Delaware Public Media | by Larry Nagengast A settlement was announced Monday in the high-profile lawsuit filed by NAACP, ACLU and other education advocates seeking to overhaul Delaware’s school funding system to better assist disadvantaged students. Contributor Larry Nagengast has been covering this case and the issues associated for some time now – and this week examines the settlement itself and what it means. It’s a big deal, but it’s not a done deal, and it’s not the whole deal either. That’s the one-sentence summary of the settlement agreement announced […]

Delaware Public Media | by Larry Nagengast Much of what is in this week’s education funding lawsuit settlement, including the funding elements, require the Delaware General Assembly’s approval. Contributor Larry Nagengast talked with a number of legislators this week to gauge their support. The transition to a younger, more diverse composition of the General Assembly may well have contributed to Gov. John Carney’s willingness to reach a settlement in the school finance suit filed by Delawareans for Educational Opportunity and the NAACP Delaware State Conference. While lawmakers and others who […]

The American Prospect | by Amelia Pollard The tiny state has long been a hotbed for corporations. Can mounting public pressure push the state to change its centuries-old ways? This article appears in the September/October 2021 issue of The American Prospect magazine. Subscribe here. In early July, President Biden issued a groundbreaking executive order designed to promote competition in the U.S. economy. It was seen as the greatest challenge to the dominance of concentrated power in a generation. During the announcement in the White House’s ornate State Dining Room, Biden sought to inoculate himself from […]

Delaware State News The Climate Action Campaign and the Union of Concerned Scientists hosted a virtual press conference with advocates and experts on Thursday to highlight recent extreme weather in Delaware. They also recognized Sen. Tom Carper for his climate leadership and call on the rest of Congress to follow suit and pass the Build Back Better Act. Just days after the Eastern seaboard experienced heavy rain, severe flooding and other impacts from Hurricane Ida, the speakers discussed an alarming new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as […]

WHYY | by Mark Eichmann Lawmakers were nearly unanimous in their votes in favor of Delaware’s $1.35 billion capital improvement budget, but several expressed reservations about the idea of spending so much money. The spending bill is $400 million more than the FY 2021 capital budget approved last year. Gov. John Carney signed the capital budget along with the $4.77 billion operating budget Wednesday afternoon. He said both bills represent the state’s commitment to sound financial principles. “If you think about it, look at other states across the country, the […]

WDEL | by DJ McAneny Delaware’s General Assembly managed to pass a behemoth $1.3 billion bond bill Tuesday that spends $400 million over the previous year. “The Fiscal Year ’22 bond bill is the very largest in the state of Delaware’s history,” said bond committee co-chair Democrat Rep. Debra Heffernan. “It takes care of $1.3 billion–billion, with a ‘B’–capital investments throughout the state of Delaware.” The bill puts almost $500 million into transportation and infrastructure; $304 million into K-12 and higher education; $198 million into economic development; $151 million for […]

Delaware Public Media | by Roman Battaglia & Joe Irizarry Lawmakers passed the largest bond bill in state history today Tuesday, with both chambers overwhemingly approving the $1.3 billion plan. State Senators passed it unanimously. It passed the House 39-1 with State Rep. Lyndon Yearick (R-Camden) voting ‘no’ and State Rep. John Kowalko (D-Newark South) not voting. The bill dwarfs the largest previous Bond Bill – a $863 million dollar allocation two years ago, and is $450 million more than Gov. John Carney proposed in January. State Sen. Nicole Poore […]

Delaware Public Media | by Joe Irizarry House lawmakers easily approve the Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget. The 2022 budget is a $4.77 billion spending plan and more than 4.9% bigger than this year. It passed in the House by a 38-1 vote with two not voting. State Rep. Rich Collins (R-Millsboro) cast the lone ‘no’ vote while Mike Ramone (R-Pike Creek Valley) and Democrat John Kowalko (D-Newark South) were the two not voting. Collins was the lone ‘no’ vote, arguing taxpayers should get some money back since the state […]

Delaware State News | by Matt Bittle After one of the most impactful votes the General Assembly has taken in years, legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 is now before Gov. John Carney. In a 26-15 party-line vote, the House of Representatives approved a bill to increase the wage floor from $9.25 in a series of steps Thursday. The bill passed the Senate with solely Democratic support in March. Per his office, Gov. Carney backs a $15 minimum wage. Senate Bill 15 would start by increasing the […]

Newark Post | by Randall Chase The Democrat-led state House voted along party lines Thursday to give final approval to a bill raising Delaware’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. Democrats approved the measure after defeating half a dozen Republican amendments, including proposals to allow small businesses and nonprofits to pay 85 percent of the minimum wage and to require the controller general’s office to submit annual reports regarding the fiscal impact of the wage increases on the state budget, and on the broader effects on the state […]