On December 17, 2017, Delaware’s transit agency, DART, dismantled the bus hub at Rodney Square in Wilmington at the urging of Governor Carney. Removing a bus hub and the bus stops located there is an action that has never before been done across America. Many bus riders reacted with outrage when the proposal was announced. Now, DART passengers face daily disruption as they endure walking several city blocks to make their new bus connections, sometimes forced to walk half a mile for their transfers. The disruption especially affects city residents […]

With the approval of the MOU that was force-fed to Wimington students and parents, we will now see young children uncomfortably crammed into two aged, monolithic, barracks-like structures, far from their current walking distance homes, immersed in an antagonistic culture of neighborhood allegiances and conflicts, forced to confront the social challenges of substantial age differences, and still without any reduction in class-size and lacking any Reading or Math specialists. RODEL, Carney, DOE, and the Chamber of Commerce can proudly raise their “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” banner. Below is the statement of opposition […]

With the Governor’s proposed budget scheduled to be unveiled in less than a week and in light of recent Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) reports purportedly showing an uptick in revenues it is incumbent upon me, as an elected official, to alert the taxpaying public to the reality and complexity of Delaware’s economic situation. While increased revenue projections might appear to be welcome news a number of factors should be considered in the final analysis. The specifics of the revenue gains and revenue shortfalls should be taken in […]

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) hosted a public meeting today to provide an opportunity for Delawareans and citizens of other East Coast states to comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to repeal the federal Clean Power Plan (CPP). I join my fellow citizens in denouncing this destructive plan to assault our health and environment. Below is my statement from today’s hearing. John Kowalko State Representative 25th District Good morning. I am State Representative John Kowalko, 25th District, Newark South. I want to thank the […]

Below is my statement from the recent board meeting concerning the proposed reform of Christina schools in Wilmington and the points I raised about Wilmington education to the Governor. John Kowalko State Representative 25th District Nine other legislators and I attended a meeting called by Governor Carney less than a week ago purportedly to discuss the proposed Wilmington school reform plan and MOU proposal. Since we weren’t given copies of the MOU and it doesn’t seem to be available any longer at the link the Administration provided, I cannot offer […]

The Delaware General Assembly and Governor Carney gave millions away to wealthy corporations and even got rid of the estate tax last year despite a massive budget gap. Out of those millions, we could have spared the $2.5 million to continue funding the Delaware Pharmaceutical Assistance Program. The recent News Journal headline “Husband and wife of 71 years identified in Kenton murder-suicide” is heartbreaking. I am deeply saddened by this predictable turn of events caused by the General Assembly and Governor’s failure to give even a minimal consideration for the needs of the […]

In response to a FOIA request made by DelCOG and the News Journal, Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock claims to have tweaked internal policy to “rein in secretive limited liability companies.” Instead, these newly proposed regulatory and policy changes are unimpressive and disappointing in my opinion. My proposed legislation (HB 57) simply mandates that registered agents “who serve as administrative liaisons between Delaware companies and the state” check client applicants for a Delaware LLC license against the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) list and report entities […]

We’re number one! The release of indictments today regarding the ongoing Mueller investigation reveals the startling reality of Delaware’s complicity in enabling corruption due to lax LLC licensing rules and laws. You can read the full indictment here. Per the filed indictment: Manafort and Gates owned or controlled 23 “Domestic Entities” used in the scheme, and, of those 23 domestic entities, 9 were Delaware LLCs. Congratulations, Delaware, we are number one again. Please call and write your representatives and senators demanding that they move HB 57 to the floor for […]

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 […]

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 […]