For Immediate Release: October 2, 2017 Delawareans Urge Members of Congress to Prevent Medicaid, Medicare Cuts Press Conference at Legislative Hall in Dover, DE at 10:00 AM on October 4, 2017 National Day of Action Calls on Congress to Protect Health Care for Millions in the Budget and Reject Massive Tax Breaks for Wealthiest Americans Dover, Delaware – After Republican senators once again spent weeks attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Delawareans today urged lawmakers to vote no on any federal budget that attempts to strip health care from millions […]
An Open Letter to Former Governor Markell
Dear Jack, I’ve just finished reading your N.Y. Times op-ed and I feel it’s my obligation to Delaware’s taxpayers to respond. I’d like to think that your most recent missive has merely added to my disappointment in you but I think I’ve already passed the minimum expectations level in regard to your performance and legacy. I will try to be objective in my analysis and critique. First, I find it unbecoming for you to use “revisionist history” as a crutch to support your crippling economic decisions. That pejorative explanation has […]
Kowalko Challenges Delmarva Rate Increase for Residential and Business Ratepayers
Dear friends, Once again, Delmarva Power & Light is seeking to dramatically increase rates for electric and natural gas customers. The recently concluded merger of Exelon and Pepco Holdings, owner of DP&L, created the largest utility company in the country. Part of the “deal” for Delaware was a one-time bill credit for DP&L customers, with electric and natural gas ratepayers seeing a $122.64 and $49.95 credit, respectively, on their bill earlier this year. However, our regulators who approved the deal failed to acknowledge that the one-time rebate would soon be […]
Public Pressure Leads to Delaware River Fracking Ban
A collection of states have voted to permanently ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin. This is a wonderful example of what can happen when the public stays involved and keeps applying pressure on its political leaders. The permanent ban on fracking is a wonderful victory after a culmination of efforts to oppose fracking, including the sucessful petition from 2011 to stop the previous vote. John Kowalko State Representative 25th District From the Associated Press: Regulators Take Step to Ban Fracking Near Delaware River U.S. News | […]
States Vote to Permanently Ban Fracking in Delaware River Basin
Dear friends, Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania have voted to permanently ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin. This is a wonderful example of how a temporary victory for the environment (see 2011 petition success below) can translate into a permanent win for the environment and the people when the public stays involved and keeps applying pressure on its political leaders. John Kowalko State Representative 25th District The 2011 petition stopped the previous effort to propose fracking in the Delaware River Basin: For Immediate Release: November 23, 2011 Contact: Drew […]
Delaware River at Risk from Trump Budget Cuts
Today I spoke at the press conference for a new report on the potential damage facing Delaware waterways from budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. My remarks at the press conference are below, followed by the press release for the event and a copy of the report. Let me thank Megan DeSmedt and Environment America and all the contributors who produced this in depth and enlightening report being presented today. One would hope and expect that in this day and age, as all humanity is faced with critical shortages […]
Press Advisory: New Report Shows Risks to Delaware River
For Immediate Release: August 30, 2017 Study Shows Trump Budget Cuts Cause Uncertainty for Delaware River Basin Restoration Efforts “Over the last few years, Delaware has made a concerted effort to reduce pollution from industrial activities and clean up our waterways. This effort to hold polluters accountable and restore waterways to health is now being threatened by the Trump Administration budget cuts. It is incomprehensible that any responsible leader would choose to put the environment, ecology, and health of over 15 million people at risk, but this report demonstrates that […]
Offshore Wind Power Is Best Investment for Delaware
I am glad to welcome this much needed development in Delaware environment policy. From the News Journal: Delaware this week took its first major step toward encouraging the development of an offshore wind farm in nearly a decade. Gov. John Carney on Monday signed an executive order to create a “working group” that will examine the potential costs and benefits of generating electricity from such a project. Hopefully Governor Carney’s Executive Order creating an Offshore Wind Working Group will result in establishing a serious plan and direction that can move Delaware back to the […]
Pharmaceutical Assistance and the new State of Delaware slogan: “SOLD TO THE HIGHEST (RICHEST) BIDDER”
Taxpayer money giveaways to the wealthiest corporations = corporate welfare = corporate extortion = $3 million takeaway from Pharmaceutical Assistance Program that provided money for individuals who are poor, elderly, or disabled to obtain their medications so that they did not have to cut their pills in half or choose between their life-saving prescriptions and eating. Last week’s announcement of the $3 million giveaway of taxpayer monies (by the corporate hacks running the new & improved DEDO) to Sallie Mae and others seeking unnecessary stipends from Delaware’s taxpayers suggests that […]
Is Delaware willing to give and take at your expense?
Delaware taxpayers are once again being asked to close their collective minds and open their collective wallets. Another grotesque giveaway to another wealthy corporation has been proposed. Instigated, orchestrated, and supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, Delaware’s State Department, the Administration, and a vast number of corporate shills that occupy the General Assembly, we are once again being cajoled to give millions of dollars to a profitable company under the guise of economic development. In the past 9 years, these corporate welfare policies have cost the Delaware taxpayers […]