Covered at FSP and Delaware Watch.

I wonder where this leaves HB4, which Rep. Smith was supposed to bring back for another vote on March 13th-14th. HB4 states:

This Bill requires the annual Budget Bill and Bond Bill to be introduced no later than five (5) legislative days prior to June 30th. This Bill requires the Bond Bill to be introduced no later than three (3) legislative days prior to June 30nd. Any amendment would be introduced no later than June 27th for the Budget Bill or June 29th for the Bond Bill.

It would be a crying shame if all of Dave Burris’ work got the finger due to a career change.

Courtesy of the AP via the Boston Globe:

Senate wants light shed on pet projects

January 17, 2007

The Senate voted yesterday to shine more light on thousands of expensive pet projects buried in legislation every year after the Democratic majority bowed to a push by Republicans to make new disclosure rules even tougher. The vote was 98 to 0 to require senators to reveal the projects they insert in legislation. (AP)

Well, I guess we now know how all that extra time Congress is going to be working will be spent. It is kinda disturbing that they will now have to actively reveal it, as that kinda suggests that our Senate does not thoroughly read the legislation that they vote on.  Also, will these revelations be made available to us?

The Republican Senate Caucus recently blew the doors off of the Delaware politics doors recently with the announcement of a five-point plan to open up the government. This move, 10 days before the midterm elections, is forcing the Dems to to stand and support their bold move or be forever lambasted as Haters of Democracy.

Folks like Karen E. Peterson have been fighting for this for years, with little to no support from some of the Republican Senators supporting this new plan. So, what caused this 180-degree turn? Were the Rs visited the night before by the Ghosts of Democracy Past, and woke with love in their hearts, finally buying us Cratchits our Freedom Turkey? Wow, that was a tortured metaphor. Someone call Gitmo.

Does it even matter what caused this? I see a huge benefit to the people of Delaware in this move. People like Tyler Patrick Nixon and Jason over at Delaware Liberal have been fairly vocal that their parties need some fixing. Will this be the catalyst for that? The Republicans move seems to be the crowbar in the door to give these worthy folks who are not blinded by party loyalty the foot in to start to hold the hands of the parties and help them take those tentative first steps back to their former glory, where they did work for the people, and not self-glorification.

I am an idealist at heart, and I see nothing but good coming out of this as it will begin to put more power in the hands of the people to enact even more change.