The News Journal
1/25/2005
Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner outlined broad initiatives in education, health, the environment and the economy today in the first State of the State address of her second term.
Minner, in a speech before a joint session of the General Assembly, endorsed:
º A scholarship program to guarantee that any student who does well in high school will be able to pursue an associate degree from Delaware Technical & Community college.
º Increased funding for full-day kindergarten. School districts would be required to offer the program, but children would not be required to enroll.
º Expanding the Delaware Teacher Corps pilot program, which pays the college tuition of students in exchange for their commitment to teach in Delaware.
º Continuing state efforts to screen more people for cancer and to treat cancer victims who cannot afford it.
ºCreating a statewide health-insurance purchasing pool to lower costs for individuals and small businesses.
Minner also said she wants to wait until February to propose legislation to address Delaware’s controversial three-tier diploma system. A panel of education experts will issue recommendations next month, and the governor said she “will not prejudge” the situation.
“I will say this,” Minner said. “A Delaware diploma should signify that the person holding it has mastered the knowledge and skills needed in college and in work. Any change we make should move us toward that goal.”
Minner also said she “wholeheartedly” endorses a proposal from the Recycling Public Advisory Council for mandatory curbside recycling, a proposal that would boost the state’s recycling rate from 4 percent to 30 percent but would cost residents an estimated $3 to $7 per month.
The governor also said she would seek legislation to try to control the costs of worker’s compensation insurance; streamline and consolidate programs giving incentives to businesses; and increase funding for correctional officers and security in Delaware prisons.
Details of her initiatives – and their costs – will be included in her proposed budget for the year beginning July 1, which will be released Thursday.
Find complete coverage Wednesday in The News Journal and at www.delawareonline.com. Contact J.L. Miller at 678-4271 or jlmiller@delawareonline.com.
