DE General Assembly start sees emotions running high

Dover, Del. – Tuesday’s kick off intro the Delaware General Assembly saw a somber start remembering fallen State Trooper Matthew “Ty” Snook. Delaware State Senator Nicole Poore (D-District 12), a close family friend Snook, and Snook’s brother-in-law, Secretary of the Senate Ryan Dunphy, made opening remarks.

“To see the community learn about and appreciate who Ty was brought some light to our darkest days,” Dunphy said in an address on the Senate Floor.

State Senator Kyra Hoffner (D-District 14) said the start to the general assembly is usually “a fun day” with high school teams coming in and a more light-hearted air.

“I think, what happened just a few weeks ago is weighing heavy on our hearts,” she said in an interview with WMDT.

Tuesday’s senate agenda saw the passing of resolutions on law enforcement firearm permits and employee compensation as well as observing January 9th as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. However, one of the resolutions — Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, a measure that would call for a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. constitution — saw a heated discussion between senators David P. Sokola (D-District 8) and Eric Buckson (R-District 16). President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay stepped in to tell Buckson not to retort with ad hominem attacks during his speaking time and reminded him not to interrupt her.

“There’s been a lot of stress in this body. There’s a lot of things that are going on with the death of Corporal Snook that really affected us as a Senate family,” Senator Brian Pettyjohn (R-District 19) told WMDT. “There are a lot of things that are going on, within the state, in terms of the new administration, that is causing some stress and I think you saw some of that boil over today.”

Though the measure did not pass, the Senate and House passed a measure sponsored by Hoffner that is meant to advance civility and strengthen discourse within the general assembly.

“I think in Delaware, we could lead the way in showing that we could disagree and not be cruel to each other,” she said.

In the House, a resolution that would force schools to put policies in place to limit cell phone usage passed and will go to the Senate for approval.