Tag: Governor Markell

Guest Post: Delaware’s Government Channels Its Inner Trump

Filed in Delaware by on October 31, 2015 44 Comments
Guest Post: Delaware’s Government Channels Its Inner Trump

Secretary of Finance Tom Cook’s recent op-ed epitomizes the strategy of hiding things in plain sight.  Secretary Cook and Governor Jack Markell’s revenue review panel has concealed among its recommendations for making Delaware tax revenues more “elastic” an ideologically driven agenda of tax cuts for the wealthy and out-of-state corporations at the expense of our state’s middle class, senior citizens and local business owners.  That our governor could sanction such recommendations is a prime example of how politics in Delaware has been hollowed out in favor of profit taking.

Let’s first notice that in a era of declining revenues and increasingly challenging budgets to balance Governor Markell’s instructions forbade raising new revenue:  “if a recommendation was made that could be expected to generate additional revenue for the state, then a corresponding revenue reduction would also be proposed to offset it.”  This means (in English) that Cook’s panel was not interested in providing more money to balance our budget, but in changing who pays the bills.

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Inauguration Day for Governor Markell and Lt. Governor Matt Denn

Filed in National by on January 15, 2013 2 Comments

Today is the day! Both Governor Markell and Lt. Governor Matt Denn will be sworn in for their new terms TODAY at 11AM in Dover. Since bad weather is predicted, they’ve moved the ceremony indoors to the auditorium of Central Middle School, 211 Delaware Ave., Dover, 19901.

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Late Night Video — Gov Markell Challenges Ryan on Economic Policy

Filed in National by on August 13, 2012 2 Comments

This clip is from October last year (2011) from a CNBC program where Ryan is spinning up the usual talking points about lowering taxes, how there is no budget, and the business “uncertainty” canard. Governor Markell appears at the 4:30 mark to push back some on what business leaders tell him:

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Tipping His Canoe into the Race

Filed in Delaware by on May 17, 2012

It seems as though Jack Markell might have a primary opponent. Magnolia resident Doug Beatty, whose only claim to fame is being the son of actor Ned Beatty, has announced that he is going to challenge Markell in the Democratic primary. That is if he can raise the filing fee.

In what has to be the biggest understatement of the year, Beatty said that he is “an extreme long shot” but thinks he can win if he can get on the ballot. I think he’s watched The Candidate too many times. His run is more like the wet dream Bobby had in Deliverance.

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Governor Markell on Morning Joe

Filed in Delaware by on January 28, 2012 5 Comments

This video clip is from yesterday’s show, where Governor Markell appeared with both Governor O’Malley from Maryland and Governor Quinn from Illinois. A number of the questions are actually good ones, but better were the answers by these Governors. The focus on jobs and real issues in contrast to the circus that is the current GOP campaign for President is great and I’m hoping that there is somebody out there who will pay attention to getting more Democratic voices like this speaking everywhere over the next months.

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Delaware’s Budget Mess

Filed in National by on February 1, 2011 10 Comments

Today’s News Journal takes a look at the hard part of the budget – reducing pension and Medicaid costs.

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First Look At The Governor’s Budget Proposal

Filed in National by on January 28, 2011 43 Comments

A first look at the Governor’s proposed 2011 budget.

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Governor’s State of the State Address Open Thread

Filed in National by on January 20, 2011 20 Comments

Governor Jack Markell will be delivering the yearly State of the State address from Leg Hall starting at 2pm today.

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The Magical 1,000

Filed in National by on May 26, 2010 4 Comments

One thousand new hires seems to be the new mantra of the Markell Administration in response the laying off of over 200 teachers in Delaware. Who can argue about the hiring of 1,000 new teachers? As a matter of fact, Delaware Dem even promotes the 1,000 new hires as an offset to the layoffs. But is it really an offset?

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Delaware Teacher Layoffs – More Than You Think

Filed in National by on May 21, 2010 21 Comments

As mentioned earlier today, while Gov. Markell is busy stroking business leaders in and outside of Delaware, real education jobs are being lost in Delaware, well over 200.

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Markell Expands Corporate Welfare, Says No To Education

Filed in National by on May 21, 2010 47 Comments

If there is one type of welfare the rich love, it is corporate welfare and Gov. Jack Markell is getting ready to dole some money out.  Specifically Markell is asking for a replenishment of the Strategic Fund — which has virtually been wiped out in bringing Fisker Automotive and PBF Energy to Delaware —, an investment […]

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Snomaggedon: Critique The Governor’s Performance

Filed in National by on February 12, 2010 43 Comments

There’s been a lot of chatter on Twitter and elsewhere about the Governor’s performance during the snowstorm. The critiques I’ve seen are the following: The governor is on a boondoggle in Europe while Delaware suffers from the snowstorm. The State of Emergency was too draconian and lasted too long. It should have been lifted earlier. […]

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Markell and O’Mara Unveil Recycling Effort

Filed in Delaware by on January 5, 2010 36 Comments

Today, Governor Markell and DNREC Secretary Colin O’Mara unveiled their plan to implement a statewide recycling plan that will change the way that Delawareans dispose of recyclable materials.

Recycling would remain voluntary for homes and businesses under the plan, but curbside services and special containers would be universally available. Commercial haulers and municipal governments that collect trash would be required to provide curbside pickups.

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