Legislative Wrap-Up

With the passage of HB 99 by the House (it remains to be considered in the Senate in the next session) and many other issues of importance to our community, our freshman legislator got a quick education on Dover protocol and how things get done—or not done—in Delaware politics. Here are some of his comments.

Letters: So, how do you think your first session went?
Pete: I think it went very well. Obviously, it was a learning experience for me, and as well as it went, I got taken to school a few times myself. But my background in dealing with contentious issues, public safety and transportation turned out to be the perfect training. It’s really all about people—representing them, and working with them to get things done.

Letters: The voters who elected you had many concerns and issues, but of course, at this point, we are very grateful for your work on HB 99. How do you think it went?
Pete: First, I find it really difficult to understand that belonging to a political party shapes your feelings on the issue. But I do think that the mood was a little less contentious this time around. Eleven out of twelve of the Democrats in the House voted in favor of the bill. Still, there was some heartburn. Over all, though, it was an excellent bill for me to see the behind-the-scenes workings of the House.

Letters: I understand that you were instrumental in contacting other legislators, especially those who were opposed to the bill.
Pete: I went to talk with some of those opposed to it, to find out exactly what their opposition was. If their objection was from a business standpoint I tried to educate them—turn it around to show them that the bill protects heterosexual orientation as well. I gave them examples in their daily lives. Sometimes it helped. Of course, some people were locked into a position and you have to respect that. I think I opened some people’s eyes, even if it didn’t translate into a yes vote at this point.

Letters: What really is the "business" concern?
Pete: There are people who are afraid that this law will lead to frivolous lawsuits and they are concerned with having to spend money to defend themselves, even if the claims prove to be groundless. I guess I understand the fear, but in other states it hasn’t turned into a reality. We brought in labor lawyers and legislators from elsewhere to answer their questions and reassure them. And I spoke to my own caucus.

Letters: And your toughest conversation was…?
Pete: Well, there were a few of them. I spoke with Majority Leader Wayne Smith who is adamantly opposed to the legislation. But we had a good conversation. He happens to be someone who thinks homosexuality is a choice. I gave him my views and tried to give him the benefit of the things I’ve learned about my constituents.

Letters: What about the amendments the opposition tried to attach?
Pete: It was strategy. The amendments (editor’s note: the amendments added conditions to the bill concerning irrelevant issues such as banning the teaching of homosexuality in schools) were a way to stall and try to defeat the bill. In order to defeat the amendments and allow the bill to be voted on for its merits, I went to talk to some members of the opposition. I asked for their help in killing the amendments, even though I understood they would probably vote against the bill on the House floor. Some of the opposition members were willing to work with me on it, and we were successful in defeating the amendments that were outside the scope of the bill.

Letters: What was it like in the House the night the bill came to a vote?
Pete: Absolutely electric. HB 99 was one of the biggest bills of the year, with the most press and attention. I’m happy that it passed, but on a purely legislative level, it was a very big night. There was so much energy and electricity in the air.

Letters: What happens from here?
Pete: I have heard that Senator Venables plans on attaching some amendments to the Senate version in the next session. It will be crucial to defeat the amendments before the Senate vote, because if the Senate should pass the bill with amendments, HB 99 will have to return to the House for another vote. The bills have to pass both houses with identical language. It could mean we’d have to fight it out in the House again. But I’m hopeful about the session beginning in January. We have to keep lobbying and telling people just how this legislation will protect everyone in the state.

Letters: Of course, there were other issues that occupied as much of your time as HB 99.
Pete: I was surprised that the budget bill was not as contentious as I feared it would be. A lot of people worked together to hammer out compromises early in the process. But dealing with the budget bill was a great learning experience for me.

I’m also happy we passed the Manufactured Home Bill, which specifically identified the rights and responsibilities for both landlords and the tenants. It will offer some protection to people living in manufactured home communities, which as you know, is crucial in our area.

Letters: How are you doing on the topic that concerns all of us in Sussex County—traffic?
Pete: I’ve done a lot of legwork and I’ve come up with a plan to ease traffic in and out of Rehoboth. I have great confidence in the plan and I’m trying to work with DelDot to get something going. You know, you and I live our lives in days and weeks. DelDot deals in years and decades. It’s a frustration for me and I’m trying to speed things up.

Letters: So tell us the plan.
Pete: First we work on the entrance to Rehoboth, which slows things up from Five Points to Dewey. I want to see Suburban Propane relocated so that when two lanes of traffic come out of downtown, across the drawbridge, they can veer to the right, through Canal Corkran and out to Hebron Road and Rt. One.

That will leave us two lanes on Rehoboth Avenue extended to take people into town, reducing or eliminating the long left turn back-up off Route One. It would give us two lanes in and two lanes out, making a huge difference. DelDot tells me it’s a good idea and they like it, but I haven’t seen them do any maps or drawings yet to get things moving.

Additionally, northbound, coming out of Dewey and along The Forgotten Mile, we can build a ramp over the two lanes coming into Rehoboth, allowing three lanes of northbound traffic to keep going and not have to stop at a light. The interesting part is that about 95% of the roads we need for this plan are already in place. Not only that, but it will keep a lot of traffic off Route One, because anybody living east of Route One, in the Glade or Canal Corkran or the new communities being built will not have to drive onto Route One to get into downtown Rehoboth.

Letters: This sounds great. Is there anything we can do to help get some action on it?
Pete: E-mails and letters to your elected officials and DelDot might help. Tell them that you support Pete’s plan!

Letters: What else do you want Letters readers to know about your role as District 14 Representative?
Pete: I’m always accessible. Just call me to talk or let me know of a problem. But realize that I live here too, and I see the problems as well as you do. As much as I want immediate action on things, most things cannot be fixed overnight. And I’m happy to come to any group meeting or event to talk about the traffic plan. Just give me a call! I’m working on it, and I can use everyone’s support.