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June 6, 2025 In Blog

Towards Transparent Governance: Establishing Delaware’s Office of Inspector General

 By: Jane Brady, Chair, A Better Delaware

Since its inception, A Better Delaware has advocated for more transparency and accountability from our state government.  We have pushed for more open access to what our government does through an expanded Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and for the establishment of an Office of Inspector General.  We may be closer than ever in reaching the latter goal.

The Delaware Senate recently unanimously passed a bill creating and funding an independent and nonpartisan Office of Inspector General.  The office is charged with the authority to investigate fraud, waste and corruption in Delaware government, coordinate with law enforcement agencies and refer matters for prosecution when appropriate.  This bill, and others like it intending to accomplish the same result, have been the discussion of legislative sessions for over a decade. It is time to move forward with opening the window on abuse and waste of taxpayer funds and the abuse of power by those in authority.  The Delaware House of Representatives will take the bill up shortly. Contact your Representative and let them know you support SB4 and better oversight of Delaware government.

The bill would then go to the Governor for signature.  Governor Matt Meyer supported the idea and purpose of an Inspector General in his campaign for office last year.  He even referenced it in his State of the State address following his election as Governor. But, when he submitted a substitute budget for that which his predecessor, John Carney has proposed, he did not include funding for the Office of Inspector General.  Whatever the reasons for not including support for the office in his proposed budget, Governor Meyer should encourage the House to pass this legislation and should sign this bill when it comes to his desk.  There is every reason to support open and transparent government, elimination of waste and fraud and to curb the abuse of power.  Additionally, if his concern was financial resources, DEFAC, the agency that reviews receipts and expenditures and advises how much money the state has available for expenditures, recently increased their projection by nearly $100 million.  There is certainly enough money to fund the office, which, if what many expect is true, will ultimately pay for itself with the exposure of fraud and waste of taxpayer funds.

Let both Governor Meyer know you what him to stand up for this effort and encourage the House of Representatives to act swiftly and favorably on this bill and to commit to sign it when it reaches his desk. And, contact your Representative and let them know that you support Senate Bill 4, and want them to vote YES on Senate Bill 4.

Jane Brady serves as Chair of A Better Delaware. She previously served as Attorney General of Delaware and as a Judge of the Delaware Superior Court.