The 149th session of the Delaware General Assembly began yesterday on January 10, 2017. It was in the first week of session last year that the House leadership sponsored and pushed through HB 235, the “Delaware Competes Act,” using an expedited procedure and rules suspensions to have the bill passed and signed before the public could comment on the proposal or even learn about it. That bill, along with SB 200 (introduced and signed within 14 days under a similarly expedited procedure), will cost Delaware taxpayers over $60 million a […]
Economic Policy or Unconditional Surrender?
“AstraZeneca Cutting Jobs” is the front page headline in the December 9th issue of The News Journal. That chilling announcement should be cause for alarm among all taxpayers and working families in Delaware. The reality check that should be paramount in the minds of all legislators is the direction that Delaware’s economy is headed and what this Administration has done to exacerbate the decline. AstraZeneca is just the most recent failure of a costly economic adventure paid for with taxpayer resources. In 1999, then-Governor Tom Carper spent $40.7 million in […]
Kowalko: Delaware’s image – What lies beneath the shadows
The News Journal | Delaware Voice | by Rep. John Kowalko Delaware is a pro-business state. It is relatively simple to form a company. We have no corporate income tax, and we even have special courts to handle corporate disputes. These courts have provided for an unmatched experience and understanding of the issues involved in commercial enterprises. These factors provide our state with a competitive advantage that has made us the choice for legal residence of nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. However, recently our state’s reputation has suffered because of […]
Kowalko: TPP – An abdication of workers’ rights
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko All Americans should absolutely and resoundingly oppose the American worker-rights concession known as the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement. It has numerous, irreconcilable flaws and will cause much horrible damage to working families and American businesses. I will only list a few of the nearly dozen reasons that all should oppose this dereliction of duty. First, the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text allows multinational companies to challenge U.S. laws, regulations and safeguards through a provision called “investor-to-state dispute settlement” […]
Kowalko: Delaware LLC law – facilitator or conspirator?
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko I filed HB 442 on June 23. It’s a bill to reform Delaware’s LLC licensing process to protect the integrity of the system and prevent illegal and illicit activities from being perpetrated. Recent worldwide media accounts have tarnished Delaware’s reputation as a leader in corporate investment, with oftentimes valid questions raised as to the willingness of Delaware and its citizens to provide an unquestioning attitude towards companies that incorporate here or form LLCs. The questionable behavior of […]
Kowalko: Delaware economy stalled due to flat tires on the bus
Delaware State News | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko Once again, as we rapidly approach the June deadline, the Delaware General Assembly is boarding this administration’s economic stability/budget bus. Once again, the bus is fitfully careening forward on nearly flat tires. The primary reason leading to this predicament has been this administration’s policy of deflating those tires of their revenue by irresponsibly pushing policies and laws that have taken corporate welfare to a new level. The General Assembly and various agencies such as DEDO (Delaware Economic Development […]
Kowalko: Better a lit match in the ballot box
The News Journal | Delaware Voice | by Rep. John Kowalko When a 12 percent Bernie Sanders’ margin of victory in the Wyoming primary translates into a two-to-one delegate deficit for the winner, due to the Democratic Party, super-delegate aberration we can clearly identify a serious problem facing the sanctity of the electoral process. Here in Delaware as we rapidly approach the day, April 26, when Delawareans will be able to cast their vote of preference for the Democratic standard bearer in the presidential election, we are given small consolation in […]
Opportunities Lost to Corporate Welfare
Within a total of 14 calendar days, SB 200, the “Commitment to Innovation Act,” was rushed through committees, voted on by both chambers (under a suspension of House rules), and signed by the Governor. This latest corporate giveaway will be funded by you the taxpayer and is the latest display of an arrogant disregard for you and your family’s dire economic circumstances. I am forced to post on this matter and the recently signed “Delaware Competes Act” to make you aware of the willingness of this Administration and legislature to […]
Kowalko: Dollars & Sense
The News Journal | Delaware Voice | by Rep. John Kowalko When I originally sat down to the task of composing my thoughts on Delaware’s budget situation, we were facing a $200 million deficit. It was the end of session on June 30, 2015. The Democratic house leadership finally convened our first caucus meeting on Oct, 15, and details were given confirming the dire economic straits facing Delaware taxpayers. Recently it was announced that the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DFAC) had concocted an estimate that included an extra $80 million in […]
Opting out of tests does not mean copping out on accountability
The Washington Post | Letter to the Editor | by Rep. John Kowalko As the author and primary sponsor of Delaware’s “opt-out” bill, I was hard-pressed to understand the position in the Jan. 9 editorial “Opting out of accountability,” supporting Delaware Gov. Jack Markell’s (D) veto of a bill that would allow parents to opt their children out of standardized testing. The governor is not “standing up for accountability” in vetoing the bill but rather standing firmly against parents’ wishes and rights. The legislation does not suggest or give “an […]