Delaware's Long-Standing Conservative Organization
The Consevative Caucus of Delaware, Inc. is a non-profit, education-based organization, founded in 1984 to promote the conservative viewpoints on issues, such as fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, right to life, religious liberty, strong defense, educational freedom and the right to self-government.
To that end, please join us as we advocate for reforms and champion the actions of those that work tirelessly to educate and mobilize like-minded citenzendry to do their part to bring about change.
LIST OF ISSUES WE ADDRESS
LEGISLATION
On a regular basis, we'll be reviewing legislation from the General Assembly that either beneficially or adversely impacts Delawareans. Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly and are posed to push their social justice agenda, along with increased taxes and increased spending. Legislative Hall - 302-744-4114 - Click for Website
STATE LEGISLATION
SUPPORT
House Bill 41-HA 1 creates the Delaware Digital Right to Repair Act. According to the synopsis, “when an electronic product such as a phone or electronic game breaks, it is only allowed to be repaired by the manufacturer. Parts are not available whether you are a consumer or a local repair shop. This Act requires the manufacturer to make parts, documentation, tools, and updates available on fair and reasonable terms.” The primary sponsor is Rep. Briggs King (R. 37th); additional sponsor is Sen. Pettyjohn (R. 19th). Co-Sponsors are Senators Wilson (R.18th); Lawson (R. 15th); Huxtable (D. 6th); Pinkney (D. 13th); and Sokola (D. 8th) and Reps. Collins (R. 41st); Chukwuocha (D. 1st); (Gray R. 38th); Morrison (D. 27th) and Osienski (D. 24th)
House Bill 43 requires signs alerting the public to Human Trafficking signs be displayed at the following establishments. According to the Synopsis,T he additional State facilities and categories are as follows: (1) State service centers. (2) Wellness centers. (3) Residential child care facilities. (4) Transitional and independent living service providers for youth aging out of foster care. (5) Shelters for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault or individuals experiencing homelessness or food insecurity. (6) Hotels. (7) Convenience stores along a major highway. (8) Gas stations along a major highway. (9) Casinos. (10) Restaurants with liquor licenses. (11) Poultry processing plants. (12) Bus or train stations. (13) Bars. (14) Massage establishments. (15) Shopping malls. Please click link for additional details https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=130008
The Primary Sponsor is Sen. Richardson (R. 21st), additional sponsors are Sen. Poore (D. 12th), Reps. Michael Smith (R. 22nd) and K. Williams (D. 19th). Co-Sponsors are Sens. Buckson (R. 16th), Gay (D. 5th), Hocker (R.20th), Lawson (R.15th), Pettyjohn (R. 19th) Sokola (D. 8th), Walsh (D. 9th), and Wilson (R. 18th) and Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd), Heffernan (D. 6th), Minor-Brown (D.17th) and Ramone (R. 21st).
House Bill 50 would increase the penalties for Mail Theft. According to the Synopsis, “This Act creates a separate offense for the theft of mail, including packages, from a residential dwelling. A first offense of mail theft is a class A misdemeanor unless the value of the stolen property is $1,500 or more, in which case it is a class G felony. A second offense of mail theft, within the previous 5 years is a class G felony, regardless of the value of the stolen property. Where a victim is 62 years of age or older, an adult who is impaired, or a person with a disability, a first offense of mail theft is a class G felony unless the value of the stolen property is $1,500 or more, in which case it is a class F felony. A second offense of mail theft within the previous 5 years is a class F felony, regardless of the value of the property stolen. Where the value of the property is more than $50,000 but less than $100,000, mail theft is a class D felony. Where the value of the property is $100,000 or more, mail theft is a class B felony. Upon conviction, monetary restitution is required and a sentencing judge shall consider the imposition of community service."
The primary sponsor is Rep. K. Williams (D. 19th), additional sponsor is Sen. Walsh (D. 9th) and co-sponsors Sens. Hocker (R. 20th); (Pettyjohn (R. 19th); Richardson (R. 21st); Sokola (D. 8th); and Wilson (R. 18th); and Reps. Bolden (D. 2nd), Bush (D. 29th), Cooke (D. 16th), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Matthews (D. 10th), Osienski (D. 24th), Ramone (R. 21st), D. Short (R. 39th), Shupe (R. 36th), Michael Smith (R. 22nd).
OPPOSE - These are bills from the last General Assembly, and may be re-introduced in the new 152nd General Assembly
House Bill 62 - This Bill requires that "each county reassess the value of real property in the county at least once every 5 years." It's a stealth way in which to increase property taxes on an already burdened Delaware taxpayer.
The primary sponsor is Rep. Wilson-Anton (D. 26th); additional sponsors are Senators Lockman (D. 3rd); McBride (D. 1st); Sturgeon (D. 4th) and Rep. K. Williams (D. 19th). Co-sponsors are Sens. Hoffner (D. 6th); Huxtable (D. 6th); Sokola (D. 8th); Townsend (D. 11th) and Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd); Bolden (D. 2nd); Harris (D. 32nd); Hilovsky, (R. 4th); K. Johnson (D.5th); Lambert (D. 7th); S. Moore (D. 8th); Morrison (D. 27th); Romer (D. 25th); and Spiegelman (R. 11th).
House Bill 305 - This Act is known as the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act, and is the result of the Delaware’s Climate Action Plan in 2021. This bill establishes a statutory requirement of greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the medium and long term. SB 305 failed to clear committee at the end of this term, but sponsors promise to return with "stronger legislation next year." See Newsletter Highlights for additional information.
The primary sponsor is Sen Hansen, (D. 10th); additional sponsors are Reps. Heffernan (D. 6th), Dorsey Walker (D. 3rdh) and S. Moore, (D. 8th); and co-sponsors are Sens Gay (D. 5th), S. McBride (D.1st), Sokola (D. 8th), Sturgeon (D. 4th), Townsend (D. 11th) and Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd), Chuwuocha (D. 1st), Cooke (D. 16th), Griffith (D. 12th), Lambert (D. 7th), Longhurst (D. 15th), Lynn, (D. 31st), Matthews (D. 10th), Minor-Brown (D. 17th), Mitchell (D. 13th), Morrison (D. 27th), Osienski, (D. 24th) K. Williams (D. 19th), Wilson-Anton (D. 26th).
House Bill 460 - This bill seeks to create a Delaware Constitutional "right to privacy" intended to undermine religious liberty, parental rights, and the dignity of human life. The Synopsis states, "The General Assembly proposes the enactment of this constitutional amendment creating a right of individual privacy to secure for Delawareans the rights the U.S. Supreme Court has previously found emanate from the federal constitution in the face of concerns regarding the continued effect of these U.S. Supreme Court precedents. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution." But make no mistake - this bill is pernicious! This bill can be stopped as it needs a 2/3s vote, which the dems do not have.
The primary sponsor is Rep. Lynn (D. 31st); Additional sponsors are Sen. Sturgeon (D. 4th) and Reps. Longhurst (D. 15th) and Griffith (D. 12th). Co-sponsors are Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd), and Heffernan (D. 6th).
Senate Bill 155 seeks to limit Freedom of Information Act Requests. The opening statements of the Synopsis state, “This Act revises…how public bodies may respond to FOIA requests that are unreasonable, disruptive, or abusive; (emphasis added)…It amends the examination and copying of public records provisions of FOIA to alleviate the significant time, resources, and financial burdens imposed on public bodies by FOIA requests that are unreasonable, disruptive, or abusive. This Act allows a public body to deny a request from a requestor whose intent is to disrupt the essential functions of the public body or abuse the process and allows a public body to charge administrative fees for all reviews, including the review and redaction of information exempt from FOIA….”
Sen. Kyle Evans Gay (D. 5th) is the primary sponsor; joined by Rep. Griffith (D. 12th) and co-sponsors, Sen. Sokola (D. 8th), and Townsend (D. 11th).
House Bill 74 – Breaking the Seal of the Catholic Confession. Regardless of whether one is a Roman Catholic or not, this is a chilling piece of legislation. The very idea that a bill can be proposed to attack the canonical obligations of priests is nothing less than shocking! Secular affirmation of this dictate was first recognized in People v. Philips, N.Y. Gen. Sess. 1813 (unpublished). In Phillips, the New York court held that free exercise of religion provisions would not force a Catholic priest to testify as to a confession made to him regarding a theft to do so would infringe upon the priest’s right to freely practice his religion.
The primary sponsor is Rep. Morrison (D. 27th). Additional sponsors are Sen. Poore (D. 12th) and Rep. Minor-Brown (D. 17th). Co-Sponsors are Sens. Gay (D. 5th), Hoffner (D. 14th), S. McBride (D. 1st), Sokola (D. 8th) and Reps. Baumbach (D. 23rd), K. Johnson (D. 5th), Phillips (D. 18th), and Romer (D. 25th).
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
All governments spending must be held to strict financially prudent standards. Unfortunately, there is a temptation to spend now and pay later. An example of the adverse consequences of an irresponsible policy is the challenge facing state and local governments over so-called "legacy costs" due to public employee retirees. State and local governments have promised to provide their workers with retirement income and health care benefits while failing to fund them out of current tax revenues. These costs have been placed on the backs of future taxpayers, who now face a rising tax burden that may be impossible to bear. Naturally, the public employee retirees expect that promises made to them will be honored. This practice and all similar practices must stop. Governments must live within their means; this can only be achieved if citizens exercise constant vigilance over government spending.
TAX REFORM
An individual has the right to enjoy the income from own's own labor. The current tax system places an unfair burden on working Americans, while nearly half of the population pays little or no income taxes at all.
RIGHT TO LIFE
The right to life, as contemplated in the Declaration of Independence and subsequently incorporated in the Fourteenth Amendment, recognizes that life is the First Right of Americans. Moreover, no government resources shall be used to encourage, sanction, or assist the taking of human life from conception to natural death.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The government should not be permitted to interfere with the freedom of individuals to pray to God; nor should there be any officially established religious or secular orthodoxy. The First Clause of the First Amendment clearly, "prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, ...."
DEFENSE
The defense policy of the United States should be based on a goal of strategic and tactical supremacy on land, sea, air, and space. Our foreign policy should have as its sole and overriding purpose, to safeguard the national interests of this country. We are not the world's policeman.
EDUCATION
The right of the parents to define the conditions and content of their children's education must outweigh the power of government to interfere in the selection of textbooks and teachers, or to use the school to indoctrinate children with the political, cultural, and social objectives of government officials. We champion competition in education by eliminating the uneven playing field that sends our tax dollars only to government schools. We support the use of school vouchers and the like to achieve this goal.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
We encourage responsible stewardship of the environment. Too often, regulations are attempts to protect vested interests, even non-controversial regulations, such as hazardous waste disposal, are used by vested interests to stifle completion or exercise an undue burden on the right t to use one's property.