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 […]
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 […]
Delaware begins Phase 1B of vaccination plan
Delaware has begun Phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, which includes all individuals 65 and over, and frontline essential workers including: fire, police, correctional officers, teachers and education staff (including child care providers), U.S. postal workers, food manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and grocery store workers. More than 200,000 Delawareans qualify for vaccination in this phase, and multiple options for residents to be vaccinated will begin this week and then expand in coming weeks, including large vaccination events with a new appointment request system. Efforts will also continue to vaccinate Phase […]
Lawmakers File Bill Creating Additional Personal Income Tax Brackets for Highest Earners
Delaware General Assembly Press Advisory: For immediate release January 13, 2021 Contact: Rep. John Kowalko 302-547-9351 Lawmakers File Bill Creating Additional Personal Income Tax Brackets for Highest Earners HB 64 would establish three new brackets starting at $125,000 DOVER – Citing a fairness issues and the need for stable, predictable revenue, lawmakers unveiled legislation Thursday that would create three additional personal income tax brackets for the highest wage-earners in Delaware. House Bill 64, sponsored by Rep. John Kowalko, would only impact Delawareans whose taxable personal income exceeds $125,000. All wages […]
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. […]
Jessica Scarane Is the Right Choice for U.S. Senator
I am proud to endorse Jessica 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 the public know my appreciations or concerns. Jess Scarane has […]
Will Taxpayers Get Stuck with the Check?
The imminent merger/acquisition of Wesley College, a private college, by Delaware State University, a public university, has once again brought into focus the determined effort by our state government to resist the transparency and openness necessary to allow public awareness and accountability. Delaware has historically ranked near the bottom for its lack of transparency and accountability. Delaware’s shaky financial disclosure and ethics system is one big reason why the state earned a failing grade on the State Integrity Investigation, an assessment of state government accountability and transparency by the Center […]
Another Bad Deal for Delaware Taxpayers
Once more Delaware taxpayer money is being squandered on the altar of corporate greed. The latest gift to another obscenely wealthy banking conglomerate was approved Monday morning by Delaware’s Council on Development Finance as recommended by the secretive Delaware Prosperity Partnership. The bitter irony is that the approval vote was taken on the morning of the very day that the House was to vote on the Bond Bill. The Bond Bill contained an additional $14.3 million allocation to replenish Delaware’s corporate slush fund. Even more outrageous in this recent escapade […]
Reliable data needed to open Delaware safely
From the beginning of the health crisis that has enveloped our state and the nation, I have been consistent in requesting data and a more specific identification of the totals of tests administered, positives recorded, hospitalizations, and fatalities connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. I intended to use some of that information to alert my constituents to potential hot-spots or contacts that they might choose to avoid. The closing of businesses and the self-quarantining and social distancing recommendations certainly was instrumental in slowing the onslaught of the virus. My repeated requests […]