Mike Ramone in DE legislative records

On Civil Rights: Delaware becomes 11th state to legalize gay marriage

Gubernatorial press release: Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry, making Delaware the 11th state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. "Today, we wrote a new chapter in our history and proved justice and equality continue to move forward in Delaware," said Gov. Markell

Heritage Foundation in opposition: There's still a sizeable number of people who believe that marriage is a union of one man and one woman. And those views deserve to be treated with respect. They come from honorable premises, especially those of faith. And what this bill is designed to do is to tar such people as being unfit to be in polite society and out of the public square.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 23-18-0 on Apr/23/13; passed Senate 12-9-0 on May/7/13; State Rep. Ramone co-sponsored and voted YES; signed by Gov. Markell on May/7/13.

On Crime: Cruelty to animals includes extended tethering of dogs

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12

On Drugs: Decriminalize under-age marijuana possession

Bill Summary: Under current law, the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana remains a crime for those under the age of 21 despite being a civil violation for adults. This Act makes the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil violation for juveniles.

Commentary by MPP.org [pro-legalization]: On [a related bill, on] June 30, 2019, Gov. Carney signed SB 37 into law. This bill allows for a single cannabis misdemeanor conviction to be expunged after five years and a single cannabis felony conviction to be expunged after seven years.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 13-6-2 on 6/20/2019; Passed House 34-7-0 on 6/30/2019; State Rep. Ramone voted Yes; Signed by Governor John Carney on 07/31/2019.

On Government Reform: Delaware should not join National Popular Vote compact

Delaware Public Radio case to vote NO: A 2018 GOP primary candidate for U.S. House said he believes it goes against what the founders envisioned when deciding how the president and vice president should be elected. "It says three votes go to what the country thinks," he said. "I think our three electoral votes should go for what Delaware thinks."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 14-7-0 on Mar/7/19; State Rep. Ramone voted NO; Passed House 24-17-0 on Mar/14/19; Signed by Governor John Carney on Mar/28/19

On Government Reform: Don't broaden disclosure requirements for political ads

Analysis by Brennan Center, August 15, 2012: The Delaware Elections Disclosure Act corrected a loophole all too common in state disclosure schemes that allows outside groups to evade disclosure requirements by refraining from expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate ("Vote for Jones" or "Defeat Smith"). By airing "sham issue ads" ("Call Smith and tell her to stop raising taxes"), groups could leave the voting public in the dark. The new law applies disclosure requirements to any outside group that airs an ad that mentions a candidate in the 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 24-13-4 on May/8/12; passed Senate 21-0-0 on Jun/6/12; State Rep. Ramone voted NO; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/15/12.

On Gun Control: Opposed mandating safe storage of loaded firearms

National Rifle Association NRA-ILA case to vote NO: This mandatory storage law would do nothing more than render firearms useless in self-defense situations. Criminals love this bill as it tips the scales in their favor in self-defense situations.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 13-8-0 on Apr/17/19; State Rep. Ramone voted NO; Passed House 23-18-0 on Jun/4/19; Signed by Governor John Carney on Jun/6/19

On Gun Control: Require owners of lost/stolen handguns to report it

Giffords Law Center opinion to vote YES:Laws that require firearm owners to notify law enforcement about the loss or theft of a firearm help deter gun trafficking and straw purchasing. They can also help law enforcement disarm individuals who become ineligible to possess firearms.

NRA-ILA opinion to vote NO:SB 16 does nothing to solve an existing crime problem but is an ideological attack on gun ownership. It imposes policies to criminalize victims of crime and subjects anyone who does not follow these arbitrary laws to heavy fines or felony charges that would take away their right to possess a firearm legally.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 11-10-0 on May/2/13; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; passed House 22-19-0 on May/14/13; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Jun/12/13.

On Gun Control: Add state mental health records to national database

Analysis by WHYY, 4/13/11: [HB48] would provide mental health records to a national database in an effort to prevent those with severe mental illnesses from purchasing guns. A severely mentally ill's person's health records are not available to firearms retailers outside [Delaware now].

ACLU opposition 5/30/03: The ACLU believes that this easy, warrantless access to our medical information violates the Fourth Amendment. However, because HIPAA regulations have only recently gone into effect, their constitutionality remains largely untested.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 36-0-5 on Jun/2/11; passed Senate 11-8-2 on May/31/11; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; signed by Gov. Markell on Jul/13/11

On Immigration: Allow driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants

NBC-10 summary (7/1/15): The measure allows driving privilege cards to be issued to people who are in the country illegally and who have filed Delaware state income tax returns for the preceding two years, or who have lived in Delaware and been claimed as a dependent on a state income tax return.

WGBH (Boston NPR) Pro&Con(10/6/22): PRO: In states that have implemented similar laws, hit-and-run accidents have decreased significantly; law enforcement officials have endorsed the [policy] for this reason.

CON: The Registry of Motor Vehicles has no authority under any federal constitution or federal law to grant legitimacy to people who are otherwise in the country illegally.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 17-1-3 on Jun/23/15; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; passed House 22-15-4 on Jun/30/15; signed by Gov. Markell on Jun/30/15.

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage, add training wage, youth wage

The Capital Daily summary:  A spirited debate on raising the wage floor followed, with Democrats arguing it would help lift people out of poverty while Republicans claimed it would cause prices to rise and lead to layoffs. Democrats and Republicans reached a compromise, increasing the minimum wage to $9.25 and instituting a training wage. "We just gave an extra dollar an hour to these working-class people. That's a hundred pennies," the Democratic House Majority Leader said.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 15-5-1 on Jul/1/18; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; Passed House 32-7-2 on Jul/1/18; Signed by Governor John Carney on Jul/1/18

On Technology: Criminalize unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems

National Conference of State Legislatures summary:  State legislatures continue to debate if and how drone technology should be regulated, considering the benefits of their use, privacy concerns and their potential economic impact. Since 2013, at least 44 states have enacted laws addressing drones and an additional three states have adopted resolutions.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 37-1-3 on Jul/1/16; passed Senate 18-2-1 on Jul/1/16; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Sep/6/16.

On Drugs:

Spectrum News BN9 on veto message, May 24: "I do not believe that expanding the use of recreational marijuana is in the best interests of the state of Delaware," Gov. Carney said in returning the bill. "Questions about the long-term health and economic impacts of recreational marijuana use remain unresolved."

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 26-14-1 on May/5; Ramone voted YES; passed Senate 13-7-1 on May/12; Vetoed by Gov. Carney on May/24; House override fails 20-20-1 on Jun/7; Ramone voted NO [sustaining the veto].

On Energy & Oil: Increase use of renewable energy to 40% by 2035

Green Building United summary February 17, 2021: Governor Carney signed into law SB 33, a bill modifying Delaware's existing Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. SB 33 requires at least 40% of electrical sales to end-users in Delaware be from renewable energy sources by 2035. Of the 40% renewable energy source requirement, 10% of the supply must be from solar photovoltaics. This amends the existing bill's 25% renewable by 2025 goal with a 3.5% solar photovoltaic requirement.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 13-8-0 on Jan/21/21; passed House 29-12-0 on Jan/28/21; State Rep. Mike Ramone voted YES; signed by Governor John Carney on Feb/10/21.

On Gun Control: Don't ban "ghost guns," guns without serial numbers

WDEL summary Oct 20, 2021: House Bill 125, addresses an increasing need to codify the illegality of untraceable firearms, especially those that are created through the use of 3D printers.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 23-18-0 on May/20/21; State Rep. Mike Ramone voted NO; passed Senate 13-8-0 on Jun/15/21; signed by Governor John Carney on Oct/20/21.