Delaware
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday 24, 2021
Dispatcher: “Adam-12, Adam-12, we have a Gold Alert on SB 147 and SB 148. Both have gone missing and have been unaccounted for for at least 48 hours. Please respond.” Trooper Pete: “Roger, Roger. I have them in protective custody. They’re not going anywhere. Over and out.” The preceding dialogue may, or may not, have […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Pretty much every bill we discussed yesterday passed yesterday. The one exception, HB 122 (Heffernan), which would require that persons with disabilities be paid a minimum wage, is at the top of today’s House Agenda with an amendment by the sponsor. Meaning, all is well with this excellent bill. Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report. […]
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Five more days. Lots of unfinished business. Some, like the Budget Bill, will likely get done as early as today. But where’s the urgency on marijuana legalization (HB 150), policing reforms (SB 147, SB 148), a limit on the size of assault weapon magazines (SB 6, Pete, why have you ‘disappeared’ this bill?), an end […]
DL Open Thread Thursday, June 17, 2021
The Intercept got ahold of a Zoom call between West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and a centrist money-dispensing outfit called No Labels — founded by ex-Sen. Joe Lieberman — in which Manchin reveals his true feelings about filibuster reform, among other things. Most noteworthy to me was Manchin’s begging these donors to help him find […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 16, 2021
A great day–a GREAT day, in the State Senate yesterday. Dave Sokola and the merry band of progressives there–RULE. So many great bills passed yesterday that it’s hard to know what to omit. (OK, I could have done w/o the break on premium cigars, but other than that…) Two excellent gun control bills (HB 125 […]
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Let’s start with some good news, sorta. SB 15, the minimum wage increase legislation, is on Thursday’s House Agenda. However, it’s a long Agenda, SB 15 is at the bottom of the Agenda, and it’s questionable whether it will be considered on Thursday. Several amendments, all by Rethugs, have been placed with the bill. Pay […]
DL Open Thread Sunday, June 13, 2021
Delawareans should do a slow burn every time the national media call out Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for siding with Republicans. Everyone knows that another handful of Democratic senators share their not-so-progressive leanings, but most represent either red state or states with strong, functioning Republican parties. Only Delaware has two Democratic senators who both […]
Song of the Day 6/10: Cab Calloway, “The Reefer Man”
With Delaware lawmakers debating a marijuana legalization bill, it seems worthwhile to remind them that cannabis wasn’t always illegal, and its effects weren’t considered dangerous until a wave of refugees from the Mexican Revolution in the 1920s prompted anti-immigrant forces to agitate against the “marihuana” they brought with them. When Cab Calloway, a guy whose […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, June 10, 2021
Today’s the day that marijuana legalization comes to the House floor. It’s likely to be a lo-o-o-ng day. After all, it’s a lo-o-o-ng bill. HB 150 (Osienski) already has ten pre-filed amendments to wade through. There could well be more, including perhaps an omnibus amendment that incorporates whatever is needed to get enough votes for […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 9, 2021
Pity The Poor Rethuglican. A couple of years ago, Speaker Pete cut a deal with them rather than work with his own caucus. The result? A special ‘training wage’ and a special ‘youth wage’ that was below the minimum wage. A lot of D’s bristled at this bill. But not Mike Ramone, whose vote Pete […]
State Rep/Ex-Cop Steve Smyk Implicated In Sex Discrimination/Harassment Suit
Far be it from me to sensationalize allegations pertaining to any of the cop-legislators in Dover (he lied), but this case promises to be Sensational. It features Steve Smyk (rhymes with Dick), and, yes, he comes across as quite the dick. Allegedly. Oh, and also Speaker Pete (alleged oral history). If you have a subscription, […]
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 8, 2021
It’s official. Matt Bittle is the best legislative beat reporter I’ve seen during my years of working for/following the General Assembly. Chad Livengood was the best investigative reporter, but you simply can’t beat Matt’s ongoing coverage. It’s why I subscribe to Bay To Bay (formerly the Delaware State News). Here is his preview of the […]
Bipartisanship Is a Mug’s Game
The seeds of our current obstructionist Republican Party were sown during the Clinton administration, when Bill Clinton signed a Republican “welfare reform” bill and, in the Republican view, stole all the credit for it. The lesson Republicans learned motivates them to this day: If a good thing happens with Democrats in charge, Democrats win, no […]
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