Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval took an important step forward in online gaming today, signing a first-in-the-nation Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement that will eventually allow poker players in both states to play against each other online at the same virtual tables.

“Gov. Sandoval and I both share the goal of ensuring that our states’ gaming industries are as competitive as they can be, while ensuring that games are conducted fairly, honestly, and securely,” said Governor Markell. “This Agreement represents a crucial step in Delaware’s and Nevada’s efforts to make our online poker offerings more diverse, more competitive, and ultimately more enjoyable. I am grateful for Governor Sandoval’s support and leadership in this effort.”

 The agreement develops a framework through which the two states will jointly adhere to minimum regulatory standards.  It also allows Member States to retain the necessary control over who offers online gaming within their borders, and it allows Member States to pursue the particular applications of online gaming that make the most sense for them. For example, Nevada will only allow online poker games, and under this agreement, Member States have the flexibility and discretion to make those kinds of policy determinations for themselves.

“This is truly a historic day for Nevada, Delaware, and the country.  One year ago the Nevada Legislature passed and I signed an Internet gaming bill into law, and today we are just beginning to witness the potential of this legislation with the signing of this agreement,” stated Governor Brian Sandoval.  “The approach we’ve taken will allow us to pursue greater opportunities by establishing a strong framework for collaboration in this new frontier.  The possibilities that are ahead of us are truly extraordinary. The agreement we’ve signed today provides the tools and the structure necessary for us to pioneer this expanding industry together, as states and as partners.  I have had the pleasure of working with Governor Markell in the past and look forward to this partnership with the State of Delaware.  I would like to thank him for his leadership and willingness to join Nevada in this new frontier of gaming.”

DOVER – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden asked the state legislature’s budget-writing committee on Monday to fund two critical priorities in Fiscal Year 2015, including two critical new positions in his office’s Child Predator Unit.

Biden first requested approximately $128,000 to fund salary increases for attorneys who have earned promotions within the Department of Justice’s career ladder. The raises, which reward attorneys for certain career advancements, have not been funded in four of the past seven years.

To toughen the fight against predators preying on children, Biden is seeking funding for a new investigator ($87,400) and a second prosecutor ($85,000). Since Biden helped launch the Child Predator Unit shortly after taking office in 2007, 184 predators have been convicted and 119 children have been rescued from situations where they were the victims of abuse or being groomed for future victimization.

The Child Predator Unit is experiencing a significant increase in its caseload and those cases are growing more complex as predators become more sophisticated in searching for potential victims and attempting to hide their conduct. In calendar year 2013, the Unit made 51 arrests after averaging 42 in 2012 and 2011. The Unit’s prosecutor, Abigail Layton, secured 34 convictions in 2013 – the Unit secured 28 in 2012 and 27 in 2011. The number of hard drives that the Unit’s investigators have examined increased 92 percent from 2008 to 2012.

“My grandfather used to say ‘show me your budget and I will show you your priorities,’” Biden said. “These budget requests reflect our priorities — rewarding talented attorneys for their public service and protecting Delaware’s children from the worst of society. The more resources we give to the Child Predator Unit, the more predators we will stop from hurting children and the safer we will make our kids.”

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On Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 2 p.m., The Old State House, located at 25 The Green, in Dover, Del., will present “Abolition and the Hunn Family,” a lecture by Robin Krawitz, president of the Underground Railroad Coalition of Delaware and director of the historic-preservation graduate program at Delaware State University. The Old State House will also be open for visitation and tours between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-744-5055.

Krawitz’s lecture will explore the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad in Delaware with a spotlight on the Hunn family, many of whose members participated in anti-slavery activities. In one notable incident, John Hunn of Odessa and Thomas Garrett of Wilmington were put on federal trial at the New Castle Court House in 1848 and convicted of violating the Fugitive Slave Act. Sentenced to stiff financial penalties and stripped of much of their personal wealth, Hunn and Garrett continued in their efforts to aid freedom seekers until the Union victory in the Civil War effectively put an end to slavery in the United States in 1865.

Dover, DE-Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart announces today that based on the agreement between the Delaware Department of Insurance, the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau and the Ratepayer Advocate, she has approved the re-submission of the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (DCRB) workers’ compensation rate filing regarding the residual market rate and the voluntary market loss cost.

The annual filing was carefully reviewed and analyzed by the Delaware Insurance Department’s actuaries, as well as the Rate Payer Advocate’s actuary. The reports were posted on the Department’s website. The lower increases approved reflect a more appropriate balance in the cost of insurance premiums compared to the cost of the system. The Commissioner and the Rate Payer Advocate, along with their actuaries, concurred that the increases of 11.4% in residual market rates and 14% in voluntary market loss costs met the requirements in Delaware law that rates must not be inadequate, excessive, or unfairly discriminatory. The effective date of the increase is retroactive to December 1, 2013 for new and renewal business.

Commissioner Stewart stated “While three different actuaries have all concluded that an increase is indicated, I must weigh more than actuarial considerations in making my decision. The difficulties seen by Delaware employers as emphasized during the three public information sessions, the need for our economy to grow, and the rising costs faced by insurers must all be included in my final decision. This decision represents a savings of more than 45 million dollars to Delaware employers from the original submission. We encourage the DCRB and legislative leaders to continue to work toward a common goal of identifying and addressing the underlying cost drivers in Delaware’s workers’ compensation rates.” Stewart believes that continued momentum behind legislative reforms introduced in 2013 and those sought in 2014 to ensure that future rate requests are small will help to keep our economy strong and attract and retain businesses in Delaware. Stewart added “Unfortunately, a rate increase is necessary this year for worker’s compensation insurance in Delaware. My commitment to the consumer is unwavering; and I will continue to work with all parties to create further reform that we expect will result in a reduction in the overall cost drivers in the worker’s compensation system.”

For more information about the DCRB annual rate filings, visit the Delaware Department of Insurance website at www.delawareinsurance.gov.

Please see attached statement from the Rate Payer Advocate.
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Delaware Department of Insurance: “Protecting Delawareans through regulation and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.”

(Georgetown, DE) – In his weekly message, filmed at the Theodore C. Freeman Powerplant Education Building in Georgetown, Governor Markell highlights the valuable role colleges and universities play in building the economy and preparing Delaware’s workforce for jobs of the future.

“Within a few years, more than 60 percent of Delaware jobs will require education or training beyond high school,” said Governor Markell. “So our colleges and universities have a more critical role than ever in growing our economy. By partnering with and supporting our colleges and universities to ensure Delawareans have the opportunity to learn skills and do research for growing industries, we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/7Y3pTVAKeBY
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
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Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript:  Partnering with Colleges and Universities to Train a Competitive Workforce