Happy New Year!
From: Kathleen Rutherford, Executive Director, A Better Delaware
With a new year here, many of us have made plans for how to make 2022 a better year than 2021. At A Better Delaware we have done the same. This year we will be working harder than ever pursuing our mission of advocating for deregulation, responsible spending, and improved government accountability and transparency. We’ve created a list of resolutions for Delaware’s leadership that will help us fulfill our mission.
More Transparency
Delaware state government tends to minimize or even diminish the role of the citizen in decision-making, to the detriment of its constituency. Without transparency and accountability to influence better decisions, our officials are free to pass legislation to their own benefit, instead of that of its people.
A better way: Allow for maximum transparency by livestreaming the session (even after resuming full-time in-person), allow public access to session, file bills publicly with ample time for public and official review, and no longer pass important pieces of legislation overnight on the final day of session.
Improved Accountability
It seems every week we read new headlines about a Delaware politician engaged in a scandal that puts their own interests above those of the people, often with no consequences.
A better way: Formation of an independent advocate and guardian of legislative ethics in the form of an Office of Legislative Ethics. This commission should be made up of respected members of the community with expertise in law and legislative ethics who volunteer to serve.
End Corporate Welfare
Delaware’s game of corporate welfare is “a hell of an expensive lesson picking winners and losers,” and Delawareans are clearly the losers. Whether it was on the Delaware taxpayer’s dime or through federal relief funds, we saw many shortcomings in 2021.
A better way: Delaware lawmakers and leadership should reconsider their past failings and learn from their mistakes when approaching economic development via corporate incentives. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Instead, we must attract businesses by having a better business climate with lower taxes and less regulation.
Develop a Strong Workforce
Delaware is now tied for 33rd overall among states in its unemployment rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is due in part to Delaware’s ineffective workforce development programing. There are several job training programs that do not connect planning with the training. Therefore, skills provided for professions do not always lead to gainful employment. Lack of information about how to access training is an obstacle for participation. Program evaluation is nonexistent making it impossible to measure performance.
A better way: Delaware must move from a patchwork of semi-connected programs and services to building out the components of an integrated ecosystem which includes statistical evidence to support investments its workforce system and analysis of workforce training effectiveness, and outcomes. Only then will Delaware improve its standing in business competitiveness and economic growth.
Reform Individual and Corporate Taxes
According to the 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index from the Tax Foundation, Delaware is ranked 50th in the nation for corporate taxes and 44th in the nation for personal income tax. We need to be kinder to our businesses and citizens.
A better way: With $950M surplus in our state’s budget, there should be no tax increases. Rather reduce corporate tax to retain and encourage business development in our state. Lower Delaware’s individual income tax rate and put money back in taxpayers’ pockets. Both tax reductions will encourage economic growth.
This may be a relatively short list in comparison to the many issues we at A Better Delaware see in the First State, but we will continue to tackle every issue that falls under our platform in 2022. We hope you’ll join us.
Our resolution is simple: continue to do what we can to fight for Delaware taxpayers and businesses and make Delaware a better place to live, work, and start or own a business. Happy New Year! We look forward to advocating for and with you in 2022.