The Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would give union members a tax credit for their union dues. Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Sen. Nicole Poore, D-Delaware City, would let people claim up to $500 in tax credit to pay for union dues on state taxes. Poore said union members used to be able to deduct dues …
Benefits subcommittees examine rising costs of health care
Two state health subcommittees focused Monday on the rising cost and utilization of health care. Those costs are the basis of predictions about how many healthcare services employees and retirees will use and are used to determine insurance premiums and more. At a joint SEBC Financial and Health Policy & Planning Subcommittee meeting Monday, Chris Giovannello of Willis Towers Watson …
Senators unanimously agree on 14 of 15 bills Thursday
It was a day of unanimous votes for the Delaware Senate Thursday, with 14 of the 15 items passed without any ânoâ votes. Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, was the only legislator to vote against House Substitute 1 for House Bill 34, a law that would require school boards from district and charter schools to hold public comment on each agenda …
Senate votes to ease workload of Family Service workers
Case workers for the Division of Family Services could soon be getting a reduced workload. The Delaware Senate voted Tuesday to approve a recommendation made by the Child Protection Accountability Commission to drop the number of families that case workers follow from 18 to 12. Senate Bill 33, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Arden, would act on the commissionâs …
Mini-Bond bill gets mired in Senate debate over labor changes
A typically commonplace measure that would have added 17 projects to this yearâs Bond and Capital Improvements funding got mired in controversy Tuesday over wording that required union and minority participation in four bids. That requirement in a four-project pilot program would mean that some minorities, including Hispanics, would be left out, Senate Republicans maintained. Rep. Jack Walsh, D-Newport/Stanton, sponsor …
Adding retirees to health panels passes Senate
Despite vehement opposition from a state retirees’ group, a bill that would add retirees to committees that help determine health care options overwhelmingly passed the Senate Wednesday, just moments after it had cleared a committee hearing. Voting against it were three Republican senators. Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, would give retirees a voice by …
Senate Dems pick up committee seats with larger majority
Leaders in the Delaware Senate have revealed the body’s committee assignments for the 152nd General Assembly which begins in January. Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect Dave Sokola announced the assignments Monday. âLegislative committees are an essential part of the legislative process where senators gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,â Sokola said in a news release. âThe assignments …
Lawmakers take oaths Jan. 10 but already working
Even though Delawareâs state senators and representatives wonât be formally sworn in until Jan. 10, their work begins the day after election day — and so do their paychecks. Delaware is one of just four states where lawmakers assume office the day after an election. Three other states’ lawmakers assume office on election day, while eight others assume office sometime …
ICYMI: Delaware GOP needs to change, leaders say
Republicans did not fare well in Delawareâs Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move in a more productive direction — one that …
Senate Republicans unveil mini-doc on Delaware farmers
When you think about âgovernment communications,â you might automatically tune out. Press releases, statements, political jargon — it can all be a bit dull. When the Delaware Senate Republican Caucus decided to focus on the challenges being faced by the First Stateâs agricultural community, its members knew a press release wouldnât cut it. Thatâs why Matt Revel, the caucusâs communications …