A Better Deal for Delaware

Delaware’s future could not be better. Yes, we face challenges but these challenges are really opportunities to excel and prosper collectively and individually. I am tremendously optimistic.

Here are my priorties and specific recommendations.

1. Health Care- we have a very detailed plan for health care-Delacare 2008- built on wellness, productivity and security. It is private but universal health insurance with choice. Every one is in , no one is out, every one pays their fair share and every one is responsible. We will no longer be part of a “category” but be treated as a person. This is priority one for me as Governor.

2. Education- we are now reforming the reforms because the marginal improvements over the last ten years are not enough to propel our economy to success. Our plan closely mirrors Vision 2015 proposals which include a stronger well trained principal who is the master educator and mentor to her/his teachers who will be treated and compensated as true professionals. Also, the bureaucratic footprint from Dover needs to be reduced with fewer school districts to save on adminstrative costs. We must fully fund alternative schools to remove discipline problems in the classrooms and improve our student testing program to reflect teacher training and student curriculum and have the test be goal driven not compliance driven.

3. State Government- a top down independent review of all of state government would make sure our agencies are properly staffed and structured to produce the best value to taxpayers and create a great workplace for state employees. This review would be essential to move our government into the future and provide Delaware with the best and brightest on the issues of the day.

4. Economic growth- we have a huge opportunity to grow our economy by using a small portion of our state pension fund and general funds to encourage small and mid size businesses to come to Delaware or expand their present businesses. Other tax incentives should be offered with a gradual elimination of the gross receipts tax over a ten year period and a state wireless network to benefit businesses, education and individuals. We should also court other auto makers to come to Delaware to replace Chrysler in Newark.

5. Energy- our energy needs require more plentiful and affordable energy. We will move to alternative, renewable energy sources including wind, solar, bio fuels and nuclear. The method and practices of the Delaware Cooperative would be a great example to follow.

In the end to prosper in 2025 years we must move now to provide real leadership for the future. Delaware is a good place to live, work and raise a family. Let’s make it a great place to do the same.

The school referendum in the Brandywine School District passed yesterday and part of the discussion on WDEL was the senior rebate of up to $500 on school taxes. Lt Gov Carney was kind enough to call in to tell folks about it but here again you have to call, fill out a form and wait on state government.

I know a bit about this tax because when we bought our last house I noticed our tax bill went up quite a bit so I called and I was told, “the previous owner was a senior citizen who got the maximum break on school taxes, you do not qualify based on your age and the computer automatically cross checks with other data sources to verify your age.”

So why can’t seniors automatically get the tax break?? Why make people jump through an extra hoop to get a benefit they deserve??

This past Sunday Ron Williams of the News Journal opined that:

It’s ever so tedious to continually hear over and over again in this state that there’s no money. No money for this, no money for that. No money to continue to fund such-and-such program. No money to fund a richly deserved new program that would serve senior citizens or babies.

The fact is there is plenty of money in this state. The problem is we have a gaggle of gutless, worn-out wusses in the Legislature whose main goal in life is to run this state on the backs of non-residents through corporate taxes, interstate highway tolls, and inventory fees on national businesses.

Ron is correct. The sad part is the state is not running out of money but individuals are. However his remedy below is not the one we need.

But why not tap other areas of revenue that don’t single out a minority class? Auto registration fees haven’t been raised since 1964. Driver licenses. Auto sales tax.

Or how about the fairest and widest-based of all taxes that haven’t been raised in 20-plus years: state income. Just a quarter of a percent would raise nearly $55 million.

Before we raise one tax or ask Delaware’s ctizens for one more ‘revenue enhancement’ we should;

3. Go to a two year budget cyle and a Taxpayers Bill of Rights to limit spending increases.

The News Jornal did a pretty good job of detailing the fiscal worries of Delaware but did not offer a solution (not their job) nor did any of the legislators. This problem is one of history, recent and not so recent.

During the time Tom Carper was Governor the budget grew 81%, yes 81%. Under Governor Minner there have been increases also but a bit less and she is not through. The rule of 72 is how you can guess when you can double your money in an investment. If you have an 8% rate of return your money will double in 9 years because 72/8 = 9. Our budgets have been growing at almosy 8% for too long.

The answer to our budget woes in the short term is a Comprehensive workforce analysis of all state agencies by an outside private firm and a Taxpayer Bill of Rights which would limit total government spending (general fund plus other trust funds and grant in aid) to inflation plus population growth.

We must also tackle Health Care as a state problem. We have a program Delacare 2008 which offers universal private care but limits growth to inflation.

The answer to the financial worries is sound economic development and a tax system which promotes savings, growth and investment. More about that later.

In retirement planning there is the rule of 72. If your rate of return is 8% a year it will take 9 years to double your money because 72/8 =9. The miracle of compound interest works wonders.

You might also not know that the miracle of interest works in the negative also. If a budget grows 8% a year then the state budget will double in 8 years also. This is what happened when Gov Carper was in charge and Gov Minner will be close.

In Delaware it is often difficult to gauge spending levels because of the different trust funds and also because Gov. Minner raided the Transportation Trust Fund to obscure real spending.

Here is a proposal. Total spending can not increase more than inflation plus population growth and we should budget on a two year cycle with a 5% reserve in each department with all surpluses given back to the taxpayers.

Office would complement auditor, sponsor says
By J.L. MILLER, The News Journal
Posted Thursday, May 3, 2007
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05/03/2007
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DOVER — A bill that would create an Office of the State Inspector General to ferret out waste, fraud and corruption among state employees or in state agencies has state Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. saying, “We do all of that stuff.”

Under House Bill 155, sponsored by Reps. William Oberle Jr., R-Beechers Lot, and Robert J. Valihura Jr., R-Laurel Ridge, the inspector general would investigate the operation of state agencies for fraud or waste and report it to the governor.

Any instances of possible criminal activity also would be reported to the Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution, and reports of the investigations would be posted on the state’s Web site — all of which sounds duplicative to Wagner.

Under H.B. 155, which was introduced Wednesday, the inspector general would be an independent office, though office space and staff would be provided by the Secretary of State. No cost estimate for the legislation was available Wednesday.

Wagner is an elected officeholder, and thus does not report to the governor. But his office’s duties include probing waste and fraud in state government, in addition to auditing agencies that receive state funds.

But co-sponsor Valihura said H.B. 155 would not duplicate what Wagner’s office does, but complement it.
“The reason I’m co-sponsoring it is I think it’s time for us to create a role for someone whose complete efforts are devoted to looking for fraud, waste and what I would call white-collar crime in government,” Valihura said.

“[The auditor's] major role is not to be a fraud uncoverer,” Valihura said. “An inspector general would be devoted to that in its entirety. I think the two can function side-by-side on things.”

If the state can miss the crisis at Christina School District and no one has been held accountable why not have an Inspector General??? Valihura is right.

A Better Deal for Delaware announces the ten ideas to better our state government:

1. Doesn’t Delaware deserve a top down independent and private review of all state agencies for purpose, staffing and costs?

10. Doesn’t Delaware Deserve a better nepotism policy for elected officials?

Ensuring honesty and integrity in state government; A Proposal for a Delaware Inspector General

Please take a look at this comments:

See how they do it in Georgia:

http://lor.gvtc.org/uploads/SEA151/player.html

Here is sample legislation/comments from the State of Illinios:

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, by Executive Order 3, created the Office of Executive Inspector General in January 2003. On December 9, 2003, the Governor signed the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act which officially created the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Governor’s agencies. With the signing of this bill, the OEIG’s powers and duties were expanded to include jurisdiction over all state agencies except the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. The bill also gave the OIG subpoena power. The OIG acts as an independent agency whose function is to investigate fraud and abuse in state government. Specifically, the Office of Executive Inspector General receives and investigates complaints of violations of any law, rule or regulation or abuse of authority or other forms of misconduct by officers, employees and appointees of each department, office, board or commission directly responsible to the Governor. The Inspector General reports any findings to the Governor, and may recommend measures to prevent the future occurrence of investigated instances of fraud, abuse or misconduct. The Inspector General refers findings establishing criminal conduct to the appropriate prosecuting authority.

The Office of Executive Inspector General recognizes that the majority of state employees and officials are hardworking and honest individuals. However, when evidence of actual or apparent impropriety exists in state government, it must be effectively and objectively dealt with either administratively or through the court system. It is the goal of the Office of Executive Inspector General to heighten the trust of Illinoisans in the functions of state government.

How can it apply to Delaware? Read below:

The bill would give the OIG subpoena power. The OIG would act as an independent agency whose function is to investigate fraud and abuse in state government. Specifically, the Office of Executive Inspector General would receive and investigate complaints of violations of any law, rule or regulation or abuse of authority or other forms of misconduct by officers, employees and appointees of each department, office, state legislature and any board or commission directly responsible to the Governor. The Inspector General reports any findings to the Governor and will recommend measures to prevent the future occurrence of investigated instances of fraud, abuse or misconduct. The Inspector General refers findings establishing criminal conduct to the appropriate prosecuting authority.

The Office of Executive Inspector General recognizes that the majority of state employees and officials are hardworking and honest individuals. However, when evidence of actual or apparent impropriety exists in state government, it must be effectively and objectively dealt with either administratively or through the court system. It is the goal of the Office of Executive Inspector General to heighten the trust of Delawareans in the functions of state government.