Kowalko Schwartzkopf

Kowalko: House Speaker killed inspector general bill

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

An outgoing Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives says House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf blocked his bill to create an office of the inspector general.  Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, said the move was typical of Schwartzkopf’s leadership style. That leadership style can be characterized by “coercion, intimidation, incentivizing and reward,” Kowalko said, and the inspector general bill is just …

Medical

Medical privacy bill threatens parental rights, GOP reps say

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

All 15 Republican state representatives have taken a stand against a bill they say is designed to usurp parental authority. House Bill 400, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, would allow dependents on insurance policies – adults and children – to receive “confidential sensitive health care services” without notifying the policyholder. The bill has been dubbed the “Delaware Patient Privacy …

Tax Credit

Committee votes to raise senior property tax credit

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The committee responsible for drafting the state’s budget has voted to restore the senior property tax credit to its pre-2017 level. The credit was cut from $500 to $400 per year in 2017 in an effort to close a budget shortfall that year. Currently, the program allows homeowners ages 65 and over to claim a tax credit against regular school …

Interrogation

Lawmakers aim to ban deceptive tactics in juvenile interrogations

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill set to be considered by the Delaware House of Representatives would make it illegal for police to lie to children during interrogations.  House Bill 419, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-Wilmington, would ban the use of deceptive tactics, such as making misleading statements about evidence or offering false promises of leniency to extract a confession or other incriminating …

Leg Hall Night 1

General Assembly may end long-standing June 30 tradition

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed a measure aimed at ending the tradition of extending legislative business beyond midnight on June 30 of each year. Under House Bill 411, the General Assembly would only be constitutionally mandated to stay until 5 p.m. on the last day of June.  “Five o’clock becomes the new twelve o’clock, basically,” said …

Delaware House votes to legalize marijuana possession

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware House of Representatives has passed a bill to legalize marijuana in the First State.  Well, sort of.  What the bill does House Bill 371, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, would make it totally legal to possess one ounce or less of marijuana, except for those who are under the age of 21.  Under the bill, possession of …

Landlords could not require cats to be declawed under new bill

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo: Pixabay A bill released from the House Housing and Community Affairs Committee Wednesday would make it illegal for landlords to require tenants to have their cats declawed.  Landlords would still be able to choose not to rent to tenants with pets.  The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, said the bill is necessary because the act of declawing is …