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Posted: Feb. 3, 2015
EVERYBODY'S OWN FACTS
By Celia Cohen
Grapevine Political Writer
"We are entitled to our own opinions, we are not
entitled to our own facts," the governor said.
Wishful thinking.
There were two very different depictions of Delaware
on display in January, the one presented by Jack Markell,
the Democratic governor, in his State of the State and
budget address and another described by the Republicans,
who occupy the minority in the General Assembly.
Maybe it was not so much people's own facts, but the
way they were drawn from parallel universes of polarized
politics.
| SUBJECT |
MARKELL |
REPUBLICANS |
| State of the state |
"We should be proud that so many businesses
are demonstrating their confidence in Delaware
by investing here. . . . We are on the right
path, creating more jobs, better educational
opportunities and a higher quality of life." |
"I
would have liked him to be honest with the
people of Delaware and talk about how we're
going to turn the economy around."
--Gary Simpson, Senate minority leader |
| Employment |
"Forty thousand more Delawareans are working
today than in 2010." |
"What
he left out was that Delaware's working families
are earning less today than when he took
office."
--Brian Pettyjohn, senator |
| Economy |
"Our job growth has been better than the
national average for 24 straight months, and for
the last 12 months, it has been the fourth
fastest in the country." |
"A
state economy that continues to lag behind the
rest of the country."
--Greg Lavelle, Senate minority whip |
| Budget |
The annual average budget growth since
Markell took office in 2009, when adjusted for
inflation and population increase, was -0.83%
with 629 fewer full-time state workers in
Cabinet agencies |
"State spending in Delaware has risen
dramatically over the last 10 years, with the
operating budget jumping $1.2 billion -- a 46%
increase."
--Lyndon Yearick, representative |
| Taxes |
"Subsidy" up to $500 for people over 65 for
school taxes has gone from costing the state
$8.7 million at its start in 2001 to a projected
$24 million in 2015 and should be cut to up to
$250 |
"Tax
increase" that imposes a higher burden on people
over 65
--House Republican caucus |
| Transportation (after a
10-cent-a-gallon gas tax Markell proposed in
2014 was DOA) |
"We need a modern transportation network
that allows people to travel safely and allows
businesses to operate efficiently. . . . Last
year I proposed a plan. . . . Bring me your
ideas on how to fund our infrastructure
responsibly, and I will work with you to pass
and sign legislation." |
"This
proposed budget robs nearly $40 million in funds
that are traditionally dedicated to road and
bridge projects to fill the hole in the
operating budget."
--Dan
Short, House minority leader |
| Crime |
"The city has a significant problem with
violent crime, and what we are seeing in
unacceptable" -- calling for a commission on
public safety strategies to be chaired by state
and New Castle County officials |
"The
governor's plan for the city of Wilmington is
too little, too late, and every city resident
should be outraged that he waited until the
crisis received national attention to decide he
could no longer ignore the problem."
--Charlie Copeland, state party chair |
| DuPont Company (moving its HQ to
the suburbs and leaving behind a spinoff that
may or may not stay) |
Too scary to talk about |
Too scary to talk about |
Sources: State of the State, budget address, press
releases
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