Republicans are lauding last minute negotiations by both parties to fund a transportation funding deal in their weekly message.
GOP lawmakers and Democrats hammered out a plan with only a few hours left before they recessed for the rest of the year.
The deal raises nearly $24 million by increasing several DMV fees and borrows another $24 million annually for the next six years.
In exchange for their votes to pass the measure, Republicans received prevailing wage reform and an assurance that that new capital money could only go to transportation projects with a constitutional amendment doing so making its way through the process.
Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson (R-Milford) says he’s also pleased that Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) will start assessing how the state spends its money.
“We need to make sure we’re not wasting a penny of taxpayer money, and securing this long-overdue study on state spending is a major achievement. Reforms to these and other issues are far from complete, but thanks to compromise from both sides of the aisle, today we’re headed in the right direction,” said Simpson.
Full text of weekly GOP message:
Hi, I’m Senate Republican Leader Gary Simpson.
Lawmakers in the Delaware State Senate learned a new word this year: Negotiation.
During the legislative session that wrapped up earlier this week, both Republicans and Democrats had to make concessions to reach an agreement that, in the end, we believe greatly benefits the residents of this state.
Republicans gave Democrats the votes they needed to pass a bill that will increase fees at the Division of Motor Vehicles. This will generate $24 million dollars annually for Delaware’s Transportation Trust Fund; money that’s intended to pay for road and bridge improvements.
Here’s what we got in return. One, a more equitable prevailing wage in Delaware. Prevailing wage is the hourly wage paid to workers on state-funded projects, such as roads and schools. The problem is these wages are artificially inflated and waste taxpayer money by adding 20 to 30 percent to the cost of public construction projects. With this first meaningful reform in 25 years, we’ll have more money to spend, we can put more people back to work, or we can give tax savings back to Delawareans.
Two, we now have new legislation that ensures money earmarked for the Transportation Trust Fund will only fund transportation, and not be used in a pinch to help balance the budget.
And three, we finally have a commitment from the governor to put together a task force to find ways to help run our state government more efficiently. We’re not talking about nickel and dime issues, but examining major budget items such as Medicaid and social services. We need to make sure we’re not wasting a penny of taxpayer money, and securing this long-overdue study on state spending is a major achievement.
Reforms to these and other issues are far from complete. But thanks to compromise from both sides of the aisle, today we’re headed in the right direction. Thank you.
