Delaware State News | Opinion | by Rep. John Kowalko On occasion, legislation is written and offered that is so obviously misguided in its intentions and presents such an overt attempt to manipulate the legitimacy of the democratic voting process that it is incumbent upon me to expose it to the public. Any other reaction could result in an injustice being perpetrated on the voting public compromising its wishes expressed at the ballot box. This recent piece of legislation circulated for signatures is a prime example of such a travesty. […]

Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Bill Clemens Once again, State Rep. John Kowalko, representing the Newark area, deserves kudos for his Sept. 13 letter to the editor titled, “Delaware inflicting economic genocide on middle class?” John shed more enlightenment on crony political capitalism. He has continued to be the shepherd trying to lead the flock to greener pastures so more people could have some greenbacks to munch on. However, too many politicians continue to make undercover deals with the lobbyists to continually increase profits for […]

Delaware State News | Commentary | by Rep. John Kowalko If you’re still upset about Hillary Clinton’s $600,000 price tag for delivering inspiring speeches to Corporate American entities, then consider the following in the matter of Delaware taxpayer giveaways and job creation: By my calculations, JP Morgan can afford 16.6 Hillary speeches paid by Delaware taxpayer money alone. DuPont/Dow can buy about 20 H.C. inspirational talks. Sallie Mae can afford about six sessions. The list goes on and on. So if you’re looking for job and business creation from the […]

The News Journal | Opinion | by Rep. John Kowako Delaware taxpayers are once again being asked to close their collective minds and open their collective wallets. Another grotesque giveaway to another wealthy corporation has been proposed. Instigated, orchestrated and supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, Delaware’s State Department, Gov. John Carney’s administration and a vast number of corporate shills that occupy the General Assembly, we are once again being cajoled to give millions of dollars to a profitable company under the guise of economic development. In […]

The News Journal | Letter to the Editor | by Nick Waslieski The Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) is urging members of the House Judiciary Committee to support House Bill 57, sponsored by Rep. John Kowalko, Rep. Kim Williams, and Sen Bruce Ennis. If signed into law by the governor, HB 57 will require all resident agents to screen applicants that form limited liability companies against sanctions lists maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). DelCOG has been researching online sources and found at least two Delaware […]

Dover Post | Opinion | by Delaware Coalition for Open Government The Delaware Coalition for Open Government is urging members of the House Judiciary Committee to support House Bill 57, sponsored by Reps. John Kowalko and Kim Williams and Sen. Bruce Ennis, and to refer the bill to the full House of Representatives for their consideration when the bill comes before the Committee at 12:30 p.m. June 14 in the House Majority Hearing Room, Legislative Hall, Dover. If passed by the general assembly and signed into law by the governor, HB […]

Delaware State News | Opinion | by Timothy Barchak On May 18, the Delaware House of Representatives voted to end Delaware’s estate tax as of Dec. 31, 2017. The bill, HB 16, has been assigned to the Delaware Senate Finance Committee for review. It is likely to eventually be voted on by the full State Senate. The estate tax impacts only the wealthiest among us, the heirs to large estates. Nationally, about two estates out of 1,000 are impacted by the estate tax, and the heirs owe, on average, 17 percent […]

Cape Gazette | Letter to the Editor | by Carolyn Quinn Currently every domestic and foreign limited liability company registered in Delaware pays an annual tax of $300 to do business here. On March 28, Rep. John Kowalko introduced House Bill 101 which would increase that tax to $325. On May 3, he added an amendment that would raise the increase to $350. HB 101 was scheduled for a hearing in the House Revenue & Finance Committee May 3, but Rep. Quinn Johnson’s motion to table the bill passed. When the […]

The News Journal | Opinion | by Alan Muller As Delaware reaches the peak of its political season, there’s no more powerful example of the prevailing special interest chokehold than Senate Bill 80 (now replaced with the nearly identical Senate Substitute 1). This bill would create a new line item charge (“distribution system improvement charge”) on Delmarva Power electric and gas bills, without meaningful opportunities for public review of the additional charges. Total charges without a “rate case” could amount to $24 million. In some respects this proposal resembles the undying “Bloomgate” […]