Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) attempted to cement his legacy Thursday in his final State of the State Address Thursday, touting economic and educational accomplishments.
Since 2009 when Markell took office, more Delawareans are in the workforce and job growth stands at 13 percent, adding 50,000 new jobs since then.
That’s in contrast to DuPont’s recent contraction – laying off 1,700 workers so far after releasing plans to merge with fellow chemical giant Dow.
But Markell says Delaware can’t continue to wish that the economy will magically rebound into the same shape it’s always taken.
“DuPont may be a lot smaller than it once was, but we must ensure that Delaware remains a place where innovation, research, and development is just part of our fabric,” said Markell.
In his speech, the governor announced Delaware would be the first U.S. home to Factory Berlin, a European start-up incubator that will help foster homegrown businesses.
The latest state revenue forecast dug budget writers out of a projected shortfall next year, but they still face a significant problem in public worker health benefit costs, which have risen exponentially.
Markell’s new plan would bring some change to existing coverage, but also bring a new, cheaper plan for newer state workers.
“Today’s system does virtually nothing to help people focus on costs, so we’ll give employees the information and better incentives to choose cost-effective, high quality care – like using urgent care instead of the emergency room or telemedicine instead of an office visit,” said Markell.
That call bristled some lawmakers who previously opposed his past plans to hike deductibles and premiums while cutting benefits.
Sen. Harris McDowell (D-Wilmington North), who co-chairs the state budget writing committee, says he enjoyed the speech otherwise, but notes Markell’s benefits proposal is not the best way to corral the state’s overhead.
“It’s a sort of a long range way to dump some of the responsibilities of care and I would say we’re willing to look at anything, but that may be a little bit too much and it may be a little misplaced,” said Mc Dowell.
The Republican response to Markell’s speech was fairly muted – possibly a sign of new bipartisan cooperation after Markell ushered in new corporate income tax cuts this month.
GOP leaders say they’ll wait for more details when the governor unveils his proposed budget next week.
Lawmakers didn’t let Markell control the entire news cycle.
A surprise late afternoon decision by House leadership will bring a death penalty repeal bill out from a committee desk drawer after failing to leap over that hurdle since 2013.
Rep. Larry Mitchell (D-Elsmere) , a former New Castle County police officer, says he won’t support the bill on the floor, but is elevating it out of his judiciary committee.
He says it deserves a full vote.
“With my family and my extended family in law enforcement it was really a tough decision, but at this point, I just feel that we need to move forward and give this bill its opportunity and day in chambers,” said Mitchell.
Sponsoring Rep. Sean Lynn (D-Dover) says he’s still shocked by the sudden move.
“It’s fairly magnanimous and an act of leadership to come out and say, ‘Even though I don’t support this, I still believe it deserves an up or down vote,’” said Lynn.
Law enforcement has staunchly opposed every effort to repeal capital punishment in Delaware.
House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth) has previously refused all attempts to circumvent the committee process and wasn’t available to explain his change of heart.
He will also not be voting for the bill when it comes up for a vote next Thursday.
