Press Advisory: For immediate release February 9, 2025 Contact: Barbara Ward 302-367-5768 ward_be_59@comcast.net Public Meeting on February 12 to Address Controversial Plan to Destroy Folk Park’s Forest and Wetlands Community urges City of Newark to halt plans and all considerations for baseball and softball fields for Newark Charter School Newark, DE – Concerned residents, environmental advocates, and community leaders will gather for a public meeting on Wednesday, February 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Aetna Banquet Hall, 410 Ogletown Rd., Newark, DE, to address the proposed destruction of […]

Press Advisory: For immediate release January 30, 2025 Contact: John Kowalko 302-547-9351 kowalkoforthe25th@gmail.com Newark Residents File Freedom of Information (FOIA) Complaint With Attorney General Against City A group of Newark City residents have petitioned Attorney General Jennings to find Newark City Officials in violation of Delaware’s FOIA laws. (Petition below) Specifically, we feel that the City of Newark has violated the Freedom of Information Act by not publishing their intent to initiate a contract to convert a municipal park to a baseball frield in secrecy; by keeping secret the minutes […]

Press Release: For immediate release June 8, 2023 Contact: John Kowalko: 302-547-9351 Elisa Diller: 302-369-6756 Connie Merlet: 302-540-2346 What: State Retiree Healthcare Benefits Rally When: Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30PM Where: On the Mall at Legislative Hall in Dover Raindate: Thursday, June 15, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30PM RISE Delaware Rally to Urge Delaware Legislators to Ensure Benefits Promised to Delaware Retirees and Workers RISE Delaware is hosting a rally on June 13, 2023, on the Green at Legislative Hall in Dover from 1PM to 2:30PM to request the […]

Press Release: For immediate release May 3, 2023 Contact: John Kowalko: 302-547-9351 Elisa Diller: 302-369-6756 Connie Merlet: 302-540-2346 What: State Retiree Healthcare Benefits Rally When: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30PM Where: On the Mall at Legislative Hall in Dover RISE Delaware Rally to Challenge the Lies and Tell the Truth RISE Delaware is hosting a rally on May 9, 2023, on the Green at Legislative Hall in Dover from 1PM to 2:30PM to demand that that the State keep the promises it has made to State retirees and […]

Press Release: For immediate release February 23, 2023 Contact: Karen Peterson, 302-999-7522 Nancy Wagner, 302-734-1823 Former legislators write Open Letter to the governor and legislators regarding retirees’ healthcare coverage Twenty-seven former State senators and representatives sent an open letter to Governor John Carney and legislators today opposing the State’s plans to privatize retirees’ Medicare coverage by switching to a Medicare Advantage plan. The letter reminds State officials that under Delaware law, they are required to select the “best plan” that satisfies the interests of the State and its pensioners. The […]

Press Release: For immediate release February 20, 2023 Contact: Karen Peterson 302-999-7522 karenpeterson183@msn.com State retirees raise alarm about budget provision RISE Delaware and retired State Senator Karen Peterson are “sounding the alarm” about a provision in the Governor’s fiscal year 2024 budget bill that the Carney Administration will likely use as a springboard to replace retirees’ Medicare Supplement plan with privatized Medicare Advantage. Peterson describes the provision as another “sneak attack,” similar to what the Carney administration did last year when it similarly buried Medicare Advantage language deep within the […]

Media Alert: For immediate release February 2, 2023 Contact: Elisa Diller: 302-369-6756 John Kowalko: 302-547-9351 Karen Peterson: 302-999-7522 RISE Delaware Urges Current State Employees to Participate in New Benefits Survey State employees need to speak up to keep your healthcare benefits! RISE Delaware is encouraging current state agency and school district employees to pay close attention to a survey being sent out about employee benefits. Elisa Diller, RISE co-founder said, “This survey is being made available to current employees from February 1-17, 2023. We are encouraging current employees to weigh […]

Press Advisory: For immediate release January 17, 2023 Contact: John Kowalko (302) 547-9351 kowalkoforthe25th@gmail.com RISE Delaware Members to Attend Wednesday Senate Committee Hearing to Voice Opposition to Senate Bill 29 RISE Delaware members are being urged to attend the Senate Executive Committee meeting scheduled for 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Legislative Hall in Dover, to voice their opposition to Senate Bill 29 relating to the State Employee Benefits Act. Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Senator Townsend, purports to be a response to the concerns of State pensioners […]

Delaware General Assembly Rep. John Kowalko For immediate release October 21, 2022 Contact: John Kowalko 25th District Representative 302-547-9351 Lawmaker Files Bill to Restore Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare Supplement Option Bill would guarantee access to Special Medicfill Supplement Plan for retirees opposed to privatized Medicare Advantage plan State Representative John Kowalko announced that he is filing legislation to restore the Delaware Special Medicfill Supplement Plan as an option for state employees and retirees who receive State-funded healthcare through Medicare. The bill will be filed in time for the special session […]

For immedate release: October 19, 2022 RISE Delaware Wins Stay of Medicare Advantage Plan The Delaware Superior Court, the Hon. Calvin Scott, today issued an interim Order in favor of Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against State of Delaware officials brought by RISE Delaware, an advocacy group for retirees of the State of Delaware, and two individuals. The lawsuit asks to stop Delaware’s implementation of its improperly adopted HighMark Medicare Advantage Plan to replace the long-standing traditional Medicare benefit earned by state retirees. Based on the record that State officials failed […]