Delaware Call | Commentary | by John Kowalko As a lifelong Democrat, who served for 16 years in the Delaware General Assembly, I have growing concerns about the 2023 embezzlement of $181,000 from the Division of Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. One of my concerns is the strong possibility that Democratic state officials – both elected and appointed – may be involved in collusion and a coverup with the intent to hide the embezzlement from the public. Another concern I have is the apparent lack of Democratic leadership in the General […]
Colin O’Mara is my choice for progress in Delaware
The News Journal | Opinion | by John Kowalko Throughout my many years of engagement in politics, as an activist and an elected official, I have been consistent in one regard. I do not respect or regard negative ads or attacks on individuals running for office. I have found that most of this negative attitude is based on half-truths, innuendo and a disregard for the whole truth. I will judge candidates on the policies they propose and the policies they support and their willingness to publicly state that fact. When […]
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 […]
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 […]
An Open Letter to Gov. John Carney and Members of the Legislature
Dear Governor John Carney and Legislators: We, the undersigned former legislators, are writing to express our deepest concerns about the State’s efforts to privatize Medicare for 30,000 retirees and dependents. Many of us will also be affected by this monumental change to the benefits that the State has provided its retirees for decades. We are particularly concerned, given the findings of your own consultants, that privatizing retirees’ benefits by switching to Medicare Advantage will have much less impact on the unfunded liability in the State’s healthcare fund than other changes. […]
State of Delaware Retirees, Act Now!
State of Delaware retirees, retired Delaware teachers, as well as college and university faculty covered through the state of Delaware’s health benefits must act immediately and let their state elected officials know that the proposed move of all these retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan is unacceptable. What are Medicare Advantage plans? In short, they represent the privatization of one of the most successful federal programs in history and it is an embarrassment that the state of Delaware wants to participate in undermining the traditional Medicare program. Unfortunately, unless you […]
Point/Counterpoint: Lawmaker refutes, says inspector general role differs from auditor’s
Bay to Bay News | by Rep. John Kowalko Editor’s note: The following was sent to Kathleen McGuiness and the Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts in response to a letter from the auditor sent to the Delaware General Assembly on May 17 and again June 16. This is the response to the auditor’s allegations that deliberately distort the differences in responsibilities, obligations and authority between the auditor general’s office and the proposed Office of the Inspector General being created by House Bill 405. The Delaware Office of Auditor of […]
Inspector general would serve important role
Cape Gazette | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko House Bill 405 would create an independent and nonpartisan inspector general who is selected by an independent, blue-ribbon panel of various community stakeholders and is required by statute to investigate corruption, waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement and any other conduct harmful to the public interest. Delaware currently has no government agency responsible for this type of oversight. The Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts is a government agency controlled by a partisan elected official whose constitutional and statutory duties […]
Kowalko: Delawareans deserve lower prescription prices
Bay to Bay News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko Delawareans’ relationship with the pharmaceutical industry is shaky at best, underpinned by years of high-priced prescription drugs for them but lower prices around the globe. But now, our U.S. senators have a chance to take proactive steps to introduce accountability and transparency to an industry that’s shown us time and time again it is profits over patients. A series of prescription drug-pricing reforms that would lower the cost of prescription medications for every Delawarean is currently […]