Not every story is front page news. And even some that are on page 1 aren’t fully understood as they happen. But just because some stories fly under the radar or take time to develop doesn’t diminish their significance. As 2010 turns into 2011, DFM News asked a handful of political observers to reflect on the political year gone by. After getting their thoughts on the 2010’s top stories, we asked them to look beyond the headlines. Today, they weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, on the most underrated or underreported political stories of 2010.
[caption id="attachment_3635" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Charlie Copeland"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/copeland.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3635" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Chuck Durante"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chuck_durante.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3636" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="John Flaherty"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/flaherty.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3637" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Michael Fleming"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/fleming.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3647" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Prof. Sam Hoff"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/hoff.jpg[/caption]
What was Delaware’s most underrated or underreported political story in 2010?
"The condition of Delaware's economy was the most underrated political story of the year. While the national/global economy tanked in 2008, Delaware's economy actually went into recession (experiencing a reduction in economic output) in 2007. While nationwide, the political discussion was of jobs & economic growth, in Delaware the discussion was of witches and marxists.
Lifetime Delawareans used to joke that our economy was dominated by the five 'C's -- Chemicals, Chickens, Cars, and Credit Cards. None of these industries are growing in Delaware at a rate that will grow our economy in the future. Additionally, industries like pharmaceuticals or corporate law are not large enough in the State to replace the other ailing industries. In short, Delaware is living on a shrinking legacy of economic power. This decline in economic might has been paralleled with the growth in the might of the State's Democratic Party.
Over the next 20 years, as Delaware's economic base continues to erode, the State will become poorer, requiring more government services/costs on a shrinking tax base. For a look into the future, take a look at Wilmington & New Castle County. Already, the City of Wilmington has a structural budget deficit in the millions of dollars with no imminent solution other than to cut policing during a year of record violence. As for New Castle County it has an operating deficit in the tens of millions of dollars. Both governments, dominated by Democrats, will require annual State bailouts (the Wilmington starting this year and New Castle County starting in 2014) to cover these shortfalls. If it were not for the fact that about 1/2 of our State's budget comes from taxes and fees paid by firms incorporating in Delaware, our State, too, would be running a deficit in the hundreds of millions of dollars. As corporate law is increasingly federalized, through bills like Dodd/Frank, Delaware will lose revenues. Add to this the State's demographic trend of an aging population, and the State is in really big trouble.
No one during the 2010 campaign spoke to this issue -- neither candidates nor the media."
—Charlie Copeland, former state senator and 2008 GOP candidate for Lt. Governor
“The pressures on Delaware’s fragile environment, infrastructure and open space have only increased. The Great Recession may have left investors with less capital and borrowing capacity, but it also scares policy-makers into welcoming poorly-considered development, because of a vague hope that more permissive zoning will bring jobs even after the bulldozers are packed away."
—Chuck Durante, Attorney; Fmr. Parliamentarian, Delaware State Democratic Committee
“The secrecy surrounding the once a decade Delaware legislative redistricting process. Every 10 years a census is performed across America. The census’ population numbers are finalized and certified by the Federal Government. One of the many public uses for the new population numbers is to conduct state and federal legislative redistricting, which is performed by the states.
In Delaware, the General Assembly conducts redistricting for the 41 House and 21 Senate districts. Since there is only one federal congressional district allowed for Delaware, the entire state becomes the congressional district. Delaware has historically conducted redistricting in secret, thus favoring incumbents and special interests. Last year Senate Bill 20 was introduced to open up the redistricting process by creating an open and transparent Redistricting Commission to reapportion the State Senate and House of Representatives. Senate Bill 20 died in committee without a vote being taken.
A secret redistricting process does not provide the foundation for competitive elections and ultimately leads public policies being adopted that favor the special interests.”
—John Flaherty, Delaware Coalition for Open Government president
“Although state, county and city budget travails have been well-documented, the unprecedented strength of public-sector employee unions, and their out-sized influence on the budget process feels like a still-underreported dynamic in Delaware government and politics. Delaware has more public service employees per capita than most any other state – by some accounts we are #2 in the nation with over 60,000 people receiving government paychecks. This effectively equates to the single largest interest group in the state, represented by lobbyists in an unmatched position of influence in Dover.
The problem is, the pension and benefit obligations that come with those numbers are simply not financially sustainable. A recent segment on 60 Minutes catalogued the doomsday scenarios facing states across the country due to catastrophically under-funded pension and healthcare funds for state and local employees. Neighboring NJ Governor Chris Christie has moved quickly to address this issue, taking no small amount of heat for it. Delaware politicians must do the same – whatever the political threats from public sector lobbyists. In a miserable economic climate, when state and local revenues are down – and will be down for the foreseeable future – and when every stakeholder in the state including the non-profit sector have taken major hits to their budgets and payrolls, government spending on personnel costs must be tackled. And beyond just tinkering around the edges, this really will require the kind of top-to-bottom review of government services and agencies at every level, and a genuine attempt to consolidate and combine and reduce them – that we’ve been promised for years."
—Michael Fleming, New Castle County Republican Party chair
“Though reported sufficiently, the controversy regarding the dredging of the Delaware River is without a doubt the most underrated story of 2010. Against the preferences of the states of Delaware and New Jersey and contrary to the objections of environmentalists, a federal judge ruled in favor of Pennsylvania and the Army Corps of Engineers who want to deepen the river. This is a classic case of federal v. states rights, with much at stake for the future."
—Sam Hoff,Delaware State University political science professor