Tax rebate Delaware General Assembly

House moves to block federal taxes on $300 rebate checks

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

If a bill approved Thursday by the Delaware House of Representatives succeeds, residents won’t have to pay state or federal taxes on the $300 rebates issued last year. House Bill 25 would designate that money as qualified disaster payments and therefore untaxable. The 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program was a one-time direct payment of $300 per Delaware resident taxpayer who …

Delaware House of Representatives Valerie Longhurst apologizes to Melissa Minor-Brown

Longhurst starts House Day 2 by apologizing to Minor-Brown

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  The Delaware House of Representatives majority leader started the second day of the 152nd General Assembly Wednesday by apologizing to the new minority leader for the way she phrased a description of her. On Tuesday, Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, had introduced Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown as “the first colored woman in leadership in the House of Representatives.” They hugged after …

152nd General Assembly Ruth Briggs King

Oaths of office open most diverse General Assembly ever

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s 152nd General Assembly officially began Tuesday, as Delaware’s 62 representatives and senators were sworn into office in what is the most diverse legislature yet. “We’re finally looking like Delaware’s population,” said Rep. DeShanna Neal, D-Wilmington. The first nonbinary and first Buddhist to serve in Delaware’s legislature, they are starting their first year in office. “One of the most amazing …

152nd Delaware General Assembly House committees

House committees feature more women, minorities as leaders

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware House of Representatives has announced committee assignments for the 152nd General Assembly, with the Democrats crowing that its slate of chairs and vice-chairs reflect the diversity of the chamber. More than half of the committees will be chaired by women, while a person of color will serve as chair and/or vice-chair of 13 different committees. In addition, five …

Delaware State Auditor-Elect Lydia York

Delaware’s new state auditor to take office Jan. 3

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

When Democrat Lydia York takes the oath of office on Jan. 3, she’ll be Delaware’s third auditor of accounts since October. She’ll take the reins from Dennis Greenhouse, who Gov. John Carney appointed after former Auditor Kathy McGuiness resigned following a misconduct scandal. For York, the gravity of the moment is still sinking in, she told Delaware LIVE News. “Each …

McGuiness Carney

McGuiness saves Carney the trouble, resigns immediately

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness has resigned. Gov. John Carney will name a replacement to serve the remainder of her term, which ends in January 2023. The surprise announcement comes after McGuiness’s attorney, Steve Wood, told the court during McGuiness’s sentencing hearing that she submitted a letter of resignation to Carney indicating she planned to step down Nov. 4. RELATED: …

Kathy McGuiness appeal

No jail time for ‘deeply remorseful’ McGuiness

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware state Auditor Kathy McGuiness will not see the inside of a jail cell after being sentenced on two misdemeanor public corruption charges Wednesday. Prosecutors asked the judge to impose a 30-day prison sentence. Instead, she’ll face one year of probation, a $10,000 fine, and 500 hours of community service. McGuiness plans to appeal her convictions to the Delaware Supreme …

Supreme Court of Delaware

$200,000 drive to pressure Carney to appoint Black judge

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A nonprofit formed in the bitter aftermath of a Delaware court decision is launching a $200,000-plus campaign to push Gov. John Carney to appoint a Black judge to Delaware Supreme Court. Citizens for Judicial Fairness — unless recently known as Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware — wants Carney to name a Black judge to replace Supreme Court Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves. …

STATE AUDITOR KATHLEEN MCGUINESS (LEFT) AND HER ATTORNEY, STEVE WOOD, ENTER THE KENT COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN DOVER ON JUNE 24, 2022. (CHARLIE MEGGINSON/DELAWARE LIVE)

Calls mount for McGuiness to resign, be impeached

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  Calls continued to mount Tuesday for Delaware’s auditor, who was convicted Friday of three misdemeanors, including official misconduct, to leave her office by resigning or being impeached. Kathleen McGuiness said after the trial that she planned to stay in the job and run for re-election this year. Gov. John Carney on Friday said McGuiness needs to resign, but that …

Delaware state budget tops $1.5 billion

2023-4 state budgets pass House; head to Carney’s desk

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  The Delaware House of Representatives passed four state budgets for the 2023-24 year in 15 minutes in a no-fuss set-em-up, knock-em-down run. The bills’ next stop will be Gov. John Carney’s desk, because they passed the Senate on Tuesday. “I think we have a budget that we can be proud of,” said Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna/Dover, and co-chairman of …