Cape Gazette | Letter to the Editor | by John Kowalko There appears to be a certain illogical resistance to creating an independent Office of the Inspector General by some members of the Delaware General Assembly. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 21, sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Woodbrook, is the latest effort to create such an office that would benefit all Delawareans and taxpayers by developing a more transparent public access to government agencies, officials and situations that affect all of us. It would expose incidents of theft, waste […]
Nothing to Fear But the Truth?
Delaware State News | Opinion | by John Kowalko There appears to be a certain illogical resistance to creating an independent Office of the Inspector General by some members of the Delaware General Assembly. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 21, sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Woodbrook, is the latest effort to create such an office that would benefit all Delawareans and taxpayers by developing a more transparent public access to government agencies, officials and situations that affect all of us. It would expose incidents of theft, waste and mismanagement […]
Delaware Needs Claire Snyder-Hall in Dover
Cape Gazette | Letter to the Editor | by John Kowalko I was privileged to serve the people of Delaware for sixteen years as a State Representative. I took my obligation as an elected public servant very seriously and I believe I always served the best interests of Delaware’s families. I have observed candidates for public office step forward, some successfully and some not, to offer their talents to represent the people of Delaware. There certainly have been many who have had the qualifications and attitudes to be good public […]
Amended retiree health care bills pass Delaware House, head to Senate
Delaware State News | by Joseph Edelen Lawmakers in the state’s House of Representatives voted unanimously to take Medicare Advantage off the table for current state employees and retirees and to modify the membership of State Employee Benefits Committee on Tuesday. The proposals, House Bills 281 and 282, were introduced by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, following 10 months of work from the Retiree Healthcare Benefits Advisory Subcommittee, of which he served as a co-vice chair. The legislation was released from committee March 6, though amendments to both bills were not […]
Guest Commentary: A thank-you from RISE Delaware co-founder
Delaware State News | Guest Commentary | by John Kowalko As far back as mid-August 2022, when New Castle County Councilwoman Lisa Diller and I decided to found Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, we realized that it would take a massive, organized effort on everyone’s part to stop the state of Delaware from imposing its Medicare Advantage plan on its current and future retirees. Joined by Connie Merlet, we decided to formally create and incorporate the entity, known as RISE Delaware. We agreed that retirees must organize and force […]
Guest Commentary: Kowalko announces resignation from RISE executive board
Delaware State News | Guest Commentary | by John Kowalko Dear RISE Delaware members and advocates, I wish you all the best in this upcoming holiday season and hope that we all enjoy a healthy and productive new year. In the interest of transparency and because all of you deserve to be kept fully informed, I am posting my letter of resignation from the RISE executive board below. I hope you all understand that the importance of RISE should never be diminished in this battle to restore our Medicare privileges […]
Letter to Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester
Delaware Call | Commentary | by John Kowalko Dear Representative Blunt-Rochester, I totally disapprove of your recent vote on H.R. 894 regarding antizionism and antisemitism. Your vote implies that you condone the genocidal practices of Netanyahu and the unfettered slaughter of innocent civilians and children in Gaza. The depths of suffering imposed on the Palestinian people by the IDF and Israel has reached a new level of inhumane actions. It is not your place nor Congress’ place to choose sides and blindly ignore the reality that Israel has continued its […]
Medicare Disadvantage (w/ John Kowalko)
Highlands Bunker | by Karl Stomberg Former Rep. John Kowalko joins the bunker to give updates on RISE Delaware/Medicare Advantage lawsuit, then tells some stories from his time at legislative hall. E268 – Medicare Disadvantage (w/ John Kowalko)
Opinion: Delaware state retirees vow to continue Medicare battle
The News Journal | Opinion | by John Kowalko & Elisa Diller It has been a year since RISE Delaware sued to stop the state of Delaware from taking away the state retirees’ Medicare benefit and dumping them into a Medicare Advantage plan. Yes, we heard at the state’s “information meetings” about how everything would be as good as before (only better) and that we would have a “special” Medicare Advantage plan. Well, it wasn’t so special when we looked at the contract and found that there were: 2,030 prior-authorizations […]
Guest Commentary: RISE Delaware reflects on first year fighting for benefits
Delaware State News | Guest Commentary | by John Kowalko & Elisa Diller It has been a year since RISE Delaware sued to stop the state of Delaware from taking away the state retirees’ Medicare benefit and dumping them into a Medicare Advantage plan. Yes, we heard at the state’s “information meetings” about how everything would be as good as before (only better) and that we would have a “special” Medicare Advantage plan. Well, it wasn’t so special when we looked at the contract and found that there were: 2,030 […]