DOVER- For about 90 minutes, the major challenges and problems facing the Delaware General Assembly could be forgotten. 1/11/11 was a day of celebration in Dover as newly-elected and re-elected lawmakers were sworn in to their new terms.
But, like the approaching winter storm outside Legislative Hall, the state’s fiscal difficulties loom ahead. And, the questions are similar: how deep will it get? And, when will the worst be over?
A number of lawmakers in the 146th General Assembly are on hand for the first time, and were sworn in for the first time as proud husbands, wives, parents, children and grandchildren looked on. One of them is Representative Stephanie T. Boulden (D-Wilmington), who now serves in Dover after 18 years on Wilmington City Council.
“I’m very humbled that I’ve had the opportunity to be elected by residents of the Second Representative district to serve on a wider manner,” Boulden said.
Boulden plans to sit in on Joint Finance Committee hearings to learn more about the state process, but believes her budget experience in Wilmington will be helpful. “It’s going to be a challenge I look forward to, in working with 41 members compared to 13 members of a body.”
State Rep. Stephanie Boulden (D-Wilmington) discusses joining the state legislature.
Boulden replaces the late State Representative Hazel Plant, who died in November.
Rebecca Walker (D-Middletown) has also been learning her way around and figuring out the best way to approach statewide issues while also serving her constituents. “I think there are tough decisions to be made, and we’re willing to make them,” Walker says.
The significance of the occasion is also not lost among those lawmakers who have been through the opening day many times before. Representative Robert Gilligan (D-Sherwood Park) is in his 39th year. He calls it a “great honor” to be the Speaker, and that he takes the responsibility very seriously.
“We have many challenges ahead of us in Delaware,” Gilligan says. “We will leave here July 1 with a balanced budget. We will not shy away from the difficult issues facing the citizens of our great state.”
In the Senate, President pro tem Anthony DeLuca (D-Varlano) says members are also ready to take on tough challenges, which include expiration of projects that received federal stimulus dollars and other revenue numbers that are “neutral at best.”
“When you look at any issue out there, if you want to look at education, you want to look at transportation, if you want to look at Medicare, it really doesn’t matter. The bottom line is, you have a finite amount of money we have to operate with,” DeLuca says.
Governor Markell, state lawmakers and members of key unions are expected to discuss ways to reduce the budget impact of pensions and health care benefits for state workers. The Governor gives his State of the State address January 20th, and delivers his budget message a week later.
According to House Minority Leader Gregory Lavelle (R-Sharpley), a state hiring freeze that “went on with great fanfare has come off very quietly.”
“If we have these challenges on pensions and other things, why are we hiring and putting on new state employees who would then join a prospective pool of grandfathered employees?” Lavelle asks.
This year in Dover will not only be about fiscal matters. Bills pre-filed in the House for action include a measure to ban public schools from serving meals that contain more than 0.5 grams of fat to students. Another bill addresses the way the state funds schools. One proposed piece of legislation would expand the scope of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Also awaiting action is a bill that would bar a state lawmaker from becoming a lobbyist until one year after leaving office.
While not yet in the form of a bill, DeLuca expects lawmakers will continue to look at ways to create jobs and get more Delawareans back to work.
