Delaware To Tackle Human Trafficking

Delaware To Tackle Human Trafficking

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Make no mistake. Delaware needs to tackle human trafficking. According to activists, Delaware ranks near the bottom when it comes to addressing the issue of, let's not mince words, slavery. Which, IMHO, is why, as 'Lazy Reader' pointed out (major tip of the 'Bulo sombrero), that Delaware has had this sudden proliferation of Asian massage 'spas'. Within the past year, New Jersey has enacted perhaps the most comprehensive statute in the country. The Pennsylvania legislature is likely to pass a comprehensive bill by the end of the current legislative session, and already has a stronger statute than Delaware. As to Delaware, while it comes relatively late in the session, there should be no reason why SB 197(Blevins) doesn't get enacted into law by the end of June.  I think that one of the elements driving the increased spa proliferation in Delaware is, in fact, likely the stronger statutes enacted elsewhere. Delaware offers a soft underbelly for those with no conscience. Just to give you an idea of the extent of the sprouting of these spas, My Friend At Work (huge sombrero tip to her), who is deeply involved in this issue, suggested a website that pretty much lays it out there. While I will not give the website any undeserving traffic, it promotes, both under 'escorts' and 'body rubs', many of these spas. Generalized locations include Philly Pike in Claymont,  Shoppes of Camelot in Rehoboth, Market Street in Wilmington, Foulk Road in Brandywine Hundred, State Street in Dover, Naamans Road in Brandywine Hundred, N. Broad Street in Middletown,  Silverside Road in Brandywine Hundred, N. DuPont Hwy. in Dover, Chestnut Hill Plaza in Newark, S. Maryland Ave. in Wilmington, Pulaski Highway in Bear, and Jenmar Plaza in Newark. 
Delaware Political Weekly: April 12-18, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: April 12-18, 2014

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Beau Biden's 'letter to his supporters' announcing that he would not run for reelection for AG but, rather, would run for Governor in 2016, was an act of breathtaking cynicism.  So let's make one thing totally clear: He is not running for reelection because of his health. Period. With perhaps a dollop of 'I suck so bad as AG that maybe people will forget just how bad if I'm out of office for a couple of years'. So, let's first look at 2016 and work our way backwards, shall we? With all that money in the bank, Beau hopes to scare off would-be challengers. If Biden's successful, this would make it almost a certainty that your Democratic nominee for governor in 2016 would either be Beau Biden or...Tom Gordon.  You see, Tommy's waiting in the wings with the implicit blessing of the Bidenistas. Either way, Joe Biden gets to play kingmaker. You like that? Neither do I. That's why I find this maneuver so cynical. And so typical of all involved. OK, let's become Matt Denn for just a second. He'd like to be governor, but he's enough of a realist to recognize that waiting for 2016 in (a) the oft-chance that Biden won't run and/or (b) the hope that he'll somehow be able to raise enough money to be competitive with Beau are possible but far from sure things. The position of AG has just opened up for this November. I betcha Matt Denn thinks he'd be a great AG. I agree. I also betcha that leaders in the Party are already beating a track to his door.  I don't think anyone could come close to defeating Denn, should he run for AG. With no information whatsoever, I think and hope that that's what he'll do. He'd be an effective and progressive AG. Which is better than what we have now.
It’s Official. David Tackett to Challenge Bryan Townsend.

It’s Official. David Tackett to Challenge Bryan Townsend.

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Tackett sent out this e-mail to community leaders. I swear I have not changed one letter of what he wrote. This is (presumably) his own syntax:
Well I am reaching out to share some exciting news, I have decided to run for the senate seat in our area, As you know I have been the councilman for going on 10 years now and I have used this experience and time to build my relations in the communities and helping our residents on the county level and I am now ready to move to the state side and use my experience with the multitude of state issues we are facing. We have worked on many issues in Breezwood over the years and we will have many more. I have watched as Dover has done nothing for our economy and jobs and they only dealt with a bunch of social issues while we have been hurting and struggling just to maintain. I fell it is time to carry our voices into Dover and demand this struggling economy be addressed. I promise I will be this voice! The guy we have now that beat DeLuca last year still lives with his parents and while he is a nice guy I just feel he does not understand the pressures we face as homeowners, parents and ever increasing pressure of inflation.
What If Beau Doesn’t Run?

What If Beau Doesn’t Run?

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It has been widely assumed that Beau Biden would coast to reelection for Attorney General this year, then set his sights on a gubernatorial run in 2016. Why else would he be sitting on a gargantuan campaign war chest? To defeat a non-existent Rethug challenger in November? No. However, I think that anyone other than the terminally-gullible can recognize that there is a reason that Beau has remained largely out of the public eye since his emergency medical stop in Houston last summer. I think someone needs to say it, after all, the election is less than seven months away: What if his condition, whatever it is, prevents Biden from running in both 2014 and 2016? Who runs for Attorney General in 2014?
Delaware Political Weekly, April 5-11, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly, April 5-11, 2014

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Apparently there are self-appointed grown-ups amongst Sussex County Rethuglicans. Party leaders (an oxymoron, I know, but bear with me),  endorsed a resolution stating that they would not "endorse or support" Phillips should he run for reelection to Sussex County Council. The News-Journal quotes Sussex Republican Chair John Rieley as telling Phillips in a letter:
"This situation has the strong potential to bring disrepute on the party if we do not take a proactive moral position and are seen as lending support to your candidacy."
Sometimes the jokes write themselves. The Sheriff of Nuttingham. Bodie. Disrepute has, to put it mildly, not been a stranger to the Sussex County Republican Party. But, I digress. This did not stop Phillips from filing yesterday. Meanwhile, Colin Bonini will not run for Treasurer. This, of course, was inevitable. A guy who has gotten paid for 20 years to do nothing was not about to risk that gig for another job where he'd basically do nothing. Since he would have to give up his Senate seat to run for Treasurer, Colin Bonini was never gonna run for Treasurer this year.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., April 10, 2014.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., April 10, 2014.

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Yesterday was a light day. The Senate worked and passed a series of noncontroversial measures, some of which I previously discussed here. The Gun Down the Gray Fox bill made it out of committee. The Dream Act bill didn't. Priorities, people.  BTW, projected annual cost of the Dream Act bill, according to the Fiscal Note? Just over $40K/year. Here's the entire Session Activity Report. The Governor has 51 million reasons to root for passage of HB 265(Schwartzkopf) in the Senate today. The bill raises $51 million in increased annual corporate fees. Since the bill requires a 3/5 super-majority vote, 13 yes votes are required. Don't think the bill would be on the Senate Agenda if all 13 D's were not on board, but we shall see. The over/under on how long it takes Governor Markell to sign the bill? 30 minutes. I'm taking the under.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., April 8, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., April 8, 2014

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Same day registration/voting is coming to Delaware. HB 105(Viola) passed the House, 24-15, last Thursday. Two putative D's, John Atkins and Bill 'Lumpy' Carson, voted no. No R's voted yes.  I look for a 12-9 yes vote in the Senate. Karen Weldin Stewart loses yet more of her authority if SB 178(Peterson) passes. The bill 'transfers authority for state-approved motor vehicle accident prevention (defensive driving) courses from the Department of Insurance to the Division of Motor Vehicles'.  A classic example of the state adding by subtracting. The less KWS can screw up, the better.  When you think about it, it's pretty amazing that we have two elected public officials in whom virtually nobody in state government has any confidence. KWS and Chip Flowers. Said lack of confidence is totally justified. Weird.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 27, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 27, 2014

6 Comments
Let's talk about the $51 million dog that didn't bark. Namely HB 265(Schwartzkopf). Was on Tuesday's House Agenda.  Would 'increase(s) the annual tax assessed on partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability companies on file with the Secretary of State from $250 to $300 and increases the corporation franchise tax by $100 for those corporations that file on the authorized shares method". $51 mill, just like that. So, why didn't it happen? I think that Gary Myers, one of our commenters, identified the reason. He asked why wasn't this a supermajority bill since it raises revenue.  Enter House Amendment 1. Adds a supermajority (3/5) enactment clause.  Makes 25 the magic number of votes needed, not 21. It's possible that Pete has the votes. However, the bill isn't on today's agenda. So, I'm guessing he doesn't have the votes right now. I'm honestly not sure how he could possibly have tried to push this bill through as one requiring only a simple majority. Things are just not flowing smoothly in the House right now.