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 […]
Commentary: Inspector General office will benefit citizens, state
Delaware State News | Commentary | by Keith Steck Delaware’s legislature has a golden opportunity to take a major step forward in addressing shortcomings in state agency management and a seemingly never-ending string of minor and major scandals involving agency operations. The bipartisan House Bill 405 would create a statewide Office of the Inspector General. For the past three years, the Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) — through contact with the Association of Inspectors General at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, presentations to good-government […]
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 […]
Delaware can lead by ending corporate tax giveaways to Amazon
The News Journal | Opinion | by Rep. John Kowalko and Pat Garofalo In 2011, Amazon received about $3.5 million in taxpayer subsidies to build a distribution center in New Castle. In 2020, it received another $4.5 million for a facility in Newport. In between, the state attempted to win Amazon’s “HQ2” facility – and while officials won’t confirm the dollar amount offered, Gov. John Carney said it was “a pretty big number — the largest number I’ve ever seen as it relates to economic development projects here in our […]
Senate Bill 155 would set back open-government initiatives
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko A few Delaware legislators working with the Department of Justice seem to be interested in further denying the public and media access to its contrivances and methods. Lifting the shroud of secrecy and exposing the horrible underbelly of the “Delaware Way” is facing another serious challenge that threatens the public interest. It is Senate Bill 155, a thinly veiled attempt to shutter the windows from public view. My primary focus during my entire 15 years in office […]
Delaware lawmakers urge passage of D.C. statehood bill
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton Editor’s note: On May 6, more than two dozen Delaware lawmakers, led by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, sent the following letter to our congressional delegation, thanking them for their support of Democratic Sen. Tom Carper’s Washington, D.C., statehood bill. Representation is at the very heart of what we, as elected officials, do: We represent constituents. We represent their issues, concerns, beliefs and interests, and we take action on their behalf. It is a basic function of government that […]
Delaware inspector general would provide oversight of state agencies
Delaware State News | Commentary | by Nick Wasileski, Keith Steck, and Katherine Ward Transparency, accountability and “in the public interest” describe essential guideposts to assist Delaware state agencies and their officials when making decisions and carrying out policies for the well-being, safety and happiness of Delaware’s citizens. When state agencies dismiss these guideposts, misconduct, mismanagement and neglect of office can swiftly lead to conflicting policies and actions and even fraud. Consequently, the Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) believes we need an independent, nonpartisan office for oversight and investigation […]
We cannot — and should never — forget Jan. 6
The News Journal | Opinion | by Rep. John Kowalko I would like to share the remarks I made to the Delaware House of Representatives on Jan. 28 regarding the passage of HR5 condemning the violence in Washington on Jan. 6: “First let me thank all of my colleagues who supported the resolution condemning the assault on the U.S. Capitol and committing to a peaceful and respectful discourse in the conducting of public business. “The tragic events in Washington on Jan. 6 cannot and should not ever be forgotten. A […]
Privatize Trump, not the USPS
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko The recent attempts by the Trump administration to interfere with the 2020 election by falsely demonizing the use of mail-in ballots has led to a more aggressive attempt to dismantle the U.S. Postal Service. Attempts to discredit the U.S. Postal Service have been ongoing as far back as the George W. Bush presidency when the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) was enacted by the 109th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Bush on Dec. […]
For Delaware, Jess Scarane is the right choice for U.S. senator
The News Journal | Opinion | by Rep. John Kowalko I am proud to endorse Jess 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 […]