DelawarePolitics.net

Jun 11th, 2010 by Timothy Pancoast

I just wanted to pass this on. It is taken from one of Senator Bonini’s emails. It is a shame to see the political games being played by our General Assembly.

Partisanship v. Principle:

One of my Darkest Days in the Senate

June 11, 2010

Dear Friends:

I have never considered it to be anything less than a great honor and privilege to serve in the State Senate. I have had the opportunity to help many of my fellow Delawareans and advocate for legislation that I believe will grow our state’s economy and help Delaware’s hard-working families.

Yesterday, however, was without a doubt one of the darkest days I have had in the General Assembly since I was elected in 1994.

During session yesterday, I took the floor of the Senate to introduce my legislation, Senate Bill 288, which will create an early retirement incentive for state employees and save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars every year. This is legislation that I have been advocating for over a year. Thousands of state employees and taxpayers support this measure and have encouraged me. In a recent survey 85% of Delawareans supported an early retirement program.

When I stood up to introduce my bill, the Senate Democrats stopped the motion on a party-line vote. When I then asked for a moment of personal privilege to discuss my bill, the Lt. Governor and Senate President, Matt Denn, denied my request. While my colleagues have used moments of personal privilege to discuss things like the official state dessert or their grandmothers’ birthdays, the Lt. Governor would not allow me to discuss a substantial piece of legislation that could save taxpayers millions of dollars.

The kind of political theatre that took place yesterday is a disgrace. The Lt. Governor and Democratic Majority showed that partisanship is more important than fair-play and honest debate.

I am so disappointed in their actions, but I am even more disappointed that I was not given the opportunity to explain on the Senate floor the merits of my proposal. I believe that this early retirement incentive is a critical component to resolving Delaware’s spending problem.

There are so many challenges Delaware faces today. That’s why I’m running for State Treasurer….

Although yesterday was upsetting, it won’t stop me from fighting. You can count on me to continue to fight for ideas that will reduce state spending and grow our economy.

Thank you so much,

Colin Bonini

Posted in Budget, Colin Bonini

25 Responses to “Colin Bonini: Partisanship v Principle”

on 11 Jun 2010 at 17:291David

Keep up the good fight, my friend.
on 11 Jun 2010 at 17:542anon A

The word for the behavior of the Senate Democrats is “cowardly.”
on 11 Jun 2010 at 18:333Anbupro

There is a malaise hanging over this country thicker than any fog. The stifling of opposing rhetoric by Democrats both locally and nationally only adds to that malaise. Every voice has a right to be heard. It was not Senator Bonini who was muzzled but the voters of this State who elected him to that office. We are long past the time for our pompous elected officials to get out of the way and allow the voice of main street America to be heard. That is the solution to our problems not the back room deals and desire for political self preservation coming from our elected officials. Some may say that their voice was heard in the last election. Times have changed, and so has that voice. We are sinking into a state of despair far exceeding that of the Carter era. Reagan was no rocket scientist. The greatest thing that he gave to America was hope, and that is all the citizens of our country need to prevail over adversity. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Democrats will reap what they sow.
on 11 Jun 2010 at 20:404Frank Knotts

I would say to Senator Bonini, that while it is a crime against the citizens of this great state to have such behavior pass for business as usual. It is exactly this type of politics as usual that will lead to the shift in power in the coming elections. The people are fed up with the Democrats and the moderate leftist and will voice their discontent in September and November. It is people such as Sen. Bonini that gives us hope. Thank you Senator.
on 11 Jun 2010 at 22:525Michael P. Borgia

After Joe Biden left for Washington for good, I’d thought we were rid of the burden of our village idiot.

It now appears that Matt Denn wants very much to be the new village idiot…and a malicious one at that.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 06:196Mike Protack

The state is run by self appointed pseudo elites who have spent too much money, grown government way too much and made the legislative process a joke.
Mike Protack
on 12 Jun 2010 at 07:317Rick

What was motivation for stifling the introduction of the bill? I don’t see early retirement as a partisan issue, particularly if it’s optional, and saves vast sums of money for a state in dire economic straights.

Would one of our Socialist-Democrat propagandists please explain?
on 12 Jun 2010 at 07:348phil

Giving Bonini a win right before the election seems like a bad strategy for Dems.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 07:369phil

I mean to say, it was correct, politically, for them to deny him a win. His bemoaning the fact that his bill got voted down is worth much less than being able to tout all the millions he saved the State.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 08:2610Timothy Pancoast

It is one thing for them to deny Sen. Bonini a win, the childish way the Democrats refused to even talk about his bill is another thing altogether.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 08:3111anon A

I am no propagandist, and I can’t explain why the Dems in power in the Senate felt so threatened by Colin’s proposal. He raised the same idea last year, and at the time Markell’s people said it wouldn’t produce as much savings as Colin was claiming. But that’s a subject worthy of debate, in my opinion.

On the other hand, with two weeks left in the session, it wouldn’t get that debate anyway. It would have been voted down on party lines, which is what Colin wanted for PR/election purposes.

This isn’t an excuse, just my attempt at figuring out what’s going through Senate Democratic minds. As noted above, I think it was cowardly.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 08:3112anon A

Tim: I think most Democrats in the Senate don’t understand it enough to talk about it.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 08:4613Michael P. Borgia

Politically it makes no sense to vote and pass the reform in an election year. I get that.

Democratic claims that the bill would not save as much money as Sen. Bonini says must be viewed in the context of a government that can’t even plow the streets in a blizzard.

My problem is with Matt Denn’s thugish behavior. Hasn’t anyone told him yet that his only two jobs are to wait for the governor to leave and to negotiate sweetheart loan deals for his predecessor?
on 12 Jun 2010 at 09:0114anon A

MPB: I take your point, but the streets won’t get plowed faster if all the plow jockeys take early retirement. As I understand it, the problem is that it takes up-front money to buy out the folks who leave. Many will get tens of thousands in accumulated unused vacation and sick time — another benefit that has mostly disappeared from the private sector.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 11:3715Tennessee Walker

anon A This legislation should not impact snow removal one iota provided the Democrat administration actually acts with some foresight. Anyone who thinks “ALL the plow jockeys” are eligible for early retirement probably believes that Hitler invented the concept of Separation of Church and State. The view that it is the grizzled codgers who are 60+ are getting out at 2 am in below freezing weather would say a lot about our 30 somethings if it were true. It is not.

As for the excuse that we have a payout due to vacation and sick times, why not ask for a fiscal note from the Controller General’s Office? That is what they are there for.

Of course had they done this they would actually have to consider all the merits of the bill. Democrats and liberals don’t want to do this. They are angling for more tax increases.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 11:4316anon A

Yes, I realize asserting conservative beliefs instead of researching the issue is par for the course for most on this blog. The obvious fact is that no politician likes raising taxes, because it gives opponents easy ammunition against you. You’d have to be as dumb as a stump not to acknowledge that; luckily, you’re always here, just like a stump.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 12:0017Tennessee Walker

And your assertion that “all the Plow Jockeys” are going to early retirement shows that you have done zero research and that you are drinking the liberal purple Kool Aid. How about doing some research Anon A and proving that the plow jockeys are EVEN ELIGIBLE for early retirement.
I am all for research. That is why I think the Democrats should let the Office of Controller General do its job.
You claim you are for research. Why are you in favor of bypassing the Office of Controller General? Way to show hypocrisy Stumpy.
on 12 Jun 2010 at 21:2718anon A

“All plow jockeys” was hyperbole. As I have repeatedly said, this is the position of the administration; I believe the issue should have been debated. But keep up your anger and hatred. It’s what I expect from “Christians” like you.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 01:4419Tennessee Walker

I am Hardly angry or hatred one of the numerous anon’s.

But it is interesting that when I call you out on an outrageous falsehood you claim it is just hyperbole. Then you decide to attack someone’s religion.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 07:3120anon A

It was pretty clearly hyperbole. And I”m attacking you, not the religion.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 17:0221Mark H

“And your assertion that “all the Plow Jockeys” are going to early retirement ”

Tennessee, that’s exactly what happened (well, not the early retirement part) to the City of Dover during the first blizzard. It’s not that the city didn’t have people who could operate the plows, but they didn’t have people that could operate them in a BLIZZARD. A big difference between plowing 3 inches off of the road and 6,7 or more off the road. Everyone who had experience doing this during the last blizzard (about 10 years ago) had retired. The city paid them for the second blizzard this winter.

My only question to Bonini, is why he waited so long. If he did this 2 months ago, a fiscal note could have been attached to at least investigate what savings there may be with his plan.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 18:2122anon

“My only question to Bonini, is why he waited so long. If he did this 2 months ago, a fiscal note could have been attached to at least investigate what savings there may be with his plan.”

Mark — He introduced the plan last year. And fiscal notes are designed to achieve whatever the majority wants. Don’t believe a fiscal note on a controversial bill.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 20:0323Mark H

anon, not necessarily disagreeing with you, just saying that (and place the blame on the majority if you’d like) but a cost/benefit analysis has not really been done on the bill. (And I’m someone who could take advantage of this bill). With this economy, I’m not sure you could accurately determine how many people would take the early out.
on 13 Jun 2010 at 20:2424M.Opaliski

Next time keep right on talking, get loud, get in their faces, and if they don’t like it, tough —-.
on 14 Jun 2010 at 19:0025Tennessee Walker

“It was pretty clearly hyperbole. And I”m attacking you, not the religion.”

It was just clearly inaccurate at best and a lie at worst. So you are now willing to admit you did zero homework and your excuse is hyperbole. I guess all of Obama’s promises that have fallen by the wayside are also Hyperbole. Nice substitute for a lie. I will remember it. By the way one of a thousand anons if you want to attack me do so. You can leave the religion out of it. Handling lame insults from pantywaists like you is just part of this job.