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 and keep our healthcare needs out of the hands of […]
RISE Rally on Wednesday, October 26 at Legislative Hall
The Delaware General Assembly will be holding a Special Session on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, to address concerns with the Medicare Advantage privatization. Please come and join RISE Delaware to show support for a solution to the problem the State of Delaware has created. Representative John Kowalko will be introducing a bill on the floor of the House of Representatives to allow for state retirees to choose to remain on their current Medicfill Supplemental Plan or moving to the new Medicare Advantage plan offered by Highmark. The bill is […]
Second Rally Opposing Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Health Care Set for Wednesday, October 12 at Legislative Hall
Press Advisory: For immediate release October 6, 2022 Contact: John Kowalko 25th District Representative (302) 547-9351 Second Rally Opposing Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Health Care Set for Wednesday, October 12 at Legislative Hall RISE Delaware has scheduled a second public rally to take place on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, starting at noon. The rally will be held on the East steps of Legislative Hall in Dover. In case of rain, the rally will be held in the House Chambers. The purpose of the rally is to allow state retirees […]
RISE Delaware Rally at Legislative Hall in Dover on October 12 to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare
RISE Delaware Rally at Legislative Hall in Dover on October 12 to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare RISE Delaware will hold a rally on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from noon to 1 p.m. We will be inviting all supportive legislators to join us on the steps of Legislative Hall. Please join us wearing blue shirts and bring your signs! We will be rallying to demand that the State of Delaware stop the proposed plan to privatize state retirees’ health benefits […]
Rally to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare Benefits Set for Tuesday, October 4 at Freedom Plaza in Wilmington
Press Advisory: For immediate release September 29, 2022 Contact: John Kowalko 25th District Representative (302) 547-9351 Rally to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare Benefits Set for Tuesday, October 4 at Freedom Plaza in Wilmington RISE Delaware has scheduled a public rally to take place on October 4, 2022, from noon to 1PM at Freedom Plaza in Wilmington. The location is 8th and French Streets next to the Caravel State Building. The purpose of the rally is to allow state retirees and future retirees to demonstrate their unwillingness to […]
RISE Delaware and Retirees File Lawsuit to Stop Privatization of Health Benefits
Press Advisory: For immediate release Tuesday, September 27, 2022 Contact: Elisa Diller (302-369-6756) Karen Peterson (302-999-7522) RISE Delaware and Retirees File Lawsuit to Stop Privatization of Health Benefits RISE Delaware, a group formed to assist State Retirees in their fight against privatization of their Medicare benefits announced today that they have filed a lawsuit to stop the unilateral implementation of their insurance through a privatized Medicare Advantage plan. “The fact that retirees were neither aware of these changes to their benefits nor invited to participate in crafting this mandate is […]
State of Delaware Retirees Organize to Fight Medicare Advantage Plan
Press Advisory: For immediate release August 28, 2022 Contact: Rep. John Kowalko (302-547-9351) or risedelaware@gmail.com State of Delaware Retirees Are Coming Together to Stop Medicare Privatization and Benefit Reductions 25th District State Representative John Kowalko and New Castle County 5th District Councilwoman Lisa Diller, a State of Delaware retiree, are teaming up to form RiseDelaware (Retirees Investing in State Equity Delaware), a new membership organization dedicated to educating, advocating, and informing State of Delaware retirees about what is happening with their health and pension benefits. The catalyst is to fight […]
Retirement announcement
I have had the privilege and pleasure of serving as a State Representative for almost 16 years. As you might know, this is my second career. For 37 years, I was a machinist. I was a proud union member during that time, serving as a union official and advocate. I worked at the Delaware City refinery for 25 years serving as a union steward and General Foreman. These experiences gave me a solid foundation for Rules of Order and their importance, the power of solidarity, and a profound respect for […]
Delaware begins Phase 1B of vaccination plan
Delaware has begun Phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, which includes all individuals 65 and over, and frontline essential workers including: fire, police, correctional officers, teachers and education staff (including child care providers), U.S. postal workers, food manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and grocery store workers. More than 200,000 Delawareans qualify for vaccination in this phase, and multiple options for residents to be vaccinated will begin this week and then expand in coming weeks, including large vaccination events with a new appointment request system. Efforts will also continue to vaccinate Phase […]
Jessica Scarane Is the Right Choice for U.S. Senator
I am proud to endorse Jessica Scarane for U.S. Senate. As an elected official, who has served seven terms, I am often asked for my opinion of different candidates vying for elected office. It would be presumptuous of me to try to define the sincerity of an individual candidate’s intentions or motives for attaining office or the ideals that motivate them. However, it is logical for me to examine the historical record of elected officials’ performances and positions and let the public know my appreciations or concerns. Jess Scarane has […]