Good afternoon,
It had been a while since I looked at the listing of bills that have been introduced in Dover since January.
In scanning the long list, I thought of the much-used, cynical quote from a 19th century New York editor and politician – “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
One bill that brought to mind the quote would ban cashless stores.
Introduced by State Sen. David McBride, D-New Castle, the measure comes with the best of intentions. After all, many people do not have bank accounts and would be barred from using cashless stores.
It’s part of the pushback we have seen after Amazon opened the stores as it continues to explore the boundaries of retailing.
The problem with the bill is its message. Given its size and location, Delaware should encourage innovation. Let bigger states and cities tax soda and ban such stores.
And no one is predicting that your local grocery or corner store will suddenly shun cash.
Instead, the legislation would be a symbolic gesture that re-enforces the view that our friends in Dover sometimes focus on problems that don’t yet exist while unintentionally sending a “closed for business” message.
By the way, the bill has co-sponsors from both parties.
The cashless business bill first caught my attention, thanks to a story in the News Journal/DelawareOnline.com. It’s a reminder of the need for legislative coverage.
Here’s the link to the long list of proposed legislation. It’s worth checking out if you have a moment.
Any thoughts pro or con? Let me know. Simply hit reply and type away. If this newsletter was passed along, sign up here to get your own five-day-a-week email report at no charge. –Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
