Doctor in healthcare

Benefits subcommittees examine rising costs of health care

Sam Haut Government, Headlines

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 …

The Senate voted unanimously on almost every bill Thursday. (Pexels)

Senators unanimously agree on 14 of 15 bills Thursday

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

It was a day of unanimous votes for the Delaware Senate Thursday, with 14 of the 15 items  passed without any ‘no’ 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 …

The Senate voted to lower the workload for Division of Family Services caseworkers.

Senate votes to ease workload of Family Service workers

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

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 commission’s …

A mini-Bond bill Delaware Senate Labor changes

Mini-Bond bill gets mired in Senate debate over labor changes

Shannon C. Keith Government, Headlines

A typically commonplace measure that would have added 17 projects to this year’s 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 …

retiree healthcare

Adding retirees to health panels passes Senate

Betsy Price Government, Headlines

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 …

Leg Hall

Senate Dems pick up committee seats with larger majority

Charles Megginson Government, Headlines

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. “Legislative committees are an essential part of the legislative process where senators gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said in a news release. “The assignments …

Delaware lawmakers to be sworn in Jan. 10, 2023

Lawmakers take oaths Jan. 10 but already working

Charles Megginson Government, Headlines

Even though Delaware’s state senators and representatives won’t 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 …

GOP delaware 1

ICYMI: Delaware GOP needs to change, leaders say

Charles Megginson Headlines, Government

Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s 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 …

Farmers

Senate Republicans unveil mini-doc on Delaware farmers

Charles Megginson Culture, Headlines

When you think about “government communications,” 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 State’s agricultural community, its members knew a press release wouldn’t cut it. That’s why Matt Revel, the caucus’s communications …