First State Times

Delaware state Rep. Ruth Briggs King ((R-Georgetown) is hard at work pushing a pair of bills she argues will ensure that certain state lawmakers are living by the same laws and standards as the people they govern.

Currently pending in the House Administration Committee, House Bill 137 would establish rules making all candidates running in a general election obligated to publicly disclose if they have unpaid state or federal personal income taxes or are in arrears on their local property taxes.

“The consideration of new or higher taxes is one of the most significant duties a lawmaker performs," Briggs King said in a news release. "The financial burden government places on citizens directly influences the welfare of every taxpayer.”

This is the fourth straight year some version of the HB 137 has been presented to the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, House Bill 126 is designed to help prevent lawmakers from “double-dipping” salary from two taxpayer-funded jobs by requiring elected officials to disclose to the Public Integrity Commission if they are also being paid by another government agency or school. It also applies to paid state, county or local appointees.

"Again, the bill would hold Delaware’s elected officials [state, county, local] more accountable and would apply equally to all public officeholders," Briggs King added. "You might believe such a measure would have broad bipartisan support. If so, you would be wrong."

In each of the last two General Assembly sessions, House Democrats have blocked both bills by refusing to call them for debate.

“I have yet to hear any rational objection as to why either transparency bill should not become law,” Briggs King said. “I will again ask House Democratic leaders to bring these measures to the floor for debate and action.”