1. Leader Of Flock To Be Sacrificial Lamb To Sarah McBride. A Black preacher named Earl Cooper.  You just know what the first thing out of his mouth was:

“Our children are our greatest treasure, and if we don’t protect them, we fail the very future of Delaware!  Let me be clear: boys should not be competing in girls’ sports!”

Now, that’s what I call protecting our children.

Check this out:

On my first day in office, I will launch a person-to-person Senior Access Hotline so every senior can speak to a real human being about their concerns, not a machine or endless paperwork.

Really?  How you gonna do that?

I’d share a bio, had he provided one.  No sense picking him apart any more than it makes sense picking wings off flies.

2.  A Democratic Candidate For the Democratic Nomination For State Treasurer?  Infinitely preferable to the two out-of-state wannabes currently running.  The name is Francisca Moreno.  They are the President of the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence. More about Francisca:

Francisca Moreno (they/them), DVS, is an experienced trainer on domestic and sexual violence. They train on the dynamics of domestic violence with an emphasis on intersectionality, acknowledging how people’s identities impact the way they experience domestic violence. They are a graduate of the University of Delaware (2022), having graduated with a double major in Criminal Justice and Women and Gender Studies with a concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services. Francisca has experience working with the Latino community in Wilmington as a community health worker. They use this experience to identify training needs and develop effective training programs. In their free time you can find Francisca at their local library or spending time with their cats.

All I can say is, I finally have someone who I can vote for in the primary.

3. AG Kathleen Jennings Files For Reelection.  I know that some people, including me, supported other candidates for AG when she first ran.  But, more than any other Delaware elected official, she has led. the fight against the excesses of the Trump regime.  I’m glad  that we’ll likely have her around for four more years.

4.  Jason Hoover Files In NCC District 4.  I’ll say it again–while his issue positions are attractive, if he doesn’t raise money which, quite frankly, shouldn’t be all that difficult to do, he will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Terrell Williams, who had position papers out the wazzoo, and barely a nickel to promote them/him. District 4 is currently represented by Penrose Hollins, who is retiring.

5. Filing(s): R Rep. Shannon Morris (RD 30).

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Where did you go?  What did you see?

I can’t make this one, so details, pipples, I want details.

Here is his announcement:

WILL IMBRIE-MOORE LAUNCHES PRIMARY CAMPAIGN IN RD19

STANTON, DE – Former Biden/Harris campaign staffer, lifelong organizer, and teacher Will Imbrie-Moore has launched a primary campaign in the 19th House District, covering parts of Newport, Stanton, Marshallton, Price’s Corner, and Brandywine Springs. Democrat Imbrie-Moore is running on a platform of fully funding public schools and school meals, fighting the housing crisis, and raising the minimum wage to $20 by 2035.

“As a 12th-generation Delawarean and the youngest of three, I learned the values of hard work and democracy from my family,” said Imbrie-Moore. “I’m running to be the youngest member of our state legislature because this moment demands a new generation of leadership to confront the affordability crisis and fight for real change for working families.”

Imbrie-Moore has spent most of his adult life fighting back against the Trump administration as a Democratic campaign staffer. He believes that the system is failing students, workers, families, and seniors – even as it works better than ever for billionaires, corporate PACs, and lobbyists.

“My childhood was defined by Pop-Pop’s time-honored stories sitting around the kitchen table under his old portrait of FDR,” said Imbrie-Moore. “We talked for hours about his time serving as Delaware State Auditor and as a State Representative, about how to take on big policy fights, bring opposing sides together, and make a real difference for people.”

If elected, Imbrie-Moore would be the youngest and the first openly bisexual elected official in the state legislature.

Imbrie-Moore is running against Rep. Kim Williams, the powerful chair of the House Appropriations and House Education committees. The primary election is scheduled for September 15, 2026.

About Will Imbrie-Moore

A 12th-generation Delawarean and the youngest of three, Will Imbrie-Moore graduated from St. Andrew’s in Middletown before studying economics at Harvard University, where he organized with Harvard College Democrats. He was one of the counterprotesters against a violent mob of white supremacists at the infamous Unite The Right rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 when an attacker drove his car into the crowd and took the life of Heather Heyer, one of the other counterprotesters.

Will spent several years working on progressive Democratic campaigns across the country (including that of Elizabeth Warren) before returning home to Delaware and working as a senior policy researcher for President Biden and Vice President Harris. In Wilmington, the Biden/Harris campaign was the first unionized headquarters of any U.S. presidential nominee.

After Kamala Harris lost the 2024 campaign against Donald Trump, Will left the campaign world to pursue a new career as a teacher. He saw first-hand students’ hopes and fears and just how much families in the state are struggling, inspiring him to launch his campaign for state representative.

About House District 19

The 19th House District (RD19) comprises parts of Newport, Stanton, Marshallton, Price’s Corner, and Brandywine Springs. It is a working-class and racially diverse community. According to redistricting information from 2022, the district is 66% white, 9% Black, 21% Hispanic, and 3% Asian. It is solidly Democratic, with 7,991 Democrats, 4,022 Republicans, and 6,666 Other. It voted for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by a margin of 57-41%.

The 19th House District has been represented by Williams since 2012.

Here is his website.  You will notice the Donate button.  Please feel free to press it.  I intend to.

1.  Check Out This Prospective D Candidate In RD 23!  This is the Newark-area district currently represented by Mara Gorman, who is running for SD 8, where President Pro-Tem Dave Sokola is retiring.  Another D has filed a committee for this race, and I’m very intrigued.  His name is David Redlawsk.  He is the Chair Of the UD Department Of Political Science And International Relations, and is the James R. Soles Professor there.  Which reminds me–when Jim Soles ran for Congress against Pete duPont, he attracted a new generation of student volunteers, several of whom went on to significant careers in politics.

I know what you’re thinking–isn’t this guy overqualified to be a state legislator?  Not as much as you might think.  One notable trend over the past several years has been an increase in members with higher education levels and/or a higher degree of community leadership. Fewer hacks, although plenty still abound. I found this interesting:

Dr. Redlawsk’s research focuses on the role of information and emotions in voter decision making. His most recent research aims to examine how moral values influence voters and the ways local elected officials engage with moral principles in decision making. 

He’ll have quite a bit to study in Dover if he’s elected to office.

Two other D’s have already filed.  They are LuAnn D’Agostino and Dan Seador, both of whom have qualified for the primary ballot.

2.  Dr. Michael (‘Mike’) Katz’ Wandering In The Political Desert Is Now Complete.  From Democrat (where he was once a one-term State Senator, a ‘courageous’ one, according to his campaign page), to Independent candidate for several offices, to his ultimate destination.  He has qualified for the primary ballot as a Republican candidate for United States Senator,  and he will face one John Shulli in a primary.  Shulli invokes a Hegseth-like muscularity in his campaign pronouncements.  Dr. Mike Katz stands, well, pretty much for his election.  Here’s his website, I’ll leave it to you to decide.  But it looks like gobbledygook to me.  Having said that, this is the post-Christine O’Donnell Rethuglican Party we’re talking about, so I think I have a pretty good idea how this campaign will turn out.  Perhaps that journey in the wilderness is not quite over yet.

3.  It’s Official: Pam Salaam Has Qualified For The Ballot.  She takes on incumbent Franklin Cooke, whose only constituents are his cop buddies, in this showdown in RD 16, a south Wilmington/New Castle area district.  Yes, you can contribute, you can volunteer.  Right here.   This is a very winnable race.

4.  Rae Krantz Qualifies For The Ballot.  One of my faves.  She’s running for the RD 6 seat currently held by Deb Heffernan, who has not yet filed, but is likely to.  This Brandywine-area district features Bellefonte and the communities along Marsh Road as it runs from Veale Road down towards the river.  You say you want to contribute?  You say you want to volunteer?  You can do it all right here.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Here’s yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  The Senate passed some non-controversial bills and approved several gubernatorial nominations.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.  Highlight(s):

SS1/SB 181(Seigfried):

…prohibits certain actions regarding the sale and exchange of tickets for events in this state by primary ticket sellers, ticket issuers, and ticket resellers. It requires a clear and conspicuous disclosure of fees and costs associated with the total cost of a ticket being provided to a purchaser before the purchaser’s payment information is requested. The substitute bill prohibits the reselling of a ticket until the event is placed on sale to the general public, including any tickets that may be obtained or accessed through a fan club. It further sets forth requirements regarding transferability of tickets, refunding of tickets, and bans the use of deceptive practices for any reselling of a ticket. This Act prohibits use of a bot or other methods used to circumvent reasonable restrictions on the sale of tickets on the internet. The Act places a price limitation of up to 110% of the original total price of the ticket.’

That reminds me, didn’t post this in the Open Thread, but it’s just another FU from Trump to us:

Last week, Live Nation and Ticketmaster unexpectedly reached a settlement with the Justice Department in the antitrust lawsuit that was filed when Joe Biden was still in office. This meant that the controversial companies wouldn’t have to face trial for illegally monopolizing the live-entertainment space and driving up ticket prices, and fervent Trump supporter Kid Rock, who testified against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, was pissed. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Trump personally pushed for the settlement.

Sources told WSJ that Trump heard about the Live Nation case from friends, including Hollywood talent agent and former Live Nation board member Ariel Emanuel, who told the president it should be settled. After the trial commenced, Trump allegedly started calling around to ask why it hadn’t been settled, asking, “What’s the holdup?” Both sides met at the White House on March 5 and the settlement was reached that day, sources said.

A good bill, as any bill that puts a dent in these ticket and event monopolists is a good bill.

That’s pretty much it for Senate bills that interest me.

Here are the highlights from today’s House Agenda:

HS 1/HB 301 (Morrison) strengthens protections against election day interference.

SS1/SB 2 (Brown) ‘is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to specifically authorize early, in-person voting for the general election, a primary election, and a special election filling a vacancy in the General Assembly.

SS1/SB 3 (Brown) ‘ this Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to eliminate the limitations on when an individual may vote absentee and provide an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse.’

These bills will come up just short in the House as the D’s don’t have the required 2/3rds of members to overcome Rethug opposition. They can get there by holding serve in November and defeating Kevin Hensley.  While there may be other targets for D’s, Hensley is the whole enchilada.  The single most important House race this year.

A productive day in Dover, but with work on the bill I was most interested in left undone.  The bill?  This one.  The bill ‘prohibits the State, a unit of local government, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof, from doing the following with respect to a detention facility owned, managed, or operated by a private entity: (1) Enter into an agreement of any kind for the detention of an individual with; (2) Pay, reimburse, subsidize, or defray in any way any cost related to the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of; (3) Receive per diem, per detainee, or any other payment related to the detention of an individual in; (4) Give any financial incentive or benefit to any private entity or person in connection with the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of.’

I wasn’t following the session yesterday, so I’d appreciate a report on what happened here.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.

The Senate was in and out in less than an hour, as it passed three non-controversial bills and adjourned.

Lotsa committee meetings today.  Today’s House Committee highlights:

HB 322 (Gorman) ‘permits employees of, or security personnel working for, a health-care, medical, or dental facility, to take any person presenting a security or safety risk at such premises into custody and detain the person in a reasonable manner on the premises for a reasonable time, for the purpose of summoning a law-enforcement officer.’  Just curious–did a particular incident inspire this bill?  Judiciary.

HB 324 (Neal) ‘requires tattoo parlors to post signs raising awareness about human trafficking’.  OK, I’ll bite–uh, why?  Health & Human Development.

HB 238 (Lynn):

Section 1 of this Act prohibits Department of Finance employees from disclosing any information about the citizenship or immigration status of any person that is contained in a tax return, tax document, or Department of Finance document, without Attorney General approval or court order associated with a felony criminal investigation or as otherwise provided by law. It also makes such disclosure a misdemeanor.

Section 2 of this Act prohibits the Department of Labor employees from disclosing information about the citizenship or immigration status of any person that is contained in or attached to any Department of Labor document or database without Attorney General approval or court order associated with a felony criminal investigation or as otherwise provided by law. It also makes such disclosure a misdemeanor.

Great bill.  I like how Delaware continues to fight back against the darkest demands of Trump and his flunkies.  Revenue & Finance.

HB 310 (Heffernan) ‘excludes large energy use facilities from the definition of a qualified facility for purposes of determining eligibility for a tax credit or license fee reduction for the creation of employment and qualified investment in business facilities.’  Good bill.  Does this mean that the quasi-governmental body that gifts public dollars to private businesses can’t do that for the companies specified in the bill? Revenue & Finance.

We have a couple of Rethug ‘education’ bills, ‘brochure bills’ basically, that look to straitjacket public school tax rates.  HB 245 (Michael Smith) and HB 246 (Shupe), for those of you into collecting Rethug brochure bills.

HB 234 (Burns) is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that ‘would establish a fundamental right for all employees to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work.’  Administration.

Today’s Senate Committee highlights:

SB 262 (Hoffner) ‘makes it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, sell, offer to sell, or possess with intent to sell a Kratom Product. The Act creates a new § 4761C, which makes manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling, selling, delivering, distributing, offering, or sale, or possession with intent to sell, deliver, or distribute Kratom Products unlawful…’ Health & Social Services.

SB 219 (Buckson) ‘phases in, over 3 years, an increased exemption for military pensions from state income taxation, regardless of age, which is currently $12,500, so that in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2029, the exemption will be $25,000 for all military pensioners.’  Executive.

SB 192 (Walsh) ‘imposes certain requirements upon a public utility if it intends to relocate a call center outside the service territory of the public utility or contract call center work outside of the service territory of the public utility. The requirements include providing notice to the Public Service Commission, current and prospective employees at the call center, and the union leadership of any current or prospective employees at the call center.  Elections & Government Affairs.

Today’s Senate Agenda looks every bit as non-controversial as yesterday’s Senate Agenda.  It concludes with votes on several nominations and renominations.

I’m concluding early. Real early.  As in Tuesday night.  Have to run an early morning mission today.

A strong House Agenda highlights today’s session.

Meaning, we’ll start with the Senate Agenda.  Only one bill of note, and it’s likely non-controversial.  SB 247 (Mantzavinos) ‘clarifies that counties and municipalities can deposit their revenues in any depository bank or credit union. The State of Delaware already can choose where it deposits its money, and this legislation would extend that ability to counties and municipalities.’

It’s a good time to note that legislative leaders don’t put together agendas with my level of interest in mind.  I’m available to fill that role, should anybody ask…

Still, today’s House Agenda indeed intrigues me.  Highlights include:

HB 133 (Snyder-Hall) ‘gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. It also creates a presumption that fines and fees will not be imposed when a defendant shows evidence of certain conditions, including receiving a public assistance benefit (like Medicaid, SNAP, or veterans’ benefits) or being represented by the Office of Defense Services.’  The bill is ‘based on recommendations of the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group.’  Good bill.  Will any R’s vote for it?

HS1/HB 150 (Gorman) ‘prohibits civil arrests from being made in courthouses or Department of Labor Offices where the Delaware Industrial Accident Board conducts hearings.’

HS1/HB 151 (Gorman) ‘prohibits the State, a unit of local government, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof, from doing the following with respect to a detention facility owned, managed, or operated by a private entity: (1) Enter into an agreement of any kind for the detention of an individual with; (2) Pay, reimburse, subsidize, or defray in any way any cost related to the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of; (3) Receive per diem, per detainee, or any other payment related to the detention of an individual in; (4) Give any financial incentive or benefit to any private entity or person in connection with the sale, purchase, construction, development, ownership, management, or operation of.’  Yes. Absolutely yes. Looking forward to that roll call.

HB 268 (Osienski) ‘elevates the charge for assaulting a postal worker acting in the lawful performance of duty from assault in the third degree to assault in the second degree.’  Ho-kay.  Kids, allow me to stipulate that I like mail carriers.  I like our local post office folks.  However, the crime’s a crime.  Delaware has had a history of heightening penalties based on the ‘protected class’ of the victim. It’s a slippery slope that we’ve all too often slid down.

Highlights from today’s truncated House committee schedule:

HB 291 (Morrison) ‘prohibits the Department of Corrections from entering into contracts with any for-profit entity for the use of inmate labor. This Act does not apply to § 6533 of Title 11 relating to outside employment and work release’.  Corrections.

Uh, guess I should have made it ‘highlight’.  Action-packed committee day tomorrow.  See you then.

“I would like to dedicate this next song to Dan Poliseno”:

1. Dan Poliseno:  Filed March 9.  Withdrew March 16.  Meaning, as of now, Rep. Alonna Berry has no R opponent in RD 20.  Unless you count the wife of Rethug Mark Schaeffer, who is running as a D, as a Republican.  I do.

2. Cruce And Seigfried Deign To Face The Democratic Voters This Time.  Both filed this week.  Lewes resident Cruce will face Adrianna Leela Bohm in a primary in SD 1 (Wilmington and Bellefonte).  Seigfried faces Shay Frisby in SD 5 (Claymont, the Ardens, Brandywine Hundred).   Bohm and Frisby are infinitely preferable to the two Delaware Way insiders who benefited from caucuses to get their nominations.  Yes, you can contribute at the links I’ve provided.  Please do.

3.  Jill Hicks Files In Sussex Council District 5.  She’s already been touted by one of our fave commenters.  Here’s more:

In a release on March 11, smart-growth advocate Jill Hicks announced that she will run for the Sussex County Council District 5 seat in the November 2026 election. Hicks plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the seat.

“County Council will soon be making decisions on planning and land use that will affect our lives for the next 10 years,” Hicks said in the release. “It’s vital to have a council member committed to change. I am that person. I am committed to bringing common-sense change and affordability priorities to the council.”

According to the release, Hicks most recently served on the Sussex County Land Use Reform Working Group, which recommended 20 major actions the council could take to better align growth with services and infrastructure.

In the release, Hicks also announced that she resigned as president of the Sussex Preservation Coalition, a group she co-founded with Sussex County Council member Jane Gruenebaum.

Hicks said she became active in land-use issues after developers proposed building in a forest and wetlands area near her home.

If elected, Hicks said she would promote policies supporting livable and affordable communities, smart land-use decisions, and infrastructure that keeps pace with development.

If she’s an ally of Jane Gruenebaum, I’m all for her.

4. Filings:  Rep. Jeff Spiegelman (R-RD11);  Incumbent D NCC Councilperson Dee Durham (CD 2)  Incumbent D Mike Kozikowski (NCC Recorder of Deeds); Incumbent D Ciro Poppiti (NCC Register of Wills);  D Ramona Bracy, challenging incumbent R Eugenia Thornton (Kent County Recorder of Deeds).

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Most of our coverage of SB 1 is over in the Open Thread.  However, there’s one slight correction to Nick Stonesifer’s story here.  The bill has not yet been sent to the floor. It has rather been reassigned to the Senate Finance Committee, which is comprised of the Senate members of the Joint Finance Committee.  Not really sure if the reassignment is necessary.  Yes, there’s a Fiscal Note, but, as you can see, there would be no projected fiscal impact until FY 2029, something that the current JFC can’t consider.  However, this is not an attempt to waylay the bill, so I’d imagine that SB 1 will clear committee perhaps as early as next week.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.   Of note, Rep. Hensley’s horrible bill touting the ‘clean energy’ of gas turbines designed to provide energy to data centers did not clear committee.  Should the Democratic candidates seeking Hensley’s seat not make this a campaign issue, they will be guilty of political malpractice.

I also note that one, and only one, Senator voted against SS1/SB 116(Lockman), which ‘allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted’.  The one Senator?: Self-avowed Christian Bryant Richardson.  Y’see, he’s a Christian, just not a Christian Christian.

Not much on today’s Senate Agenda.  We have a bill eliminating ‘antiquated’ sections of Delaware’s alcoholic beverages code.  That’s about it.

Thankfully, we have a much meatier House Agenda today.  Highlights:

HS1/HB 84 (Morrison) ‘prohibits employers from requiring meetings or communications the purpose of which is to convey the employer’s political or religious views, including views regarding unionization.’  Pretty sure you can look for a straight party line vote on this.

HB 258 (Bolden) ‘allows any municipality with a population of 50,000 or more to establish by ordinance rules for the location of liquor stores that are more restrictive than state law’.

HB 265 (Ross Levin) ‘provides limited immunity from prosecution for persons who seek to report a sexual offense. Under this Act a person who is a victim or witness or otherwise seeks law enforcement assistance in relation to a sexual offense may not be charged, arrested, or prosecuted, or issued a civil citation for low-level crimes relating to drug or alcohol use or possession’.

That’s what interests me.  But it’s Thursday and perhaps my interest level has waned…

I was pleasantly surprised to see that SB 239 (Hansen), which provides incentive for people and businesses to use solar energy, passed the Senate unanimously.  No opposition from the Gas Guzzlers Caucus. Good.

In the House, HB 278 (Spiegelman), which provides for more opportunities for hunters to ply their weapons, passed with only one no vote.  Sophie Phillips cast that vote which was, IMO, the correct one.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.  I especially like SS1/SB 116 (Lockman), which ‘allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted.’

Oh, I have a question.  I notice that SB 238 (Townsend), which appears to make some fairly substantial changes regarding insurance coverage for chiropractic and physical therapy services, was not worked as scheduled yesterday.  It is not on today’s agenda either.  Anybody have the inside skinny?

Lots of committee meetings today.  I’ll be right back once I prepare myself some cold-brewed coffee…

Today’s House Committee highlights:

HS1/HB 274 (Ross Levin) ‘increases the state child and dependent care expense tax credit from the current 50% match to a full 100% match with the federal child and dependent care expense tax credit.’  Revenue and Finance.

One of the worst bills of this General Assembly is also on this committee’s agenda.  HB 186 (Hensley) seeks to do the bidding of the data center advocates without even mentioning that that’s what it does. The bill:

‘… incentivize(s) the construction and operation of a limited number of high-efficiency Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) electrical generation facilities, with an output of between 100 MW and 500 MW, by creating an Electricity Production Tax Credit (EPTC) and bonus credits. These credits would offset state corporate tax liability while facilitating the increased availability of clean, cost-effective, high-efficiency, and energy production. CCGT power plants are proven technology that can provide significant dispatchable power production to meet Delaware’s growing need for dependable energy, while promoting grid stability that will enable the integration of renewable energy generation.’

What’s not mentioned is that these facilities are used almost exclusively in data centers, which is why the sponsors of this bill are all Rethugs along with the two D’s most associated with the construction and building trades (Sen. Walsh and Rep. Osienski).  BTW, referencing this as ‘clean energy’ is like calling coal ‘clean coal’.  It’s not clean.  Here’s a recent article illustrating what these turbines are like.

HB 314 (Yearick):

…this Act seeks to protect student athletes from harassment by doing all of the following: (1) Creating a criminal offense of student athlete harassment. (2) Permitting a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment to sue a person convicted of student athlete harassment. (3) Requiring the Director of the State Lottery Office (“Director”) to exclude a person from participating in the play of any table game, sports lottery game, video lottery game, or Internet lottery game in Delaware if the person is convicted of student athlete harassment. (4) Permitting the Director, on an emergency basis, to exclude a person from participating in the play of a sports lottery game if the Director finds the person threatened violence or harm against a student athlete if the threat is related to a sports lottery game. (5) Requiring the Director and Division of Gaming Enforcement to establish and publicize a method of receiving reports from a student athlete or a coach of an intercollegiate sport relating to student athlete harassment.’

This is all well and good.  But the real problem, which Delaware has enthusiastically embraced, is the ubiquity of sports betting.  A nest-egg the Honorables won’t touch, but should.  Education.

Today’s Senate Committee highlights:

SB 1 (Townsend).  We wrote about this bill addressing exorbitant hospital costs yesterday.  I notice that Bryan Frazee, the chief propagandist for the hospitals, already has written a doom-and-gloom op-ed for anybody who will print it.  Health & Social Services.

SB 247 (Mantzavinos) ‘clarifies that counties and municipalities can deposit their revenues in any depository bank or credit union. The State of Delaware already can choose where it deposits its money, and this legislation would extend that ability to counties and municipalities.’ Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology.

Huh.  Guess that’s it.

Still have half a glass of cold brew awaiting…

I guess the big news this week will be the first hearing on SB 1 (Townsend), which seeks to contain excessive healthcare charges from Delaware’s hospitals.  That hearing takes place tomorrow at 10 am in the Senate Chamber.  The livestream link can be found here.  The irony of Townsend, as sponsor, and ChristianaCare’s Ray Seigfried, as co-sponsor, is not lost on me.  Both led the way in killing the enforcement authority of the Hospital Health Care Cost Containment Board.  I know why Seigfried’s on the bill as he faces an exceedingly-difficult reelection campaign.  Meaning, he has to hide who he really represents in Dover from his constituents.  Don’t think it’ll work.

More on that tomorrow.

Today’s Senate Agenda features SB 239 (Hansen).  Delaware Public Media has a right-on-time description of the bill:

Sen. Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown), chair of the Environment, Energy & Transportation committee, proposes the state remove its cap on how much energy solar users can send back to the grid.

The process is called net metering and state law currently caps it at 8% – meaning that’s where utilities can draw the line on energy they receive into their systems from solar.

The state raised its cap from 5 to 8% in 2022, as use of solar expanded. When an area hits the cap for net metering, Hansen said it discourages people from investing in a solar energy system.

“A lot of times when people go to make the decision as to whether they’re going to put solar on their home, they’re adding into that decision making process, ‘how long is it going to take me to pay this back?'” she said. “Then also: ‘how much money might I receive from the utility to help pay off this system?'”

While there are concerns with cost shifts for rate payers related to net metering, Hansen said her proposed change is based on a 2025 Sustainable Energy Utility study for Delaware.

According to the study, power generated by individual homes and businesses are an overall benefit to rate payers who don’t use solar.

The study noted for every dollar spent on net-metering, solar generates $1.28 in direct benefits–saving money for rate payers and grid operators on maintenance and transmission.

Hansen said grid operators may still have to operate with limits, and the bill doesn’t force them to accept more energy than it’s able.

“What this does is it removes a kind of artificial state cap,” she said.

Sounds like a real good bill to me.  We’ll see what members of the Gas-Guzzler Caucus think about it.

Here is today’s House Agenda.  HB 63 (Wilson-Anton) strengthens fireworks regulation by ‘increasing fines, regulating sales through a permit system, ensuring consumer awareness through required safety information, and generating revenue for the Fire Marshal’s office to improve oversight and public education.’  HS1/HB 213 (Griffith) ‘creates a privilege for confidential communications between a victim and a victim advocate.’  HB 293 (Morrison) ‘adds any act that contains the characteristics of a hate crime to the definitions of crimes for the purposes of the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.’

That’s what interests me on today’s House Agenda.   There’s only one Committee Meeting taking place today.  This one.  HS1/HB 200(Chukwuocha) is a whittled-down bill concerning mandatory insurance coverage for AIDS.  The bill ‘differs from HB 200 by requiring health insurance coverage only for pre-exposure prophylaxis (“PrEP”) medication and post-exposure prophylaxis (“PEP”) medication… This Act requires individual health insurance plans, group and blanket health insurance plans, the state employee health plan, and state Medicaid insurance to cover medically necessary PrEP medication for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) infection before possible HIV exposure and medically necessary PEP medication for the prevention of HIV infection after possible HIV exposure.’

Hey, politics is the art of the possible.  Guess this is what’s possible.

Back tomorrow.

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce. 

1. D Josh Pennington Files In RD 33.  Couldn’t find much about him online.  He may, or may not, be a member of the Bowers Volunteer Fire Company.  Josh, if you’re out there, please feel free to come on here and tell us about yourself.  RD 33 is currently represented by R Charles Postles, who is retiring.  Two R’s have filed for a primary in RD 33:  Matt Bucher and Morgan Hudson.  The district skews R, but it’s not impossible for a D to win here.  Current registration totals: 6109 D; 6436 R;  7180 I.  Here is the map of this Kent County district.  Who can help me fill in the blanks here?

2. R Dan Poliseno Files In RD 20.  This is the district that Alonna Berry won in a Special Election to replace Stell Parker Selby in 2025.  R Nikki Miller, who had lost two close elections, one to Parker Selby, one to Berry, had initially filed for a rematch, but has since withdrawn, leaving Poliseno currently as the only R running.  I think he is an estimator for Peninsula Paving, based on this.  I could be wrong, though.  Dan, if you’re out there, let us know more about you.  Here is the map of this Suxco District.  It includes Lewes, so Dan Cruce is very familiar with it.  The district has recently skewed D at the polls, and I think it is likely to continue in that direction.  8378 D; 7640 R;  7460 I.  

3.  School Board Elections Coming May 12.  Here is the complete list of candidates.  You will note that, since the filing deadline has passed, those who were the sole candidates for certain positions are deemed automatically elected.  Two notables–the highly-partisan R Rich Forsten is up for reelection in Appoquinimink.  Anybody would be better than him.  Also, perennial D candidate Kayode Abegunde has filed for a spot on the Colonial School Board.  I sure hope that casual recognition caused by his previous quixotic quests doesn’t earn him that seat.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

YES!  President Pro-Tem Dave Sokola apparently read the same report on scofflaw Allen Harim’s serial and ongoing environmental violations as we did. He has placed HB 222 (Lambert) on today’s Senate Agenda. You will recall that objections from downstate agriculture interests had impelled Lambert to remove the poultry firms from his bill that increased fines on serial polluters.  So, he introduced this separate bill, which passed the House 24-15 (Bill Bush and Lumpy Carson were the only D’s to vote no).  The Senate Executive Committee has released the bill to the floor, and now the bill will be considered before the entire Senate.  Here’s hoping…

I’ve gotten ahead of myself.  Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  One note of interest perhaps only to me–Stephanie Bolden’s Incumbency Protection bill did not make it out of the Senate Executive Committee.  BTW, guess who introduced an amendment to make the bill even worse.  Give up?  None other than Nicole ‘No Longer’ Poore.  Check this out.  So.  If Delaware once again tried to make our Presidential Primary the first in the nation (and we’ve tried to do it in the past), the statewide primary could take place as early as February.  Bolden and Poore=negative political synergy.

Ho-kay.  Here’s today’s House Agenda.  We could have 18-year-old bartenders in our future, thanks to HB 195 (K. Williams).  The bill:

…changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years. To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment.

My only question is–who requested this legislation?  Guess I’ll just have to dive back into those campaign finance reports.  Doubt the request came from 18-21 year-old would-be bartenders.

I share the intent behind this bill.  But are we setting up a situation that lends itself to overcharging?:

…creates the new crime of “interference with reproductive health services or exercise of religion”, which is based on a substantially similar federal law (18 U.S.C. § 248). The Superior Court is vested with jurisdiction over criminal prosecutions of this offense.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.  I can’t get past the first item without a question.  SCR 143 (Brown) ‘establishes the Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force, established for the purpose of examining opportunities to maintain and enhance Delaware’s position as a leader in blockchain and digital innovation, and identifying how to attract and retain businesses engaged in digital assets and related technologies, while developing appropriate consumer protections and regulatory clarity.’ 

First of all, ‘blockchain’ is not inherently ‘good’.  Yet, the bolded disclaimer notwithstanding, this Task Force is designed to put Delaware in a position to become a ‘leader in blockchain’.  Second, lest you have doubts of what the intent is, check out the proposed composition of the Task Force:

(2) ‎Two members of the Senate: 1 member of the majority party who is appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and who shall serve as Co-Chair, and 1 member of the minority party who is appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(3) Two members of the House of Representatives: 1 member of the majority party who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and who shall serve as Co-Chair, and 1 member of the minority party who is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) The State Bank Commissioner, or the Commissioner’s designee.

(5) The Secretary of Finance, or the Secretary’s designee.

(6) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee.

(7) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer’s designee.

(8) The Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee.

(9) Three members from the blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital assets, or financial technology industry, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(10) Three members from the blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital assets, or financial technology industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In other words, no cautionary notes shall be heard.  This is garbage in, garbage out.  No good can come of it.

Hey, at least we have HB 222.  I hope.

Seeya next week.