Governor Markell on Morning Joe

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.

First Look At The Governor’s Budget Proposal

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

The Magical 1,000

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?

Markell Expands Corporate Welfare, Says No To Education

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 [...]

Markell and O’Mara Unveil Recycling Effort

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.

Blue Collar Jobs Coming Back to Delaware?

There is finally some serious cause for optimism. Andrew Eder, writing in today’s News-Journal, reports that the Boxwood GM plant is attracting a lot of interest:
Fisker Automotive confirmed Tuesday that it has talked with Delaware officials and toured the Boxwood Road assembly plant, idle since late July when General Motors closed the factory.
The company is [...]

Breaking: Markell to Veto ‘Bottle Bill’

The Office of the Governor has just released a statement announcing that Gov. Markell will veto the ‘Bottle Bill’, which would have rolled back the nickel deposits on certain bottles and cans. Here is the text from the Governor’s office:
DOVER – Gov. Jack Markell said Monday he will veto House Bill 201, which would have repealed [...]

Kowalko Suits Up For Battle

John Kowalko has been fighting tooth and nail with the Governor (against the across-the-board pay cuts) and against the Republicans that don’t think that we should increase a single tax (even a small tax on alcohol and a larger one on cigarettes).  But now, it’s crunch time.  By midnight Tuesday they need to have a [...]