26, 2013
I’m disappointed that HB165(Jaques) passed, and will be signed by the Governor today. But the Senate also passed two bills sponsored by Sen. Townsend that will make that passage at least a little more palatable. SB 147 creates more of a partnership between charters and public schools, including the sharing of ‘best practices’. Here is the 17-4 roll call. SB 148:
promotes transparency in government spending relating to competitive grants administered by the Department of Education by requiring that the Department publish on its website the eligibility requirements, criteria and successful applications for every competitive grant it administers.
I believe that the Markell Administration has signed off on both bills. Seriously, you don’t see legislating of this quality very often in Dover. A lesson to legislators: If you know you’re gonna lose on an issue, at least try to get something positive out of it. Sometimes you succeed. And thanks to the Markell Administration for working with Sen. Townsend on this.
SS1/SB33(Ennis) got final Senate approval and heads to the Governor. Yay!! The two bitter holdouts who voted no were Bloviator Bonini and, wait for it, Pope Pompous I, formerly Monsignor Lavelle. To quote the parrot from ‘Aladdin’, “Why am I not surprised?”
![Wednesday Daily Delawhere [6.26.13]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9059469692_f07eb4d1cb_z.jpg "Wednesday Daily Delawhere [6.26.13]")
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 25, 2013
On the subject of Jack Markell’s tactics, when it comes to state employees, he needs an intervention. Which the House D’s, who have bottled up legislation giving state employees a voice on the…State Employees’ Benefits Committee, seem prepared to offer him. Rather than let SB 21, which would give state employees two seats on the committee, come to a vote, the House has announced a ‘compromise’. Rather than just pass the bill, which I have no doubt would pass, or even let it out of committee, well, let’s let mealy-mouthed Valerie Longhurst spell out the ‘compromise’. Direct from a House of Reps press release:
House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst, who chairs the Administration Committee, and Senate Bill 21 sponsor Rep. Larry Mitchell worked with union officials last week to reach a general compromise on the measure and will iron out details of an amendment during the legislative break.
“We know that the unions really want this bill to move forward, but we know there is opposition from the administration too,” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear. “There also is a good amount of support within our own caucus for the bill, so I have committed to Rep. Mitchell and the unions that we will work out an agreement during the break and come back in January, get the bill released from committee and put it on the floor for a full House vote.”
Allow moi to translate: “We’re gonna stick with the Governor’s anti-employee approach until we totally have to cave to our members.” I mean, what kind of ‘compromise’ is Governor Walker Markell willing to accept in January that he couldn’t accept today? One member instead of two? He’s already got the votes to outvote state employees on the committee if it comes to that. He simply doesn’t even want them to have a seat at the table. And he’s got Schwartzkopf and Longhurst running interference for him. Even though they’re supposed to lead a caucus that wants this bill.
![Tuesday Daily Delawhere [6.25.13]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/9059469716_0ab3bf1655_z.jpg "Tuesday Daily Delawhere [6.25.13]")
It’s Amateur Hour for Wilmington City Government — Again
Last Thursday, the Wilmington City Council introduced a bill to make the first amendment to the newly approved City Budget. This new amendment would restore the $300K that was eliminated from the Mayor’s Contingency Fund and adds back $80K for a position in the Finance Department, and:
The amendment also would restore $89,000 to the Human Resources Department and $18,000 to the Planning Department. A $250,000 allocation for an enhanced trash and recycling program will be reappropriated, while $142,000 earmarked for small business development will be reduced to $50,000.
Should the amendment pass, next year’s budget will increase by about $487,000 to $145.6 million and leave Wilmington with a surplus of $108,141.
![Monday Daily Delawhere [6.24.13]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9057245171_a3459a75e3_z.jpg "Monday Daily Delawhere [6.24.13]")
Acting GOP Chair Nelly Jordan to fire staff if the Chateau Country money doesn’t start rolling in…
Since 2010, if not before, the battle between the old guard state GOP (i.e. the DuPonts, Castle, Copeland, etc). and the upstart downstate social conservatives (O’Donnell, Urquhart, Christopher, etc.) has been a fun one for us Democrats to watch. It kind of reminds us of the little flare up we Democrats had nationally in 2004-2005 (i.e. Howard Dean, 50 State Strategy), although on a much larger scale here in small First State. Any way, here is the background on the latest chapter….
Last month, State GOP Party Chair John Sigler resigned after having be reelected the month before. His resignation turned not on party business or party divisions but instead on conflicts of interest between his private career and his role in the state party. That meant that the newly elected Vice Chair, downstate activist (meaning downstate tea party social conservative activist) Nelly Jordan would ascend to the top spot, for a little while anyway. She would remain Acting Chairman of the Party until a special state convention could be held in 60 days to elect a new state chairman.
Well, it would seem that things are not going that well for Mrs. Jordan during her stewardship of the party. Delaware Liberal has obtained a copy of a letter sent out last night to State GOP Executive Committee members. A copy of the letter is below (I have redacted Mrs. Jordan’s personal contact information). As you can read, it would seem that party fundraising has dried up during her tenure as Acting Chairman and the state party is basically broke as of this moment, and there is the possibility that staff will have to be laid off and offices closed…
![Saturday Daily Delawhere [6.22.13]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/9057245949_67db010c1a_z.jpg "Saturday Daily Delawhere [6.22.13]")
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 20, 2013
Spidey Sense working overtime as we enter the last five days of legislative session. We know that some kind of closed door deal has been cut on HB 165, but no one will let us in on the secret. Governor Open Government has become Governor None of Your Bleeping Business. Loads of ill-conceived Bond Bill […]
The Westboro Baptist Church Comes to Delaware to Spread Their Hatred
Yes, folks, you know your agenda of social equality has ARRIVED when the Westboro Rat Bastards show up to protest. This is from a Facebook entry:
Recent Comments