What? A Private School Bus Stipend?

What? A Private School Bus Stipend?

13 Comments
Ok, I'm ready for it. A transplant from Texas dares to question the Delaware practice of providing private school parents who apply for a stipend to transport their children to a non-public school? Yes. Admittedly I was shocked to learn that this is a pretty longstanding practice here and in a number of other states. Apparently also there is funding of school nurses in private schools.
The 62 Project: #’s 21 and 41

The 62 Project: #’s 21 and 41

22 Comments
When I started the 62 Project, I had Pete Schwartzkopf ranked 13th on my initial list. That was largely because I thought that he, as House Majority Leader, effectively pushed through key progressive bills, including civil unions. He also was able to get the at-the-time controversial 'revenue enhancement' package through a fractured House. This helped balance the budget during the early Markell years. He wasn't afraid to use legislative power to get things done. While I didn't always admire his tactics, I respected the results. The role of House Majority Leader requires tough tactics in tough times. However, as Speaker of the House, Schwartzkopf has governed as if he were still Majority Leader. Aided and abetted by an equally-enthusiastic, though far less skilled, arm-breaker, Valerie Longhurst. Pete not only handpicked Longhurst to be his successor, he insisted that they both be elected as a team or he would not serve as Speaker. Uh, I wonder if he'd be willing, or in any position, to make the same demand today. Put simply, Pete Schwartzkopf is in danger of being a one-term Speaker, and not because the D's are in any way facing the loss of the House chamber.

Federal Court Says Texas’ Gay Marriage Ban Is Unconsitutional

3 Comments
Oh yes, I just wanted to write that headline! Remember that a court striking down Texas' anti-sodomy laws brought us Lawrence V Texas too -- invalidating the remaining anti-sodomy laws on several states' books. From TPM:
{Judge Orlando} Garcia, a Bill Clinton appointee, wrote in his decision that Texas' constitutional ban on same-sex marriage violates equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. “Texas’ current marriage laws deny homosexual couples the right to marry, and in doing so, demean their dignity for no legitimate reason," he wrote. "Accordingly, the Court finds these laws are unconstitutional and hereby grants a preliminary injunction enjoining Defendants from enforcing Texas’ bans on same-sex marriage.”
Wednesday Open Thread [2.26.14]

Wednesday Open Thread [2.26.14]

4 Comments
Delaware is not sharing its salt with Pennsylvania or New Jersey.
Salt-strapped New Jersey had asked Delaware to share its salt earlier this week, and Delaware said it has enough to last a few more storms, but isn't willing to share. When asked again if they'd share with neighboring states, {DelDOT Jim] Westhoff told WDEL, "No way."
LOL. A story about a responsible squirrel and his acorns comes to mind.
The Mania for Austerity Finally Hits the Military

The Mania for Austerity Finally Hits the Military

8 Comments
You've been hearing this week about SecDef Chuck Hagel's proposed budget for the DOD for FY15. This budget reduced the number of active duty troops, reduces the number of reserve troops, reduces salary increases, requires uniformed staff to contribute more to their health care, reduces retirement benefits and focuses growth in cybersecurity and in Special Forces. It looks to re-orient the Pentagon's focus on being prepared for two land wars to dealing with current threats of terrorism. And this budget looks as though it accomodates some continued sequestration as well as real spending reduction. Remember as you hear more about this budget that if the US gets out of Afghanistan at the end of this year (as planned), the US won't be engaged in regular ground wars anywhere. From the WaPo:
Daily Approval Rating — Results for Governor Markell and Poll for Lt. Governor Matt Denn

Daily Approval Rating — Results for Governor Markell and Poll for Lt. Governor Matt Denn

8 Comments
Here are the results for Governor Markell. The bigoted brigades that came here last night to defend the Ugandan Right to Discriminate tilted the balance of disapproval for the Governor. That's the breaks. Approve 32% Disapprove 63% Meh .045% You can tell the poll was freeped by the knuckle draggers by the "Strongly Disapprove" option, which, out of the the 154 total votes, measured 64. True Delawareans don't do anything strongly. We'll redo the poll once the neanderthals are distracted by a shiny rock, next week perhaps. Now go vote on Matt Denn, to your right-------------->
Shorter Dick Cheney: Bombs are still free and Obama is still black

Shorter Dick Cheney: Bombs are still free and Obama is still black

If there is a person alive who is more evil than Dick Cheney, I've never heard of them. He was the guy who was supposed to be the adult in the room during the caretaker Presidency of George Bush's idiot son. Instead, to the non-surprise of many, he turned out to be a bloodthirsty sociopath. Well, now he is back talking to Fox News because he is such an expert on the military or something.