POLITICAL SHENANIGANS REGARDING HB 487? YOU BE THE JUDGE!

Positive Growth Alliance members & interested parties:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 27, I'll be on WGMD radio with Bill Colley. We'll be on from 5 to 6 PM. You can find WGMD at 92.7 on the FM dial. If you are out of range, click here to listen on the internet from anywhere in the world.

The show tomorrow will focus on HB 487, which some are calling the "double dipper" bill. This bill was sponsored by Rep. John Atkins in the House. Co-sponsors were Reps. Pete Schwartzkopf, Carson, Gilligan, Q. Johnson, Kowalko, Mitchell, and Mulrooney.

There are a number of fascinating questions about this bill, which passed the Delaware General Assembly and was signed by the Governor on July 12, 2010:

-WHY DOES IT FORCE DOUBLE DIPPING? - It forces Sussex County government to allow certain employees to "double dip." Prior to this bill, you could not retire from the County and get your pension, then return to County employment and get a salary plus pension. Because of this bill, you can now retire from the county government, run for County Council or certain other positions, and then receive both your pension plus the salary for the new County government position.

-WHY USE FAST TRACKING? - This bill was introduced on June 22 and assigned to the Housing and Community Affairs committee. At that point there were only 4 days remaining in the Delaware General Assembly and no time for the public to get involved. On June 23, it was re-assigned to the House Adminstration committee, chaired by Pete Schwartzkopf. It was voted out of committee the very same day. On the next day, June 24, it was passed by the House. Two business days later, on the final day of the legislative session, HB 487 was passed by the Senate.

-WHY DID ONLY 2 OF 11 SUSSEX REPS OR SENATORS VOTE YES? - 9 Sussex County representatives and senators thought this bill was a bad idea. The only Sussex County elected officials who voted for this bill were Representatives Atkins and Schwarzkopf.

-WHY DID THE BILL PASS BY BARE MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE? - This bill passed only because of party discipline. The vote was 21 yes, 10 no, 6 not voting and 4 absent in the House. In the Senate, it was 11 yes, 4 no, 4 not voting, and 2 absent. It appears that almost half the House and Senate knew this was not a worthy bill.

-WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL TO ALLOW A RETIRING COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE TO RUN FOR SUSSEX COUNCIL THIS ELECTION CYCLE? - This was clearly demonstrated to be yes when a House amendment was defeated that would have delayed implementation until next year. Just a few days ago, a retiring county employee actually did file to run for Sussex County Council. Was this a bill for all the citizens of Delaware, or one that fulfilled the political needs of just a handful of "public servants?"

-WHY DOES THIS HIGHLY PAID SUSSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEE WANT TO RUN FOR COUNTY COUNCIL? - According to a Freedom of Information Action request, his salary was $74,400 and benefits were $34,612 (including health care insurance, pension, FICA, and vision/dental insurance). In the Coastal Point newspaper of 7/23, his major concern seems to be the fact that the number of county employees has been reduced through attrition, "but that puts a lot on the backs of other county employees who haven't had a cost-of-living raise in two years." Is this county employee/political candidate even aware that in 2009 the cost of living declined 1.7% and would have created a salary decrease if it was adhered to?

WHY WAS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A SUSSEX COUNCIL CANDIDATE WITHOUT POLITICAL SHENANIGANS? - Was it because Sussex County hasn't had a tax increase in 21 years, they have no general fund debt, their bond rating was just raised (improved), and there's little chance of a tax increase for the forseeable future? Was it because they have reduced staff without layoffs or salary reductions and are still granting merit raises? Is it because, unlike our state government, Sussex County government has done exactly what conservatives have asked for by not growing government, taxes, and spending when all the rest of us are being forced to pull in our belts?

Listen in tomorrow on 92.7 FM for a lot more information on this bill. Starting in September, we'll be on the air every week highlighting the behind-the-scenes stories on many bills in our Delaware General Assembly.

Thanks,
Rich Collins
302-381-1610