Seriously, this Republican insistence that we stop all work in the General Assembly until everyone can safely resume their duties at Legislative Hall in person is as transparent as it is cowardly. [Update: The House Leadership has also responded below]/
Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, D-Newark, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Bear/Newark and Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, D-Wilmington, released the following statement today in response to Republican leaders calling for the Delaware General Assembly to resume session in person:
“We are all eager to return to in-person meetings in Legislative Hall when it is safe to do so.
But the Minority Party’s suggestion that we cannot or should not continue our work before that happens flies in the face of what Delawareans demanded at the ballot box last fall.
Delawareans have been asked to make dramatic changes in how they conduct business, and they’ve adapted time and time again. They deserve the same nimbleness from their elected representatives.
Our virtual legislative session has resulted in unprecedented public involvement as evidenced by last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee, which may have been the most well-attended committee meeting in the history of the Delaware General Assembly. More than 800 people were able to attend that meeting – four times the fire code occupancy limit of the largest room in Legislative Hall. Public comment was strictly held to one minute per person for people on both sides of the debate, specifically so we could hear from as many people as possible.
Thousands of constituents also have communicated with members of the General Assembly on gun safety issues by email, by telephone and in person over the last several years.
Each and every one of those Delawareans had a chance to participate in the legislative process without anyone having their health or safety put at risk by someone who refuses to admit COVID-19 is real, refuses to be vaccinated, or refuses to take the most basic precaution to protect themselves and their neighbors.
Again, we will return to the Legislative Hall when it is safe.
In the meantime, we will not be bullied into delaying legislation broadly supported by Delawareans of both political parties. We will not be bullied into putting the public’s health at risk. And we will not be dissuaded from governing, especially at a time when Delaware is just beginning to recover from this pandemic.”
In response to the statement from House and Senate Republican leaders regarding legislative session, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst issued the following joint statement:
“On March 29, we met with House Republican leaders and discussed tentative plans for a phased-in return to in-person legislative session this year. We asked for their input and we had a productive conversation. Rep. Short and Rep. Dukes thanked us and agreed with the preliminary plans.
“So we’re deeply disappointed to see the Republican leadership ignore this collaborative process in their comments to the press. It’s especially frustrating because they know they can call us anytime and discuss concerns they have rather than sending statements to the media.
“Since the pandemic began, we have involved the minority caucus in decisions about House operations. In those meetings, they tell us they appreciate the effort. In public, they try to score political points and claim they’re being railroaded.
“Throughout this entire pandemic, we have been guided by one simple principle: Follow the science to protect the health and safety of the staff, lawmakers and public who take part in the legislative process. This is why we have taken precautions such as the virtual session, which has allowed for record public participation in our committee hearings. That is why we are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, because the sooner everyone has been innoculated, the sooner we can begin to return to a recognizable legislative session. Currently, less than 20% of Delawareans have been fully vaccinated, so we have to continue those efforts.”
This is the sign of a party with nothing better on its agenda. A party that has the people’s work in mind — knowing that they have to be done by June 30 — would have its sleeves rolled up and getting that work done. Instead, all they seem to want to do is to get their QAnon attitudes on. Grow up, Republicans, and get to work already.
The Republican hacks and “some” Democrats want to restore the hordes of well-heeled lobbyists roaming the hallways in Dover.You should know that free lunches and unfettered access to lawmakers is as good as any method to gain support or opposition to policies. Geez how can we have legitimate and effective dialogues with over a hundred active participants on “zoom” committee hearings when the “good old days” allowed for twenty, thirty or so paid lobbyists (Chamber of Commerce, NRA, American Petroleum Council, American Chemistry Council and other vested interests groups) to occupy meeting rooms and crowd out those few individuals who could attend in person (work and family obligations permitting). Yeah GOP clowns those were the days my friends can’t wait to see those smiling/smirking faces in person.
Representative John Kowalko
Good story here IMO https://baytobaynews.com/stories/delaware-gop-blasts-dems-over-virtual-sessions,44752?
Great story — so much bad faith by these GOP legislators. If the Dems did decide to move that gun hearing to a larger venue and listen to all 800 participants, they’d be whining about having to work too hard to listen to this testimony.
This is very simple: They rely on armed assholes providing intimidation to defeat gun control bills, and without the threat of violence they got nothin’. This is, in fact, the GOP’s new motto: “We Got Nothin’.”
And they rely on the majorities of regular people who are tired of being put in harms way to not be able to make it to the hearings and have their say. Clearly they are spooked and clearly understand that they have a better chance when there are fewer of us who show up to engage our government.