Jack Markell in Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009

On Crime: Give crime victims the right to receive restitution

The most fundamental role of state government is the public safety and welfare of its residents. I believe fighting crime must be a top priority as we move forward. My comprehensive proposal will do this:

I will establish a Delaware COPS Program with joint state and local funding to add 200 more police officers to the streets.

I will invest in smarter law enforcement by partnering with local law enforcement to obtain new crime-fighting technologies.

I will create a Delaware Office for Victims of Crime so crime victims can have a “one-stop-shop” for victims’ rights and services

I will ensure that crime victims have constitutional rights by amending the state constitution to ensure crime victims are notified of all critical stages of the criminal justice process; the right to confer with prosecutors prior to the disposition of cases; the right to provide a victim impact statement at sentencing; and the right to receive victim compensation and restitution. Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, markell.org, “Issues” Nov 4, 2008

On Education: Evaluate whether charter schools are becoming segregated

Delaware students and families can choose to attend any public school in the country, making our system one of the only comprehensive public school choice programs in the country. We are ranked 3rd in the country in the percentage of children who attend charter schools. After over a decade of operation for both programs, I will ensure the following evaluations are made:

Are the programs working as intended or not?
Are school choice and charter schools helping or hurting the ability of existing public school districts to offer quality programs?
Are the Charter schools and public schools becoming “segregated?”
How do we deal with construction financing for charter schools?

We need to seriously review how well charter schools are inter-district transfers are serving the needs of all Delaware families. And we need parents to understand their options for utilizing charter schools--a deficit identified in Opportunity Knocks. Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, markell.org, “Issues” Nov 4, 2008

On Energy & Oil: Fossil fuels contribute to harmful greenhouse gases

Our heavy reliance on fossil fuels puts Delaware at a competitive and environmental disadvantage. The combustion of fossil fuels, both to drive our vehicles and to generate electricity in power plants, also is a leading contributor of harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are helping to produce global warming and climate change. The state needs to:

Offer energy efficiency tax incentives that reward investments in energy efficiency by consumers or businesses.

Expand low-income home weatherization funding.

Offer green building tax credits to companies that incorporate renewable energy sources, like windpower, into their design features.

Lead by example. Delaware state government should examine the portfolio of state buildings and real estate and use them to demonstrate how renewable energy can be integrated into those facilities.

Encourage investment in alternative energy sources from trustees of large pension funds and managers of investment portfolios. Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, markell.org, “Issues” Nov 4, 2008

On Health Care: Ensure that every Delawarean owns health insurance

My comprehensive health care plan will provide health insurance to over 100,000 uninsured Delawareans, including 20,000 children, so no individual or family will be forced to forgo medical care due to an illness, job loss, or simply because their employer does not provide coverage. When elected Governor, my health care plan will ensure that every Delawarean owns health insurance and has access to primary care facilities, thus improving the health of Delawareans while cutting costs on future emergency room visits and treatment for preventable illnesses.

[I propose] the Diamond State Marketplace to serve as a one-stop shop for uninsured individuals, families, small businesses and sole proprietors to purchase comprehensive, affordable and portable pre-tax rate health insurance.

Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, markell.org, “Issues” Nov 4, 2008

On Social Security: Golden Years Guarantee: live at home; financial security

I believe strongly that senior citizens’ golden years should be the best years of their lives, and should not be ruined by having to decide whether to buy food or medicine or worrying about their retirement savings. That’s why I have proposed this Golden Years Guarantee, a three-part plan to provide senior citizens will receive the quality medical care they need, ensure they will be able to live in their homes as long as they want and to encourage seniors to continue making valuable contributions to our society.

As Treasurer, I have started programs to help aging Delawareans. My AARP-endorsed Consumer Tool Chest was created to equip senior citizens with financial security tools, and my “Go Direct!” campaign encourages seniors to protect themselves fro financial crimes by direct-depositing their social security checks.

As Governor, I promise to take every step necessary to improve the health, safety and financial stability of Delaware’s senior citizens, our state’s fastest growing population.

Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, markell.org, “Issues” Nov 4, 2008

The above quotations are from Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009. Click here for other excerpts from Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009. Click here for other excerpts by Jack Markell. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018