Cape Gazette A bill expanding membership to committees tasked with state employee benefit issues passed the Senate Jan. 18 by a 17-3 vote. Senate Bill 29 expands the membership of the State Employee Benefits Committee by adding a state retiree to the committee and adding an additional representative from public sector union organizations, and the bill establishes the Retiree Healthcare Benefits Advisory Subcommittee with membership that includes three state retirees and four members of the General Assembly. It also requires the controller general to provide comprehensive biannual public reports to […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Amid continued concern from state retirees, Senate lawmakers voted to establish pensioner involvement in the development of retirement health care benefits on Wednesday. Prime sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, Senate Bill 29 seeks to bolster state retiree involvement in the decision-making process ahead of the expiration of the current Medicare supplement plan offered through Jan. 1, 2024. The legislation features co-sponsorship from each member of Democratic and Republican leadership in both houses of Delaware’s General Assembly. Under SB 29, membership […]

Delaware Public Media | by Rachel Sawicki A bill seeking to address concerns about proposed changes to state retirees health care benefits passed the State Senate Wednesday. State Senators voted 17-3 in favor of the bill – with 1 ‘absent.’ If it also clears the House, it would add a state retiree and an additional representative from public sector unions to the State Employee Benefits Committee. It also establishes an advisory subcommittee that will include three state retirees and four members of the General Assembly, which would evaluate options allowing […]

Delaware Call | by Jordan Howell The University of Delaware has moved hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore investments while also seeking state funds, raising tuition. State FOIA laws keep that information from the public Over the past decade — during which University of Delaware officials have requested more than a billion dollars in taxpayer funds from the General Assembly to support in-state scholarships, construction projects, and even general operations — the state’s flagship university has quietly shifted hundreds of millions of dollars to investments overseas, according to a […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen With the additions to Delaware’s General Assembly now clear, the legislature will see little change in the balance of Democratic power when it begins its next session in January 2023. As many lawmakers left to seek new opportunities or retirement, and some falling short in their primary or general elections, there have been several implications on the makeup of the Senate and House of Representatives. Following the general election Tuesday, the House gained six new faces, while the Senate will have three. […]

Newark Post | by Josh Shannon and Matt Smith Voters in the 25th House District chose Democrat Cyndie Romer to replace longtime incumbent John Kowalko, who did not seek re-election. Romer defeated Republican Lynn Mey 65 percent to 35 percent in Tuesday’s election. “I’m feeling very optimistic and grateful for the opportunity to represent the Newark area and ready to get to work and do a good job,” Romer said Tuesday night. She attributed her victory to her effort to knock on doors and meet constituents. “It was amazing to […]

Delaware Public Media | by Paul Kiefer Delaware’s General Assembly will not convene for a special session Wednesday to discuss the controversial plan to transfer retired state employees from Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan administered by Highmark Delaware. Lawmakers were scheduled to reconvene to consider a bill that would have provided additional oversight of the transition — a way for the state to track whether retirees were more often denied coverage under the Medicare Advantage plan than under their current plans, for example. That changed after a Superior Court […]

The News Journal | by Meredith Newman In a major reversal, Delaware officials voted on Monday to keep the current health care plan for state retirees for 2023. The Carney administration had said for weeks the Medicare Advantage plan would be moving forward and could not be changed, even when lawmakers asked for a pause. But that changed last week. A Superior Court judge sided with state retirees in a lawsuit, temporarily blocking the Medicare Advantage plan from going into effect next year. The State Employee Benefits Committee, to comply […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen The State Employee Benefits Committee approved a 12-month contract extension of the Special Medicfill Supplement plan during the committee’s monthly meeting on Monday. The plan, which was set to be replaced by the state’s Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1, will be extended through Dec. 31, 2023 as a result of the committee’s vote. The extension allows the State Employee Benefits Committee to comply with Delaware Superior Court Judge Calvin L. Scott Jr.’s Oct. 19 ruling in which the implementation of the […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Retirees Investing in Social Equity (RISE) Delaware will hold its third rally Wednesday at Legislative Hall before both chambers of Delaware’s General Assembly reconvene. The organization invites supporters to arrive at Legislative Hall by 3 p.m. before the start of the scheduled House and Senate sessions at 4 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear blue and bring signs for the event. On Oct. 19, RISE Delaware was victorious in court after a Delaware Superior Court judge issued a temporary stay on the […]