A bill to establish an “independent and nonpartisan” inspector general’s office moved forward Wednesday in a Delaware House committee. The House Administration Committee also moved along a bill to encourage filming in the state by offering tax credits. The committee started discussion to create a constitutional right of a clean environment, but, citing time, continued discussion to Thursday’s committee meeting, …
Lawmakers, activists and citizens gathered in front of Legislative Hall Tuesday to encourage the General Assembly to override Gov. John Carney’s veto of House Bill 371, the bill to legalize marijuana possession. Carney vetoed the bill in May citing questions about the long-term health and economic impacts of recreational marijuana use. “I respect the Legislative Branch’s role in this process, …
Two bills set to be filed in the General Assembly would create an inspector general’s office in Delaware to investigate claims of waste, fraud, abuse and corruption within state government. Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, said while Delaware already has a state auditor and attorney general, the inspector general’s office would “fill a gap in their coverage.” “The inspector general …
A bill to legalize the cultivation, sale and possession of marijuana in Delaware was released from the House Health and Human Development Committee Wednesday by a margin of 10 to four. All 10 Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the bill’s release. Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, was the lone Republican to support the bill. The bill will …
This Week’s Top Headlines Include: HEADLINES For 1st time, Milford woman describes escaping twin towers 20 years ago Restaurants cut hours as struggle with hiring continues Shané Darby’s ‘Blue Klux Klan’ post draws fire from mayor, police, council Hagley damage may hit $2 million, and it has no flood insurance Milford man’s WWII service took him around world, into D-Day …
State legislators will be back in session in a little more than a month. Photo by Aimintang/Getty Images Signature In five weeks, Delaware’s 151st General Assembly will kick off its 2022 legislative session with many Democratic legislators looking to advance progressive causes that have previously struggled to gain traction. Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly by wide margins. …
As calls mount for the creation of a statewide inspector general’s office in Delaware, one Newark lawmaker is drafting legislation to do just that. Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, will introduce legislation in early 2022 to set the framework for the establishment of the new office, which would be tasked with investigating instances of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement within the …
State Sen. Darius Brown, D-Edgemoor State Sen. Darius Brown has been booted from yet another Senate committee following a heated altercation with a state representative. The Wilmington Democrat is alleged to have verbally abused Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, during a Nov. 8 press event where lawmakers gathered to witness Gov. John Carney’s signing of multiple criminal justice-related bills. “He …
Legislative efforts to remove Kathleen McGuiness from office seem likely to fail, based on state rules With embattled Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness refusing to step down in the wake of her criminal indictment some legislators are pursuing other means to remove her from office. Reps. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, and Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, have introduced a resolution asking Gov. …
Saying Delaware state employees paid three times the average drugs costs from 2018 through 2020, state Auditor Kathy McGuiness believes Express Scripts should pay Delaware back $24.5 million. “While the national drug inflationary rate was 4.7 percent during those three years, Delaware paid a 20.1 percent increase in prescription costs,” she said in a press release. “That’s an abuse of …
