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included within Friday’s report. “Delaware family incomes have
not recovered since their precipitous drop in 2008, and it is
vitally important that the Delaware State Government not pursue
policies, regardless of how well-intentioned, that will reduce the
number of jobs available, the number of hours worked, and reduce
take-home pay for workers,” they said in a minority report. The
minority group included Republican Sen. Colin Bonini, of Dover,
and Republican Rep. Mike Ramone, of Middle Run Valley. They
recommended studying a lower, training and seasonal wage for
Delaware workers.
A November 2014 letter from the Delaware Restaurant Association
that was critical of the task force’s work is also included in
Friday’s report. The group expressed “serious concerns” about the
committee’s work, saying supporters of a higher minimum wage
were bused to the group’s meeting and compensated with free
lunch. The group also complained that it was not formally asked
to participate as a part of the group, and said too few business
representatives were invited to attend.
This article originally appeared in the News Journal on January 16, 2015.
Legislation on E-Cigarettes
Introduced in Delaware
R
ep. Debra Heffernan, D-Edgemoor, proposed a bill in 2014
that would include vaping in the Clean Indoor Air Act.
Currently, smoking indoors is banned almost everywhere in
Delaware, as well as more than two dozen other states. Using e-cigs is
much murkier. Some states and cities have placed limitations on them,
with Delaware banning the sale of vaping products to those younger
than 18 last year. The state also has developed a policy prohibiting
vaping by or inside state buildings. At the federal level, the Food and
Drug Administration has put forth proposals regarding the regulation
of such devices.
Ultimately, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a 25-12
vote in June, with some Democrats opposing and some Republicans
supporting. However, it stalled in the Senate, failing to make it out of
the Executive Committee. Rep. Heffernan said she plans to reintroduce
the legislation in spring 2015. The draft bill is backed by Public Health
and the Delaware Restaurant Association. As part of Rep. Heffernan’s
proposal, an amendment grandfathering in vape shops was included.
That would have given them until June 1, 2016, to continue allowing
customers and employees to vape in such stores.
