The Bill Lee campaign event at Legislative Hall is now in limbo.  Legislative Hall officials confirm what I had been saying all along; this type of campaign event in the peoples building is not allowed.

Joseph Fulgham

Communications Officer

DE House of Representatives

(302) 744-4184 (office)

(302) 739-7349 (fax)

Dan,

 

On this morning’s show (8/18) I heard you discussing the event described in the release pasted below.  I need to both clarify and correct some of the statements that were made.

 

First, the House of Representatives’ policy on the use of our facilities prohibits them from being utilized for political campaign events.  The House and Senate both allow their facilities to be used by all manner of citizens’ groups for meetings, including political groups.  However, campaign events are banned.

 

With regard to the veterans event, this forum was set up by Dave Skocik, who is a long-time veterans advocate.  Bill Lee was invited by Mr. Skocik to attend his forum, but both Mr. Skocik and Maria Evans (Communications Director for Bill Lee) confirm that the Lee campaign had nothing to do with organizing the event or selecting the venue.

 

Dave Skocik said he was incorrectly informed that his forum could be held at Leg Hall.  Under any other circumstances, that would have been accurate.  However, once Bill Lee agreed to attend, and the forum was promoted by his organization, it became a campaign event and ineligible for the venue.

 

Also, let me be clear.  The House Chamber was NEVER reserved for the time and date indicated on the press release.  Had an attempt been made to reserve space with the Chief Clerk of the House – as should have been done before the issuance of the release – the organizers would have been informed of the House policy prohibiting such events.

 

In his defense, Mr. Skocik was inadvertently told by a member of the House staff that his event could be held in the House Chamber and that the space would be reserved on his behalf.  The staffer, apparently unaware of the campaign implications of the event, made a mistake and has since been updated on proper protocol for making such reservations.

 

Your statements this morning that Speaker of the House Terry Spence or Majority Leader Dick Cathcart had approved this event to take place in the House chamber is inaccurate and totally without any basis in fact.

(”My apologies for that.  I didn’t realize that staffers were in charge”  -dg)

 

I hope this clears up any confusion and sets the record straight.  Please inform WGMD’s listeners of these developments and feel free to post this letter on the station’s website.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

We hope to make a stop in Bridgeville for any last minute signers.  Between six and seven Monday morning.  I’ve a current rough count of 1,624.  It was late as I counted.

Some thank yous are needed.  Jack and Dan and Jared and MariLu.  Especially our office manager Sandy.  We wouldn’t be on the road without her.  Or for that matter without the blessing of a very good man who once prowled Capitol Hill for a major TV network.

And Matt Shaffer.  He kept his folks bike shop open late and worked with me on the bike, getting the rack, tires, axle and brakes up to speed.  Biking has become such big business that all of the shops in the area are just about bare of two wheelers and accessories.  Matt came up with what we needed late Saturday.

Walt Palmer and Denny Karol will follow in the van and should be entertaining company late in the days as we wind down.  And these men are volunteers.  God bless all of these people and all 1,624 of you who signed.

Bill

Bill Lee to Host Veterans Forum

DOVER ~ Gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee will host a Veterans Forum in the House Chamber of Legislative Hall, Dover, on Wednesday, August 27, from 6 to 9 p.m.
 
The meeting will be open to all who wish to comment on issues affecting Delaware’s veterans. Those unable to travel to Dover for the forum can e-mail questions or concerns to

Maria@LeeDelaware.com, or call Bill Lee’s campaign headquarters at 302-260-9206.
 
The event has grown out of some of the issues identified in The Delaware Plan and from feedback directly from veterans, according to Bill Lee, a Marine Corps veteran.
 
“Our military veterans, including those who have served in previous and present conflicts, represent a significant, important, and productive segment of our citizenry. The Delaware National Guard and the Reserve have been continuously deployed in combat zones and to natural disasters. We need to hear their concerns and determine how we can best assist them and their families,” said Mr. Lee.
 
The agenda will include property and income tax issues as they affect veterans; state hiring practices; contract set asides for veteran contractors; educational benefits that would extend to family members; the veterans home; best ways to retain highly trained and entrepreneurial retirees in Delaware, and a number of other issues that have been the source of inquiries from veterans. The floor will be open to give and take on all issues during the three-hour, nonpartisan dialogue.   (”Yeah, right!” -dg)
 
“I’ve reviewed the legislative record and Delaware has, for the most part, been veteran friendly, but we need to make certain we do right by these patriots and their families who have been so willing to defend us. Our goal is to hear what veterans have to say and incorporate their priorities into my vision,” said Mr. Lee.

This event needs to be relocated to avoid any further appearance of impropriety.

I think that I may be one of the only people out there that still enjoys watching the Olympics. I swear, all I hear are people complaining about them and how they are boring and just a waste of time. I don’t know about you but the Olympics are all I have been watching the past week! I love rooting for America and watching people do things that I could never hope to aspire to. I love seeing us win the gold and hearing our national anthem playing and feeling so proud to be an American.

What is so wrong with that?

I thank the stars every day that there is a guy in the Olympics names Michael Phelps, because he has brought excitement into the game and I see more people getting excited thinking “Will he get the gold??”. I was never a very athletic kid growing up especially after we moved from DC to Pottstown PA I didn’t have kids my age to play with. I started voice lessons and continued that for another 10 years…but I digress…my point is that I have an extreme respect for every athlete that is there be it a gymnast or swimmer or table tennis player, they are doing something that I could never do.

I guess that I just love the emotion that comes with the Olympics every 4 years, I cry when the mothers of the athletes cry, I feel the agonizing pain when they just barely loose, and I jump up and down when they win. Who cares if they are being held in China? Personally, I would love to go to China and see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Politics shouldn’t be included in the Olympics in my opinion, it’s not about politics, its about sports and cooperation.

But that’s just me…what do you think?

Check the link from WashingtonPost.com.  A Penn State geologist favors renewable energy but reminds us we still have to heat our homes this winter.  Even the folks on the far left are still driving and turning up the thermostat.  Me, I bicycle and walk and when I must drive I take my fuel efficient Civic.  Bring it on.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/14/AR2008081403321.html?hpid=artslot

Bill Colley is biking to Capitol Hill. WGMD afternoon talk show host Bill Colley will be pedaling his 2007 Jamis Commuter to Washington the week of August 17, 2008.

Colley plans to end his trip on Capitol Hill where he will deliver petitions to any members of the House or Senate engaging in the current energy debate. The petitions contain the signatures of hundreds of Delaware and Maryland residents. Those signing demand members of the House and Senate move post haste to allow offshore oil exploration, exploration on the North Slope of Alaska, harvesting of coal stores for use in synthetic diesel, and for extraction of western oil shale.

Delaware and Maryland delegations are invited to meet Mr. Colley in Washington for delivery and receipt. A recent ABC poll reveals nearly two thirds of Americans believe offshore drilling is a necessity and a step in the direction of energy independence.

The bulk of the signatures were collected on rain soaked Saturday, August 2, 2008 in Georgetown, Delaware. Georgetown is a community of fewer than 5-thousand people. Many of those signing traveled from as far away as Smyrna, Delaware, a commute in excess of one hour. With the current high cost of fuel these individuals believed the issue of such importance they were willing to make sacrifices elsewhere in order to sign.

Some members of Congress propose biking as a cheap alternative. Let’s be clear, biking and tire inflation will not suffice as future U.S. energy policy. Colley, an avid cyclist, wishes to point out there are serious road hazards for anyone attempting travel on two wheels, however. Nancy Pelosi’s plane isn’t available for his trip.

Bill’s contact information:

302-945-2050

billc@wgmd.com

This video, “Respect Cost Nothing” is on You Tube. People have been touched by this, although there are a few upsetting scenes:

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu.ZSA6NINsEA085XNyoA?p=respect+cost+nothing+You+Tube+&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

Is there any reaction to this?

Jeanie Eller was a guest on Tuesday’s Bill Colley Show. You can check out her reading products at 1-800-378-1046 or at www.actionreading.com.

8:10 am

Caller:  “… Dan, did you see the sign on Southbound Rt. 1 saying the exit for Cape Henlopen State Park is one mile and to Keep Right?”

Uh, Cape Henlopen is to the left.  Did Deldot put the sign on the wrong side of the road?

8:20am

Listener Mike sends us the photgraphic proof

On air we laugh at the State, and joke about the sign.

8:55am

Highway workers take down the sign.

Wow.  I wish we could get the Indian River Bridge fixed this fast!

Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed.  The Korean War Veterans of America are reaching across generations to help younger servicemen and women recuperating at Walter Reed.  From September 8 through September 11 the KWVA is joining with the Rehoboth Applebee’s to raise money for the needs of these great Americans.  15 percent of your bill will be donated to the cause.  Coupon is necessary.  Contact John at Weidenhof4@aol.com for more details.

God bless our veterans and our troops.