Featured
DL Open Thread: Friday, June 18, 2021
We (Almost) Have A Progressive General Assembly! Passage of the $15 minimum wage bill is a BFD. The Senate has become a progressive legislative body run by progressive leaders. There hasn’t been a single piece of progressive legislation that has been deep-sixed there, and a whole lot of progressive initiatives have started there. The combination […]
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: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Trump Handed Private Equity Firms License To Avoid Taxes. The day before the Capitol riots: There were two weeks left in the Trump administration when the Treasury Department handed down a set of rules governing an obscure corner of the tax code. Overseen by a senior Treasury official whose previous job involved helping the wealthy […]
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 […]
DL Open Thread: Saturday, June 5, 2021
Federal Judge Strikes Down Cali’s Assault Weapons Ban. Calls the AR-15 assault rifle ‘…a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment.” One of Dubya’s judges. Sinema Supporter: Back Filibuster Or Get Out. Right, like she’s gonna take that advice. Are Political Ads Getting It All Wrong? Very few, if any, seek to […]
DL Open Thread: Friday, June 4, 2021
The Second Amendment And Slavery: Perfect Together? Worthy of a REV podcast…here’s the gist of this historian’s argument: In her new book, The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, Anderson traces racial distinctions in Americans’ treatment of gun ownership back to the founding of the country and the Second Amendment, which states: […]
DL Open Thread For May 29, 2021
DOJ Asks Judge To Toss Lawsuit Against Trump And Barr For Violent Clearing Of Lafayette Square. Seriously, WTF? Trump and other U.S. officials are immune from civil lawsuits over police actions taken to protect a president and to secure his movements, government lawyers said of the actions taken ahead of a photo op of Trump […]
DL Open Thread For Friday, May 28, 2021
Kathy McGuiness Crosses That Ethical Line. Again. When you’re an elected official, it’s bad form to announce a supposed new initiative AND solicit campaign funds in the same e-mail. But that’s what she’s done, not for the first time: Dear Steve, Today, I announced my accountability and transparency initiative dubbed Project: Gray Fox. Since I […]
The General Assembly Is Not In Session, HOWEVER…
…these might be the two most important weeks of the entire legislative year. Why? Because ALL of the money committees are doing final markups of their proposals. Meaning, if there is a bill that you support that requires funding, you need to lobby to make sure that the funding is included in the bill. The […]
Recent Comments