Tag: Jack Markell

Speaker Pete Burying Port Bill?

Filed in National by on January 19, 2013 17 Comments

Signs point to yes. On Wednesday, January 16, the Senate passed Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3: http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LAH147.NSF/65d260a8f0fbce13852572360055cafe/f4c55b7e0e893ce785257af600176dee?OpenDocument Senate Bill 1, which pertains to the Bank Franchise tax, was assigned to the House Business Uber Alles Committee, will be considered in committee on Wednesday, and likely voted on by Thursday. Senate Bill 2, which is […]

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Governor Markell’s State of the State Address

Filed in National by on January 17, 2013 36 Comments

The Governor will give his annual State of the State address today [1.17.13] at 2 pm at the Senate Chamber, Legislative Hall, Dover.

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Delaware General Assembly Pre-Session Show: Tuesday, January 8, 2012

Filed in National by on January 8, 2013 30 Comments

2013 has all the makings of the most momentous year in recent legislative memory. The House and Senate have both undergone major institutional and leadership changes. More progressives now serve in Dover than before.

A pro-business governor with aspirations for higher office must decide both what’s best for the state and what’s best for his political future. A host of important issues await, including, of course, Delaware’s economic condition.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR NEWBIES

The Delaware State Senate has 21 members,  currently 13 D’s and 8 R’s. The President Pro-Tempore leads the Senate, although the Lieutenant Governor often, but not always, presides over the senate sessions as a non-voting member. Here is a list of the Senate members.

The House of Representatives has 41 members, currently 27 D’s, 14 R’s. The Speaker of the House presides over the body. You can find the House membership here.

The General Assembly is in session from the second Tuesday in January through June 30 each year. The Senate often returns for a special session in the fall to consider nominations.

The General Assembly breaks for six weeks at the end of January for Joint Finance Committee (budget) hearings and meetings. There is another 2-week break around Easter, and an additional week’s break around Memorial Day.  The Memorial Day break often enables the ‘money’ committees to finish work on marking up the budget.The typical General Assembly meets in session about 50 days a year.

And we are just getting started.

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Giving Thanks for Delaware’s Politicans

Filed in Delaware, National by on November 21, 2012 6 Comments
Giving Thanks for Delaware’s Politicans

People are thankful for many different things by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. Some are thankful for their health. Others are happy they have close friends and a loving family. I’m thankful for politicians.

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Gov. Jack Markell Spanks Romney at the DNC

Filed in Delaware, National by on September 6, 2012 3 Comments

And he talks about how Democrats focus on jobs. Video is below if you didn’t see this last night:

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Marriage Equality in Delaware in 2013?

Filed in National by on August 7, 2012 38 Comments

Governor Markell spoke to the Huffington Post and tells them that he thinks that marriage equality in Delaware might be as close as 2013, when he expects the legislature to take it up. That is a surprise and it is good news.

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On the Hustings With Bryan Townsend

Filed in National by on July 25, 2012 20 Comments

After spending a couple of hours at the doors (aka trying to keep up) with 11th District State Senate candidate Bryan Townsend last night, I can only say this: The residents of the 11th District would be SO much better off with Bryan Townsend as their Senator that it’s not even a close call. He is the single best first-time candidate I’ve encountered since Dave Sokola. And, yes, when elected, he would immediately join Senators Peterson and Sokola as one of the best senators in Dover.

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Kevin Wade and Jeff Cragg

Filed in Delaware by on July 11, 2012 11 Comments
Kevin Wade and Jeff Cragg

This morning, Delaware businessman Jeff Cragg officially filed his candidacy for Governor. Wait, we’re cutting in with a breaking report…

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Tipping His Canoe into the Race

Filed in Delaware by on May 17, 2012

It seems as though Jack Markell might have a primary opponent. Magnolia resident Doug Beatty, whose only claim to fame is being the son of actor Ned Beatty, has announced that he is going to challenge Markell in the Democratic primary. That is if he can raise the filing fee.

In what has to be the biggest understatement of the year, Beatty said that he is “an extreme long shot” but thinks he can win if he can get on the ballot. I think he’s watched The Candidate too many times. His run is more like the wet dream Bobby had in Deliverance.

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Governor Markell’s Weekly Address – Service

Filed in Delaware by on April 20, 2012 0 Comments

In his weekly message, Governor Markell talks about the annual Week of Service and how the event has grown since 2009’s Weekend of Service. The Governor and First Lady kicked off the Week of Service last Sunday at an event for the Delaware National Guard’s “War on Hunger.”

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The Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll

Filed in Delaware by on February 10, 2012 2 Comments

You may have noticed in the center column of the site, we have a poll question regarding the job performance of Governor Markell. Currently, the Governor has a 69% approval rating (27% approve, 42% strongly approve), and a 22% disapproval rating (17% disapprove, 5% strongly). And 9% of you either don’t care, don’t know or are “meh” when it comes to the Governor.

Now, an internet poll is in no way accurate (although, real polls of the Governor’s job performance have similar findings, with approval in the 60’s). We are not dealing with a random sample here. And the sample size is way too small (64 people at last count). Still, I thought it would be fun to have a new tracking poll feature each day that polls the politically motivated and passionate in Delaware. Each day of the week we will poll on a different office holder or candidate.

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Governor Markell’s State of the State Address (Updated with video)

Filed in National by on January 19, 2012 1 Comment

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Tornoe’s Toon: A Civil Union-y New Year!

Filed in National by on December 29, 2011 4 Comments
Tornoe’s Toon: A Civil Union-y New Year!

I’ve drawn my fair share of cartoons on why civil unions are a step-forward, but gay marriage is the way to go if you’re looking for true equity.

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