Travesty for Taxpayers

DOVER, Del. – Republican lieutenant governor candidate Ruth Briggs King today took aim at the newly released State Auditor of Accounts report on so-called “double dipping” by public employees.

 

The recent revelation once again raised a problem identified by Briggs King more than a year ago.

 

“The fact that the auditor’s office failed in its legal duty to report annually on topics like this is a travesty and should not go unnoticed and ignored by the Legislature,” said Briggs King, a former member of the Joint Finance Committee and House Judiciary Committee.

“While I appreciate that Auditor York conducted and released this audit, I am reminded that, during my time as a state representative, the legislature killed every bill for accountability that I introduced and championed to ensure that these annual reports were conducted and submitted in good faith for all to review. This is the corrosive nature of one party rule as it steadily erodes any semblance of good government. “

 

Briggs King introduced two bills in previous legislative sessions that would have required elected officials to assist in the yearly audit by revealing their additional employment by any other state agency, school, university, or other institution, or any other political subdivision of the State, to the Delaware Public Integrity Commission. Neither bill received a vote in the full House.

 

In a news report regarding the long-delayed audit, the Commission’s counsel said, “For the first time in 13 years, the Auditor’s report provides the Public Integrity Commission with concrete data upon which the implementation and administration of the Dual Compensation law can actually be evaluated.”

 

Briggs King underscored that the Commission should have been issuing public statements each year, excoriating the auditor’s office for its illegal non-compliance and lack of transparency.

 

“If a bank failed to send the legally required account statements to their customers, account holders of every kind would be livid,” said Briggs King. “Yet under the past administrations, when the state government didn’t comply with the audit law, there were few, if any, consequences. Democrat leadership has failed to stand with the taxpayer to ensure their tax dollars are not being wasted.

 

“As Lieutenant Governor, I won’t be silent in the face of corruption and self-dealing,” said Briggs King. “It’s time for voters to see that the Democrat majority seems unwilling to comply with a simple law like the annual audit. It’s obvious that we need new leadership in Dover to make government accountability a priority and be responsible to Delaware taxpayers.”

 

For more information or to get involved with Ruth’s campaign, visit www.RuthForDelaware.com or follow her on Facebook at RuthForDelaware and Instagram at RuthBriggsKing

 

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