Delaware lawmakers, governor not on same budget page

Gov. John Carney is urging lawmakers to avoid going on a spending spree with the $148 million surplus the state is expected to reap this year.

But members of the Legislature’s budget-writing committee this week were already feeling out plans to direct more money toward certain education initiatives and entitlement programs for state pensioners than the governor proposed in his $4.4 billion spending plan.

That proposal recommends giving raises to state workers, making a sizable investment in infrastructure and modestly increasing allocations to most state agencies and services.

Some lawmakers, however, believe the state can do more and their interest in adjusting Carney's spending plan could foreshadow a clash over how much to spend now and how much to save for the future.

Read more: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/30/delaware-lawmakers-governor-not-same-budget-page/2711583002/