The News Journal | Letter to the Editor | by Elizabeth Lee Roberts The upcoming election is an important one for Delaware and our Robscott Manor community. I ask that you support the re-election of Delaware State Representative John Kowalko. I’ve known John for a dozen years now and have the utmost respect and appreciation for his hard work and dedication to our neighborhood. He has always been there for us and we need him to be able to continue to represent us. In my 47 years in this home, I have […]
Letter: Kowalko listens, takes action
The News Journal | Letter to the Editor | by Karen, Jack & Ben Bashkow We ask for your support of John Kowalko for state representative. John has served many years to help make Delaware a better place. I initially met John when he was running for his first term. John was canvassing our neighborhood on Hunter Forge Road. He began to talk to me about issues he found had the interest of many of his constituents. I immediately introduced him to our pressing issue of funds for adults and children […]
Kowalko: Delaware’s image – What lies beneath the shadows
The News Journal | Delaware Voice | by Rep. John Kowalko Delaware is a pro-business state. It is relatively simple to form a company. We have no corporate income tax, and we even have special courts to handle corporate disputes. These courts have provided for an unmatched experience and understanding of the issues involved in commercial enterprises. These factors provide our state with a competitive advantage that has made us the choice for legal residence of nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. However, recently our state’s reputation has suffered because of […]
Christina School Dist. frustrated with Dept. of Ed.’s proposed budgetary changes
Delaware Public Media | by Megan Pauly Christina School District officials feel they’ve been left out in the cold by the Dept. of Education regarding its potential changes to district funding allocations – changes Christina says could cost it $3 million. State education officials say there won’t be any changes in the state’s student funding formula this year, but Christina School District officials are still concerned. The state’s Education Secretary can’t change the formula that decides how much goes to charter schools, but can determine which line items are “inappropriate for […]
John Kowalko’s Vision For Delaware
First State Update | by Staff Writer First State Update recently asked Delaware State Representative John Kowalko to share his vison for Delaware’s future. Here’s what he told us: “My vision for Delaware’s future hinges on a sea change in attitude by elected officials and government agencies regarding open and transparent government. The current system, often cloaked in secrecy and diminished access, has caused a disconcerting drop in public confidence and trust in government. Transforming the realities of the status-quo, which currently provides that those in power are allowed to […]
Delaware LLC involved in international bribery scheme
The News Journal | by Karl Baker A Chilean airline will pay two U.S. federal agencies $22 million in penalties for bribing union bosses in Argentina with the help of a Delaware company, authorities announced in a plea bargain last week. In 2006, LAN Airlines paid $1.15 million to “labor union officials in exchange for the union agreeing to accept lower wages,” a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice said. In order to conceal the “sham payment,” officials from LAN first transferred the money to their subsidiary, a Delaware-registered limited liability company, called Atlantic Aviation Investments LLC, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission statement. Atlantic Aviation Investments (not affiliated with New Castle-based Atlantic Aviation) then transferred the funds […]
Kowalko: TPP – An abdication of workers’ rights
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko All Americans should absolutely and resoundingly oppose the American worker-rights concession known as the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement. It has numerous, irreconcilable flaws and will cause much horrible damage to working families and American businesses. I will only list a few of the nearly dozen reasons that all should oppose this dereliction of duty. First, the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text allows multinational companies to challenge U.S. laws, regulations and safeguards through a provision called “investor-to-state dispute settlement” […]
Kowalko: Delaware LLC law – facilitator or conspirator?
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko I filed HB 442 on June 23. It’s a bill to reform Delaware’s LLC licensing process to protect the integrity of the system and prevent illegal and illicit activities from being perpetrated. Recent worldwide media accounts have tarnished Delaware’s reputation as a leader in corporate investment, with oftentimes valid questions raised as to the willingness of Delaware and its citizens to provide an unquestioning attitude towards companies that incorporate here or form LLCs. The questionable behavior of […]
Legislature finishes budget after a second consecutive marathon June 30
Delaware State News | by Matt Bittle DOVER — Flanked by lawmakers, Gov. Jack Markell signed the budget bill just after 5:15 a.m., bringing to a close a day that began 17 hours before for some. Although lawmakers were optimistic the General Assembly would be finished earlier than last year, a dispute between the Senate and House of Representatives caused a significant delay, and the governor did not approve the three budget, bond and grant-in-aid bills until the sun began creeping up over the horizon. The $4.08 billion budget, the […]
Delaware General Assembly passes state budget
Newsworks | by Zoë Read The Delaware General Assembly voted in a $4.8 billion operating budget Wednesday with a 31-8 vote in the House. “This was a difficult year, we had to make many difficult cuts, we had to make many challenging decisions about what to fund, and we respect the fact every decision we made had a real impact on peoples’ lives,” said State Rep. Melanie Smith, who heads the joint finance committee. “We thought carefully about what was in Delaware’s best interest.” Delaware’s budget has taken a hit […]