Our next meeting of the 38th District Republican Club, PAC will be held on Monday February 27th, 6:00 p.m. social hour and prompt start at 6:30 p.m., at the South Coastal Library, Bethany Beach.
Our guest speaker will be Representative Mike Ramone, House Minority Leader, along with our own 38th Representative Ron Gray. Rep. Ramone represents Representative District 21, Newark area, we appreciate him making the trip down to the 38th!
In his leadership role, you may wish to have Rep. Ramone address some of the pressing issues in the Delaware legislature. If you have topics you would like Rep Ramone to specifically address, please email info@38thdrcp.com and I will forward your questions to Rep. Ramone and have them presented at our Club meeting. Along these lines, it is important to not only respond to what the progressive democrats are pushing but also to go on the offensive and promote Republican conservative bills and actions to take back our state. So email info@38thdrcp.com and let Rep. Mike Ramone hear what YOU would like to see the Delaware GOP tackle! As a good jumping off point, please see below the Caesar Rodney Institute First Annual Delaware Report Card.
EDUCATION F
Based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress 2022 (Nation's Report Card) proficiency scores, Delaware tied in having the biggest drop in scores since 2019 and came in 4th from the bottom in overall test performance. Nearly every school in the state had lower scores in 2022 compared to 2019. This downward trend started in 2013. Delaware ranked 9th nationally in dollars spent per student in 2022 at $17,2235 per student.
ENVIRONMENT A
In the three most recent testing years, Delaware is now completely in attainment with all of EPA’s air quality standards, including ozone. Motor vehicle emissions have dropped 80 to 90 percent as newer, higher mileage vehicles with improved emission controls replace dirtier, older vehicles. More efficient building envelopes, and appliances also help. Closed manufacturing plants and lower electric generation also contributed locally but have simply moved emissions elsewhere, out of Delaware.
ENERGY F
38th DRCP Interject: Despite scoring an A in Environment, DNREC pushes for the ban of traditional powered vehicles in Delaware.
Delaware energy policies have also RAISED electric rates while having little environmental impact. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative taxes CO2 emissions from coal and natural gas electricity plants. The added cost makes in-state power plants non-competitive in the daily and hourly auctions to sell their electricity to the PJM grid.
In 2016, 78% of Delaware’s electricity was produced in-state…by 2021, it dropped to 36% produced in-state and continues to drop. Low and intermittent use of power plants can double pollution. Importing power adds cost on top of the tax cost and increases emissions.
Delaware’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires 24% of our electric demand be met with wind, solar, and Bloom fuel cell power growing to a 45% requirement by 2035. Only 2% of our demand is being met with in-state solar power…. With the rest purchased out of state with higher transmission costs and efficiency losses. Fuel cells are powered by natural gas and are less efficient than a standard natural gas power plant, so they actually increase emissions.
Premium costs to meet the RPS are adding about $100 million a year to electric rates. The fuel cell project alone has cost electric customers over half a billion in premiums and may cost another half billion before the subsidies end. Compared to neighboring states, Delaware’s industrial electricity rates are high and likely contributed to the shutdown of General Motors and Chrysler auto assembly plants, a steel plant near Claymont, and Dupont’s titanium dioxide plant in Edgemoor.
HEALTH POLICY C-
The contemporary 2022 rankings give Delaware a score of 58.8 out of 100 (30th in the nation) for health care (Quality of Outcomes, Cost, and Access), according to a comprehensive analysis by MoneyGeek.
The Mercatus Center report places the blame for higher prices, lower quality of care, higher ER wait times, and poor rural and inner city access to care on the Certificate of Need anachronistic bureaucracy. The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee recommended restructuring the Health Resources Board after abysmal internal and external surveys but has not done so. Delaware ranks 41 out of all 50 states. Regional Hospital monopolies dominate the state.
According to Medicaid.gov and the U.S. Census, 29.5% of Delawareans have health insurance coverage through Medicaid and CHIP. That has risen since 2010-16% with the Affordable Care Act to 25% in 2019 at its full implementation to one in three Delawareans as of October 2022. The cost trend to Delaware’s budget is not sustainable, especially since Federal subsidy, currently at 98%, is scheduled to be cut back, and COVID-19 emergency funds are ending.
STATE ECONOMY F
Delaware still has not returned to its pre-COVID Non-Farm job numbers. In 2002, Delaware’s per-person income was 18% above the national average. By 2020, it was 5% below the national average. New Castle County’s economy is 2.8% smaller today than 20 F years ago. Delaware ranks the 5th oldest (average age) state nationally and is aging at the 4th highest rate.
STATE GOV'T FINANCES B+
Due to a flash flood of federal dollars in 2020 and 2021, and 2022, Delaware has $1.5 billion in cash on the balance sheet. But so far has refused permanent, responsible tax cuts that would help grow the economy. Instead, the Governor gave a rebate to everyone, costing $237 million. That money is gone. A tax cut keeps on giving.
BUSINESS TAXES F
Combining the Gross Receipts Tax with the corporate tax of 9% gives Delaware the highest business tax in the country.
What grade would YOU give Delaware, what would YOU like to see improved and changed? Let Rep. Mike Ramone know! Email info@38thdrcp.com
February 38th District Republican Club, PAC posts you may have missed:
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Would you like to learn more about your home state of Delaware Constitution? Learning our Constitution is the best way to understand our laws, our history, and how we can make a better Delaware going forward! The Delaware Constitution course is a course certified through the Institute on the Constitution (IOTC) https://theamericanview.com/#stars with IOTC certified instructors Michelle Parsons and Tom Molnar and instructor Bob Lawless. Classes will be held at the Ocean View Town Hall located at 32 West Ave, Ocean View, every Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. starting Sunday February 19th for 6 weeks with the last class to be held on March 26th. Each class is its own unique lesson so there is no need to start at the beginning if you miss the first date. Please email if you plan to attend info@38thdrcp.com .
Another great way to keep up with the DE GOP is to sign up for the Monday 8:00 a.m. GOP "Call to Action" zoom meetings with GOP Chair, Jane Brady and different representative guests that will be featured weekly. Go here to sign up https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtd-GgrTspHdFEfKcrOaXAz1C4qRFhAPxi
ALSO, the Delaware legislature will be offering the ability to stream live legislative chamber proceedings and committee meetings on demand anytime, anywhere. Archived live streams are available as well. https://legis.delaware.gov/WatchAndListen?view=1&category=3
For the latest information in Sussex and Kent Counties and the Delaware political scene tune in to WGMD 92.7 and 98.5 daily!
Do you live in Sussex County Delaware and are a Republican or thinking about becoming a Republican? Come to our next meeting! Our next meeting will be held on Monday, February 27th 630pm at the South Coastal Library, Bethany Beach. Our club is open to new members who support Republican ideals.
Join 38th District Republican Club, Political Action Club
We meet monthly for meetings or events, please email for location
Email: info@38thdrcp.co
Upcoming 2023 Meetings:
February 27th, 6:30 p.m. House Minority Leader Mike Ramone and Rep Ron Gray
March 27th, 6:30 p.m. Dr. Legates on the Lies of Climate Change
April 24th, 6:30 p.m. Home Title Theft Protection - Julianne Murray, Former Candidate for Governor
April 28th -29th DE GOP Convention
The joint 38th/41st meeting Monday, May 1 at 6:30 pm at the Indian River Senior Center, 214 Irons Ave., Millsboro
The Back The Blue Caravan is scheduled for Thursday, May 11th
May 22nd, 6:30 p.m. Wills - Greg Fuller, Registrar of Wills, Sussex
We welcome your support as we support conservative values and responsible government.
To Donate Make check payable to:
38th DRCP
PO Box 1371
Bethany Beach, DE 19970
