Tag: Delaware General Assembly

What to Expect From Delaware Liberal Tonight

Filed in Delaware by on June 30, 2009 7 Comments

This is the last day of the legislative session in Dover.  Unstable Isotope and I (at a minimum) will be in attendance and passing along reports.  Many of our reports will be available via Twitter (@liberalgeek and @UnstableIsotope), Nemski and DelawareDem will be monitoring the tweets.  El Somnambulo will be listening to the audio stream […]

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General Assembly Pre-Game Show-Monday, June 29

Filed in National by on June 29, 2009 3 Comments

2 days to go. Based on press reports, the white smoke has yet to be seen from the Legislative Hall chimney. The state’s finances, of course, being the foremost subject facing the Delaware General Assembly. Lots of ‘whipping’ is gonna have to go on, especially in the House Republican Caucus, for a balanced budget to […]

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Cutting of Legislators’ Transportation Funds Misguided

Filed in National by on June 29, 2009 11 Comments

A proposal to seriously reduce legislative funds designed to repair roads is ill-considered and will not save money in the long run.  It will delay repairs of suburban streets, many of which, by DELDOT’s own grading of the roads, need to be done ASAP. The delays will only lead to increased repair costs when and […]

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The Delaware State Senate Is Changed Forever

Filed in National by on June 26, 2009 9 Comments

With the passing of Thurman Adams, the Delaware State Senate will never be the same.  And the State of Delaware will be much the better for it. While one wishes Adams’ family best wishes and mourns their loss, it must be said that, in the last few years, Adams almost singlehandedly kept the Senate’s tradition […]

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Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thursday, June 25

Filed in National by on June 25, 2009 20 Comments

‘Bulo apologizes that this will be both late and short, but he just got back from hiking the trail. Well, the big news is that SB 121 has passed both houses and has been sent to the Governor. Here is the House roll call. Anyone considering running against Greg Lavelle in his Brandywine Hundred district […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up and Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 24

Filed in National by on June 24, 2009 3 Comments

Most of yesterday’s abbreviated sessions were given over to tributes to Thurman Adams. Sen. Nancy Cook reportedly led a group of about a dozen of Adams’ family onto the House floor (Sen. Venables was also with them). Several shared their memories. When it was all over, the session was adjourned for caucus with the announcement […]

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The Governor’s Tax Package-Bill By Bill

Filed in National by on June 24, 2009 55 Comments

Here is a summary of, and link to, each bill in the Governor’s tax package. As required by law, all revenue enhancers must start in the House, and a 3/5 majority is needed for passage. Please note that all are sponsored by the Democratic leadership as the Rethugs seem determined to simply play political Russian […]

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What Adams’ Death Might Mean in the Short-Term

Filed in National by on June 23, 2009 30 Comments

Yes, it is unseemly, and, yes, El Somnambulo wishes he didn’t have to write this. But there are real and immediate potential impacts to Senator Adams’ death, and they must be dealt with very quickly. First, it is essential that the Senate select a new President Pro-Tempore. Unlike the positions of majority/minority leader and majority/minority […]

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SB 121 First On Tuesday’s Senate Agenda

Filed in National by on June 19, 2009 6 Comments

Some things just can’t wait for Tuesday’s pre-game show. SB 121, which would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, is #1 on the Senate agenda for Tuesday. Predictably, Sen. Bob Venables (D-Mars) has lobbed in three amendments, only one of which has even a passing acquaintance with sanity. He’s probably got a few more being […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrapup/Pre-Game Show-Thurs., June 18

Filed in Delaware by on June 18, 2009 41 Comments

Yesterday’s Action: In the Senate, the big news was the release of SB 121 to the floor by unanimous committee vote,  surprising no one save the News-Journal’s headline writer, who used the term ‘surprising’ to describe this development. Nor will it be ‘surprising’ when this long-overdue civil rights measure becomes law, probably by the end […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrapup and Pre-Game Show-Wed., June 17

Filed in National by on June 17, 2009 18 Comments

Here’s what happened yesterday. Commentators have already discussed the demise of the Jake Brakes bill. It looks like Bob Venables was trying to argue that local and county noise ordinances could handle any issues, presumably b/c they had done such a great job previously. Not. No, this was a sop to the truckers, pure and […]

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How Political Patronage Does Real Harm

Filed in Delaware by on June 17, 2009 14 Comments

Famous medical axiom:  “First, do no harm.” When doling out political plum jobs, governors should heed that axiom as well. Unfortunately, Ruth Ann Minner had a different axiom: “Reward my friends. Screw the public.” The disgraceful performance of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board demonstrates why Aunt Bee’s ‘governing philosophy’ does real harm to average Delawareans. […]

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Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show-Tuesday, June 16

Filed in National by on June 16, 2009 31 Comments

“Where’s the money” is still the question d’annee, and timely answers do not appear forthcoming. The Governor’s office has subtly, perhaps too subtly, stressed the need to come up with a comprehensive solution, but so far the announced compromises have only served to widen the projected deficit, not narrow it. ‘Bulo will resist runaway train […]

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