Delaware

The following is a letter to the editor that is being or has been submitted to various news outlets from State Representative and public and progressive champion John Kowalko. He points out where the city of Newark gets it right with their Smart Meter project and where DP&L and others get it wrong. Click through to read the letter. And thanks to Mr. Kowalko for sending this our way.

Matt Denn via facebook:

When the Delaware State Senate reconvenes today, my longtime friend Senator Patricia Blevins will be elected as the new President Pro Tem of the State Senate. I have worked with Senator Blevins for over 15 years on consumer issues and children's issues, and the state is incredibly lucky to have her in this new leadership role. It will also be an exciting day for new State Senators Nicole Saville Poore, Bryan Townsend, Ernie Lopez, and Greg Lavelle, who will be sworn in before their friends and family.

Senator Gary Simpson has been reelected by his Republican colleagues to continue as Senate Minority Leader. I am somewhat surprised that Lavelle did not grab the job to position himself for the 2016 Gubernatorial race. Yes, it would have been audacious for a newly elected freshman Senator to become Minority Leader, but not out of the realm of impossibility, since, after all, Lavelle did get elected as the Minority Whip, the second highest position in the Senate caucus. I think what we will see in Simpson stepping down after down the 2014 elections after six years in the leadership role to pass the mantle over to Lavelle.

Governor Jack Markell has called the Senate into a special session that will begin on December 5, next Wednesday. This special session will deal exclusively with the consideration of several of his judicial appointments. I wish the President could do this, force the Senate to take up his nominations to the Judiciary. Interestingly, this will not be a lame duck session of the last Senate. Rather, this will be the first session of each chamber in the new General Assembly that was just elected. Thus, Senators Bryan Townsend and Nicole Poore will get to vote. How exciting.