State of Delaware Archives: on Budget & Economy
Chris Coons:
Bailout was done too fast and put billions at risk
O'Donnell repeatedly emphasized her concerns over the growth of government and stressed "private-sector solutions" on a range of questions.The Democrat pitched himself as independent of his party in
Washington, saying, "I would not have supported the bailout," because he said it was done too fast and "put hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars at risk."
Source: The Hill coverage of 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Sep 16, 2010
Chris Coons:
TARP lending and SBA loans are positive & concrete steps
O'DONNELL: The best thing the government can do to get our economy back on real economic recovery is to get out of the way of the small business owner and get out of the way of the entrepreneur. And the way you do that is to make sure these tax hikes
don't come in January. You begin to roll back some of the regulation that's forced them to close their doors.COONS: I'm not sure I understand what Ms. O'Donnell means that her primary objective would be to
end the endless regulation and red tape. She denounces the Obama administration, says it's done nothing to promote job growth when frankly, just a few weeks ago, a new bill that would provide expanded SBA loan capacity,
$30 billion worth of new lending capability, TARP funds that have been repaid, and are being repurchased towards small and midsized banks all over the United States. Real and concrete steps are being taken.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Chris Coons:
My county was one of only 30 earning Triple-A bond rating
Q: As County Executive, you raised property taxes 3 times, 25% hike last year. You proposed new taxes on hotels, paramedic services, even 911 calls from cell phones. Is that true?COONS: No. It's not true that we proposed a tax on the calls to the
911 center. Today, New Castle County has a surplus. When I became executive in '05, it had a deficit. I have worked hard over six years to defend a very significant reserve, which has made it possible for us to continue to have a Triple-A bond rating.
Out of roughly 3,000 counties in America, roughly 30 have a Triple-A bond rating, and I reached a bipartisan solution that cut more in spending than was raised in taxes.
O'DONNELL: You've been criticized for saying that you brought the county to Triple
A bond rating. You inherited that good rating.
COONS: Each time you go to the bond market, you are re-rated. Moody's said that it was because of the conservative fiscal policies of my administration that we have re-earned a Triple A bond rating.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Christine O`Donnell:
My financial problems let me relate to families' suffering
Q: You had an IRS lien for about $12,000 in taxes and penalties from '05. There was an '08 mortgage default judgment on your home. You just received your bachelors degree because it took a decade to pay off the tuition. How can voters rely upon your
thoughts on how to manage the deficit if you're having such personal financial issues?O'DONNELL: On that IRS tax lien, the IRS already admitted that it was a computer error. You mentioned education. I don't have a trust fund. I didn't come from a
privileged, sheltered background as my opponent says he did.
Q: Let's stay to the issue of paying bills.
O'DONNELL: I paid for my own college education. When I fell upon difficult times, I made the sacrifices needed to set things right. I sold my
house. And I sold a lot of my possessions in order to pay of my personal debt and to become in a stronger position. I can relate to the thousands of Delaware families that are suffering right now.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Gene Truono:
Government spending must have accountability & transparency
Gene supports accountability and transparency with all government spending.
He will work on legislation targeting fraud and abuse while seeking to hold government agencies accountable on budgets and performance.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteTruono.com
Apr 4, 2018
James DeMartino:
Stalwart for cost effective modernization of infrastructure
The nation's infrastructure must be rebuilt, repaired and properly maintained to provide safe use for business, personal travel and national security. Roads, bridges and power lines are the visual reminders of our country's aging infrastructure.
I will be a stalwart for cost effective modernization of existing systems and a proponent of new technologies to improve the performance and safety of our power grid and especially the expansion of broadband to all areas of Delaware.
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteDeMartino.com
Aug 20, 2020
James DeMartino:
Support free market competition instead of non-profits
Q: What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?A: Review the necessity and funding requirements of several federal agencies to include the Department of Education. I would cut federal funding to non-profit
organizations, social programs that are detrimental to the foundation of a strong family and reform the federal procurement system. The federal government needs to support a free market economy and competition. I will support the line item veto.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
John Carney:
Budgetary reserve will help during downturn
Regarding lost tax revenue during the shutdown of business, Carney touted his budget smoothing plan, which had put aside $125 million in reserves to cover costs when revenues are down. "It was very important as we buffered the challenges that we had in
this budget. As we move forward, there is a lot of uncertainty about the revenues that we will see next year," he said. "It's going to be a tough road, but setting up and having that $125 million in additional reserve is going to help us."
[Opponent Julianne] Murray said the government-imposed shutdown has caused unimaginable uncertainty for the state's budget and revenue stream. "Our revenue is going to be down tremendously. Yes, we have this $125 million out here, but the reality
is that Gov. Carney is a tax-and-spend person. I am incredibly concerned about what the response is going to be because I have every reason to believe taxes are going to go up when we have the deficit that we absolutely know is coming."
Source: Cape Gazette on 2020 Delaware Gubernatorial race
Oct 17, 2020
John Carney:
Proposes fund to convert existing properties for employers
We need to make it easy for businesses to start here and stay here. That's why I'm again proposing a Site Readiness Fund, so we can quickly convert existing properties to meet the needs of prospective employers. Two years ago, we started a new grant
program: Encouraging Development and Growth Expansion, or EDGE for short. We've awarded nearly $1.5 million in EDGE Grants to 20 companies. This year we'll expand the EDGE grant program, to encourage even more small businesses to grow and innovate.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature
Jan 26, 2021
John Carney:
Put a hyper-focus on small business: they drive job creation
We know that nationally, and in Delaware, small businesses drive job creation. That's why, for the first time ever, we put a hyper focus on small business inside state government. That includes supporting innovative new
tech companies and mom-and-pop mainstream businesses. Since 2019, our EDGE Grants program has supported more than 35 small businesses. These businesses are creating jobs and poised for growth.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature
Jan 20, 2022
Julianne Murray:
Increase evidence required for government spending
Murray believes in a multifaceted plan for addressing the opiod crisis,
including changing prescribing patterns, cracking down on the spread of opioids, and launching community health initiatives.
Source: 2020 DE gubernatorial campaign website MurrayForDelaware.com
Oct 9, 2020
Julianne Murray:
Concerned about taxes going up in response to deficit
Gov. Carney is a tax-and-spend person. I am incredibly concerned about what the response is going to be because I have every reason to believe taxes are going to go up when we have the deficit that we absolutely know is coming."
Murray said the government-imposed shutdown has caused unimaginable uncertainty for the state's budget and revenue stream. "Our revenue is going to be down tremendously. Yes, we have this $125 million out here, but the reality is that
Regarding lost tax revenue during the shutdown of business, Carney touted his budget smoothing plan, which had put aside $125 million in reserves to cover costs when revenues are down. "It was very important as we buffered the challenges that we had i
this budget. As we move forward, there is a lot of uncertainty about the revenues that we will see next year," he said. "It's going to be a tough road, but setting up and having that $125 million in additional reserve is going to help us."
Source: Cape Gazette on 2020 Delaware Gubernatorial race
Oct 17, 2020
Kevin Wade:
I've balanced budget in my engineering corporation
Wade said, "Unlike the U.S. Senate, I've had to balance a budget for 30 years." Wade founded Philadelphia Control Systems Inc., an engineering corporation based in
Christiana. "We don't have people who've acted with responsibility, who've signed the front of a paycheck," he said of legislators.
Source: Cape Gazette on 2012 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 19, 2012
Kevin Wade:
Trust ourselves to make their own choices
I'll be there standing with them...- Where Americans trust themselves and one another to make their own choices and follow their own paths.
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Where Americans know the government is the servant of the people's freedoms and that the American people are not servants of the government.
Source: 2014 Delaware Senate campaign website, WadeForUSSenate.com
Jul 27, 2014
Lauren Witzke:
No income tax increase; end government waste
Q: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?A: No.
Q: Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
A: No. I believe in ending government waste, and particularly ending our $150 billion annual tax burden spent on illegal aliens, so we can fully fund Social Security and Medicare.
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate PVS Political Courage Test
Oct 10, 2020
Lauren Witzke:
No federal spending for stimulus, but ok for COVID
Q: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?A: No.
Q: Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR
corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
A: Yes. I believe that Congress should stop playing games, and pass a pork-free bill providing direct relief to Americans for as long as the COVID-19 shutdowns last.
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate PVS Political Courage Test
Oct 10, 2020
Lauren Witzke:
Direct payments and tax-free access to 401k for COVID relief
Witzke is proposing allowing Americans to dip into up to half of their 401k savings tax-free, if the funds go towards starting a new small business, or reopening a small business that closed. "It will get that money back into the economy, but also it
will revive the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans, and it will give them access to their retirement funds without penalty." Witzke is also calling for $1,200 a month in direct payments to all Americans until COVID-19 restrictions have lifted.
Source: Delaware Public Media on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Oct 18, 2020
Tom Carper:
Let competition work instead of capping credit card interest
[In October 1987, a House] amendment would have limited the allowable interest rate on all U.S. credit cards to 15%. A 1978 Supreme Court ruling had rendered state-level interest rate caps useless, allowing lenders to charge 40% or more in some states.
With a healthy 257-177 advantage, House Democrats had the numbers to force the federal cap through. But Democrats on the House Banking Committee wanted no part of significantly depressing credit card profits,
having struck down this amendment almost unanimously in committee.
One young Democrat from Delaware stepped forward to urge a no vote. His name was Tom Carper. "The bill before us without this amendment is a good bill,"
Carper said. "But I think it's premature to try to make that point. We can do a lot of good things with this legislation and a free enterprise competitive system. Let's let that competition work."
Source: The Intercept on 2018 Delaware Senate race
Aug 22, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023