Hocker: ‘Disgusting’ behavior took place at Legislative Hall

In the nearly 22 years that I have served in the Delaware General Assembly, Tuesday was, by far, the most disgusting day I have seen.

Gov. John Carney delivered his annual State of the State address to members of the legislature, Cabinet officials and residents throughout Delaware. Despite the political differences members of either party may share with our state’s chief executive, we are always respectful and receptive to what he or she has had to say.

Unfortunately, far-left supporters of the terrorist organization Hamas interrupted Gov. Carney multiple times. They were rightly escorted out of the building, and I thank the men and women of law enforcement present, as well as the House of Representative’s sergeant of arms, for their swift action. No doubt, the childish antics of Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, during her outburst at Vice President Kamala Harris’ holiday party served as a precedent to what we saw during Gov. Carney’s address.

Not to be outdone, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, displayed the most egregious and overt show of political strong-arming I have ever seen.

For the past five months, Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Camden, has been working with the Democratic chairs of the House and Senate education committees and members of Delaware’s education community, on a resolution to establish a task force to explore solutions to behavior and discipline issues in our state’s public schools. A half-hour before session, Sen. Townsend met with Sen. Buckson and told him he was going to introduce his own bureaucracy-laden version of Sen. Buckson’s resolution.

During floor debate, members of the Senate Democratic caucus behind Sen. Townsend were visibly uncomfortable with what was transpiring. Eight Democrats had signed on to Sen. Buckson’s resolution as either prime or co-sponsors, including three in the Senate. Regardless, they followed their marching orders and passed Sen. Townsend’s resolution and refused to support Sen. Buckson’s, which was originally slated to be brought forth Thursday

Washington, D.C., political tactics and rhetoric have largely been absent from Legislative Hall. However, between what happened Tuesday and the Senate Democratic leadership’s unhinged statement following the Delaware Superior Court’s ruling on the early-voting and permanent absentee laws, it is apparent that D.C. partisanship has now entered Delaware politics.

Sen. Gerald Hocker

R-Ocean View

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.