BILL ALERT: Delaware Legislators Want to Raise Taxes It is a horrible idea to raise taxes during a recession. Defeat HB 128.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending June 2, 2023     In the last 15 months, Delaware's inflation-adjusted economy contracted a recessionary amount of 14.2%. Meanwhile, COVID-19 Relief Funds have given the State a record level of cash in the bank ( $963.5 million ).   What might the response

Governor Carney 'Fiscal' Success Isn't By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending May 4, 2023   "Accidents will happen; we only hit and run I don't wanna hear it, 'cause I know what I've done." - Elvis Costello   In a recent article published by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Rick Geisenberger, Delaware's Secretary of Finance, wrote: "The State's fiscal condition is arguably in its best shape in decades - a far cry

Electoral Trends in Delaware By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending March 23, 2023     "This is the first principle of democracy: that the essential things in men are the things they hold in common, not the things they hold separately."  - G.K. Chesterton   For decades, Delaware was a "bellwether" state that was governed from the "center" and, for decades, voted for the nationally-winning Presidential candidate irrespec

Delaware's Unemployment is Fourth Worst in the Nation By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending March 1, 2023     "That's the way it is with entrepreneurial people. You try one thing, it doesn't work, you try another."  - Pete du Pont     Delaware's unemployment percent rate for December was the 4 th  worst rate in the Nation at  4.4% . While 4.4% may not sound that "bad," Delaware's workforce participation rate simultaneo

Governor Fails to Achieve His Own 'Vision for Delaware' By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending January 27, 2023     "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education, and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits."  - Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize 1964 acceptance speech. INTRODUCTION   True leadership is more tha

Delaware Needs a 'Pick-me-up' How about a new song? By Charlie Copeland Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending December 30, 2022     In 1925, Delaware's government anointed a state song , "Our Delaware," by an act of the General Assembly. According to Wikipedia, "Our Delaware" is derived from a 1904 poem by George Beswick Hynson , comprising three verses, each honoring one of Delaware's three counties.   After listening to Delaware's state song, it s

Delawareans are Likely Suffering the '1970s- Level Inflation' The lower the income, the higher the inflation impact   By  Charlie Copeland , Director  Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending November 10, 2022     A nationwide recession in the next 12 months is almost a certainty, but Delaware is already suffering from "stagflation" not seen since the 1970s. The Delaware Legislature needs to move very carefully in the 2023 session and stay out of the ec

Delaware's Workforce Labor A glance before and after COVID-19   By  Charlie Copeland , Director  Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending September 29, 2022 (Graphic by Lauren Phongphachone)       It has been clear that Delaware’s educational system has been substandard for several decades. In addition, previous analysis conducted by the Caesar Rodney Institute has shown that our young people are moving out of the state for better economic opportunities

Why is Delaware's FOIA Process still stuck in the '70s? With a $60 million state technology budget, isn't it time that all public information be available online to access directly rather than by written request?   By  Charlie Copeland , Director  Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending September 16, 2022 In 1977, the  Delaware General Assembly  adopted  Delaware's Freedom of Information Act  (FOIA), stating in the  Delaware Code  that:   "[I]t is vita

Budget Growth Exposes Delaware's Real Priorities By  Charlie Copeland , Director  Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending July 22, 2022     Over the last twenty years, the  Consumer Price Index   has risen 62.3%. In addition, Delaware's population has grown *26.3%, from 783,600 people to 989,948. These two growth rates added together suggest an appropriate target for state spending growth over this period.   In short, any spending increases above 88.6%