Around the Horn for the Week of August 9-15, 2013

Around the Horn for the Week of August 9-15, 2013

Steve Newton of Delaware Libertarian continues his expose against Highmark and MedExpress and the Insurance Commissioner's complicity in the fleecing that is going on. First, he notes that from some people, including his own representatives, the silence is deafening.
The silence is deafening from the Insurance Commissioner's office. Not only has Nancy Willing inquired at least five times regarding any investigation of this mess, Senator Petersen requested an Insurance Commissioner's inquiry when I sent her the materials, and Dr. Vince Schaller, Medical Director of the Lantana/Hockessin Walk-in Clinic has filed multiple complaints and inquiries. From Karin Weldin Stewart's office: ... crickets ... This [controversy] has also been an ongoing primer [into] who does and doesn't respond to real inquiries from citizens and constituents. I live neither in Petersen's district, nor in John Kowalko's. Both responded almost instantly when I asked. I also always get quick responses from legislators like Paul Baumbach, Brian Bushweller, and Ernie Lopez--again: I live in none of their districts. On the other hand, I have sent all the same information (repeatedly) to Senator Greg Lavelle and Representative Joe Miro. I do live in their district, and Dr. Schaller's clinic is a small business within their district that employs several dozen people, and is the only such clinic in our district. From the two of them: ... crickets ...
Steve goes on to say that he does not want this to be a partisan issue, I guess because he lists several Democrats and one Republican who are responsive on this issue, while his own Republican legislators are not. I agree, it is not a partisan issue. It is an ideological one. The Dems he listed, with the exception of Bushweller, are progressives. Corporate-backed legislators or executives, whether they be Jack Markell or Karen Weldin Stewart or a host of other Democratic and Republican state legislators, are not going to be terribly troubled by this whole Highmark/MedExpress issue. Progressives and libertarians, for their own ideological reasons, will. Steve, in another post, highlights another scam from Highmark and predicts that it will drive BayHealth or ChristianaCare out of business in the next three years. Meanwhile... Mike Matthews is back!!!!
Medical Marijuana… Remember that?

Medical Marijuana… Remember that?

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It was over two years ago that Delaware became of the growing number of states that allow medical marijuana. Senator Margaret Rose Henry's SB 17 passed the Senate 18-3 (and then inexplicably 17-4 the second time after the House amended it) and the House 27-14, and Governor Markell signed the bill a few days later, which is his custom if he really likes a bill. But then came the Federal roadblock, as Eric Holder's Justice Department threatened state officials with prosecution. Since I preemptively attacked the Governor this morning for a rumored but not yet taken action, it seems only fair to applaud the Governor to finally sticking up his middle finger to Attorney General Holder and President Obama for their illogical, unprogressive and hypocritical opposition to medical marijuana. The breaking news:
After a months-long delay, Gov. Jack Markell is moving forward with implementation of Delaware’s medical marijuana program despite threats from the U.S. Department of Justice that state officials could be subject to prosecution. The move comes after other states, including New Jersey and Rhode Island, have issued licenses for marijuana distribution centers. Markell told lawmakers in a letter today that the state will issue a request for proposal to open a marijuana cultivation and distribution center, or “compassion center,” in Delaware next year. The law that Markell signed in 2011 legalizing medical marijuana in Delaware called for compassion centers in each county.
Open Thread for Thursday, August 15, 2013

Open Thread for Thursday, August 15, 2013

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I love Ezra Klein's analogy here regarding the new demand that, instead of ransoming the budget (and force a government shutdown), the Republicans should hold hostage the debt ceiling in exchange for the repeal of Obamacare:
Since Boehner can’t just tell House Republicans that their party needs to let go of the whole stop-Obamacare thing until they win a few more elections, what will he tell them? Apparently, he’s going to tell them to try using the debt ceiling: “Sources tell me the House GOP will probably avoid using a shutdown as leverage and instead use the debt limit and sequester fights as areas for potential legislative trades. Negotiations over increasing the debt limit have frequently been used to wring concessions out of the administration, so there may be movement in that direction: Delay Obamacare in exchange for an increased debt limit.” Trading a government shutdown for a debt-ceiling breach is like trading the flu for septic shock. And Boehner knows it. Republicans will effectively be going to the White House and saying, “Delay the health-care law or we will single-handedly cause an unprecedented and unnecessary global financial crisis that everyone will clearly and correctly blame on us, destroying our party for years to come.” It’s not a very persuasive ransom note to send. And Boehner knows it. It’s just something he’s saying to talk his party down from this tree. But come October, when they climb up into that higher, more dangerous, tree, he’s going to have to think of some new crazy promise to entice them down. Then, three months later, that promise will come back to bite him — and the rest of us. And eventually, someone’s going to make a mistake, and Boehner won’t manage to pull his people back from the brink at the last minute.
No, the only way this ends is with Boehner sacrificing his Speakership (or at least forming a coalition speakership with Pelosi with 21 or so sane Republicans). Boehner eventually will have to sacrifice his political career.
DeLuca to Labor?

DeLuca to Labor?

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There is a rumor that Governor Markell is going to appoint former Senate Pro Tem, Senator Tony DeLuca, as Secretary of Labor. Will that job be in addition to the other jobs DeLuca has in state government. If this is a trial balloon, then let's pop it. Governor, this is unacceptable. This is Delaware Way politics at its worst. It is something that Ruth Ann Minner would do. It is something we imagined Ruth Ann Minner's Lt. Governor, John Carney, would do. Which is why we backed what appeared to be the more progressive option in the 2008 Democratic Primary.... you. If you do this, boy were we wrong.
Violence and Wilmington

Violence and Wilmington

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Last night, there was a quickly called meeting by Herman Holloway, Jr. to get "community leaders" to discuss Wilmington's violence problem. Specifically, Holloway wanted to talk about strategies to get…

Towards a Smarter Policing Strategy?

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Yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced changes to the Federal policy in prosecuting drug crimes, basically getting Federal prosecutors to charge low-level offenders with less harsh crimes.  This action would essentially bypass the mandatory minimum sentencing rules whose primary accomplishment is to increase the already unsustainable numbers of Americans in prison.  This is a baby step in admitting that we've been losing the War on Drugs for a long time:
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced Monday that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with no ties to gangs or large-scale drug organizations will no longer be charged with offenses that impose severe mandatory sentences. The new Justice Department policy is part of a comprehensive prison reform package that Holder unveiled in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco. He also introduced a policy to reduce sentences for elderly, nonviolent inmates and find alternatives to prison for nonviolent criminals.

Open Thread for Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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The Newark Mayor, no not Corey Booker, but Vance Funk, is retiring earlier than originally indicated. He is now leaving office on September 30, rather than December 31.
[Deputy Mayor] Clifton – sitting in the mayor’s chair Funk has occupied since being elected in 2004 – said Funk changed the effective date of his resignation to accommodate the process for a special election in accordance with the city’s charter. Council will hold a special meeting on Sept. 30 to schedule the special election, which is expected to be held Nov. 26, Clifton said. Although Funk was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting, he made a statement in a city news release distributed immediately after Clifton’s announcement. “Considering that it is not in my best interest health wise to attend the many meetings between now and the end of the year and to allow the election process to move forward in a timely fashion, I determined September 30 to be an appropriate date for my term to end,” Funk said in the news release.