Animal Welfare and Control
In the greater scheme of things, an animal welfare task force would seem to be minor. BUT - PEOPLE are an integral part of animal welfare and control. And I am not talking about irresponsible owners, hoarders or those who promote dog fighting. I am talking about those who have been abused by the enforcement process in Delaware. And they are out there. The State has conveyed the authority to certain agencies and the counties for investigation and enforcement of animal welfare and dog control laws. Yet the State maintains that it has no control or oversight of those agencies because they are "private non-profit organizations" (and the counties have been known to say it's a State problem). The General Assembly just revoked powers from the sheriffs' offices because they carried weapons, were not police officers and were not answerable to the State. So how do YOU feel about enforcement officers that carry batons, have access to DELJIS (criminal records), can arrest you and/or impound your pets without witnessing violations, all based on complaints they say are confidential and refuse to share even with your attorney? And are not answerable to the State?
The Arts
Again, in the greater scheme of things, why worry about the arts? Given my background, obviously I believe that the arts are essential in education and for our mental and spiritual well-being - even in an uncertain economy. A recent national study found that $142M is spent in Delaware through the arts - either as artists producing work, audiences going to performances, or buying art. So - the arts are good for the economy, too. And how many of us learned to play an instrument? Took dance class? Listen to music - live or recorded? Admire a painting? Bought a hand-thrown ceramic piece? The arts are everywhere, and they touch us daily.
The Legislative Process in DE
I don't know how you feel about this, but I am not very happy when I hear a bill has been passed that I never heard about before the vote. Yes, this is all posted online and you can find it there. IF you have the time to track every bill that shows up. But - how hard would it be to put a press-release in the paper summarizing a bill that is in committee? BEFORE the legislators decide it's ready to vote on, shouldn't we have some input? And I don't mean EVERY bill should be noticed; I don't really need to know the General Assembly wants to honor John Smith's 50 years of service to the State, or that the Town of Viola needs to amend their town charter. Publicize the bills that are going to affect us - like SB392 - the single payer health care bill.
SB392
Everyone I have talked to who KNOWS about this bill does NOT want it passed. Everyone who DIDN'T know about was shocked. This bill takes away our choices in health insurers, and puts the State in business providing that service. But that's not all. Since it will be putting all those insurance brokerages and insurance companies out of business, the bill provides for three (3) years of funding to retrain all those people who would be out of work, for other jobs. And then, I guess, we all hope there ARE jobs for them. It is unbelievable that our legislators would consider this bill - not only because it interferes with private business and personal choice, but because they are so cavalier about putting people out of work. At a time when the country is calling for more jobs to drive the economy, Delaware is considering SB392?
Politics
Until I entered the race in July, Dave Lawson was running unopposed. Now Kathleen Cooke, Democrat, has filed at the last minute. I have to wonder - given Delaware's backroom politics - if the Democrats really wanted to run against the Republican incumbent, why wait so late? And - now that there are 2 women running against him - do they really want to win, or just make sure he does?
