With June 30th fast approaching, our advocacy work in Delaware is at a critical juncture. The end of the legislative session is akin to a speeding freight train, and we must act swiftly to avoid being left behind.
Regrettably, this also means that underhanded dealings and secret negotiations are on the rise, posing a growing threat to many stakeholders in the state.
Each of the last several years, Republican legislators in the House have held the Bond Bill, a key job-creating bill that funds hundreds of infrastructure projects across the state, and the Grant-in-Aid bill, which funds hundreds of non-profits, local policy, and fire companies, hostage to get politically unfavorable bills passed.
Last year, the jobs and aid bills were held up until legislators approved two other bills: legislation to allow corporations to vote in local elections and a bill aimed at rolling back key environmental programs and preventing future protections against air pollution in Delaware from being approved. Neither of those bills would have passed if not for this hostage situation on the last day of the session since they both died in committee earlier in the year.
We do not doubt that we will see this hostage situation play out again this year, and it should be made abundantly clear the position in which this puts our policy priorities.
Both bills, the corporation voting bill and the anti-environmental bill, passed by one vote after the hostage showdown last year and moved to the Senate in the early hours of July 1st. Since then, neither bill has been heard by the committee at the sponsors’ request, meaning neither should be eligible to come to a vote according to procedural rules.
However, we have heard rumors that procedural rules will be broken once again in yet another another hostage situation in the House. This could potentially send the Senate into disarray as it faces a stark choice: shut down thousands of jobs and shelter vital non-profits and fire companies or roll back key policies to protect public health and democracy.
Sierra Club Delaware Chapter must be very clear on its position. At no time is it acceptable to horse-trade with our health, environment, or democracy. If the Republican caucus wants to shut down these vital services and jobs during an election year for political gains, let them try to explain that to voters and see how it works out.
We call on all legislators to stop the hostage negotiations aimed at passing bills that would roll back key environmental priorities and dismantle our citizens' rights to representation in their local government. Legislators must vote no if House Bill 123 and House Bill 121 come for a vote if they ever want the support of the environmental community in the future.