General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: The Final Day, Night, & Day

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: The Final Day, Night, & Day

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We're gonna have drama after all!  Democrats vs. fellow Democrat Chip Flowers.  I support the Democrats not named Chip Flowers, and so should you. Here's why. Chip Flowers claims that he has the power to invest state money, money that goes to fund state pensions. He is the only treasurer in memory to make that claim. Other treasurers have recognized that the responsibility for making these determinations rests with the Cash Management Policy Board, of which the Treasurer is but one member.  Flowers wants to play cowboy in search of higher investment returns.  He's even hired some guy to look at how to increase performance. He hasn't hired anyone to warn him of imprudent risk. This is precisely the type of fiscal irresponsibility that left scores of public pension funds in shambles  throughout the country following the financial scandal. Delaware, which had invested its money prudently and conservatively, remained in strong fiscal condition, and so did state pensions. If Chip Flowers wants to gamble, let him do so at a racino or online or in the market with his own money. As a pensioner of the state, the last thing I want is for him to do is play the market with our money. The proposed bill essentially does to Flowers what earlier legislation did to the Sheriff of Nuttingham--make clear that he can't overstep his bounds and/or create new imaginary powers for himself.  For the sake of my fellow pensioners, I hope it passes.
HB 88 Fails to Pass the Senate After Overwhelming House Vote

HB 88 Fails to Pass the Senate After Overwhelming House Vote

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HB88 is a bill that sought to better define (so it could actually be enforced) procedures by which dangerous mentally ill persons could be restricted from firearm ownership, but also creates a path to let those restricted demonstrate that they are no longer dangerous and able to manage their gun rights. This is a great bill -- one that was worked hard by the House, to ensure that concerns of all sides were reasonably dealt with and it passed the House 40-1. A bipartisan victory by any stretch of the imagination -- and it means that the House reached a remarkable consensus on this issue. This bill was sent to the Senate, who voted it down tonite 6 - 13, with 2 not voting. One of the not voting was Bryan Townsend (D-11), which surprised a great many people. Cathy Cloutier voted NO on this, even though she is reported as telling folks she would vote YES. Michael Barbieri is the bill's primary sponsor, and I am told that he needs to get just one Senator who voted NO to bring it back to the floor. To say that this defeat is a surprise is an understatement. It's overwhelming majority in the House should have been an indication to the Senate of just how well this bill had been worked. In addition, the NRA was NEUTRAL on this bill -- as good as it gets on a gun measure. How did it get defeated? Ever hear of a group called First State Liberty? It is run by Eric Boye, who is plenty new here. And I understand that after HB88 passed in the House, a campaign of robocalling began to get people to contact Senators on this issue. As is often the case, the robocall was more about scaring people than actually informing them. This group is toxic enough that even the Delaware State Sportsmans Association has warned its membership about this group -- saying that is is a counterfeit organization that is run by persons with their own interests at heart, rather than those of gun owners
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 26, 2013

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 26, 2013

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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?"
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 25, 2013

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 25, 2013

28 Comments
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.
It’s Amateur Hour for Wilmington City Government — Again

It’s Amateur Hour for Wilmington City Government — Again

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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.