Rocky progression: Progressives critique Delaware Governor Meyer's transparency initiatives as a blend of successes and shortcomings.
Get the scoop on Delaware's transparency adventure under new Gov. Matt Meyer! Six months in, progressive folks and open government advocates are eyeing a mix of triumphs and stumbles. Here's what's going down:
Stuck in the Middle
With a new governor and legislators, there was hope for a shakeup in how the state government operates, bringing more sunlight into the mix. But progress has been slow, and critics don't hold back their opinions, like Steve Tanzer, an ex-legislative staffer who pens for the political news blog DelawareLiberal.net and supports progressives for the state's House and Senate.
"It's been a real rocky start for the governor, especially his relationship with the General Assembly," Tanzer said. "I can't see it any other way."
Wilmington's Port Tug of War
A major point of contention is the control of the Port of Wilmington and the $635 million expansion project. Meyer and state senators are locked in a battle, with the project still on ice. While Meyer and Senate Democrats fought in court earlier this year over Meyer's ability to replace former Gov. Bethany Hall-Long's port board nominees, the two sides remain at odds.
Getting Things Done
On the bright side, John Flaherty, spokesperson for the Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DELCOG), is praising Meyer for taking steps in the right direction. Meyer has endorsed legislation for an inspector general office, the main goal of DELCOG. The Senate has approved the bill, and it's now awaiting consideration in the House.
"I'm very optimistic, and I'm not disappointed at all," Flaherty said. "I'm glad that he got elected, particularly his support for the inspector general."
On the Campaign Trail
During his campaign, Meyer vowed to increase transparency significantly in the state's highest office. Progressives hoped for big changes, like reducing exemptions for documents that can be withheld from the public, revamping the police bill of rights, and making legislators' emails public.
However, since taking office, Meyer has yet to voice support for these actions. Scandals, like our website News' exclusive report on government cover-ups of missing taxpayer funds, campaign finance violations, and lack of police reports on arrests, have pushed the public's desire for increased transparency.
The Big Battle: FOIA Exemptions
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies to public bodies in Delaware, requiring access to documents and meetings unless they fall under one of the exemptions. These exemptions—including criminal records, investigative files, and autopsy reports—mean that police reports, inmate causes of death, and restitution paid to victims are kept out of the public eye, along with legislators' emails.
Meyer has expressed concerns about possible misuse of these FOIA exemptions in the past, but his Director of Communications, Mila Myles, has stated that they have found no abuses by state agencies.
Delaware's Mixed Bag of Transparency
Meyer's administration has faced criticism for not providing more details on the state's attempts to get permits reissued for the Edgemoor container terminal project. His administration has also faced backlash for not attending meetings of a task force set up by state lawmakers on the port expansion and for squabbling with Senate Democrats over port nominees.
Transparency Legislation Moving Forward
While progress is slow, there are signs of good things coming. House Bill 33, for example, requires school boards to provide remote attendance options for school board members dealing with sickness, military deployment, or pregnancy. House Bill 85 requires school board members to undergo background checks. All of these measures, except for one, have passed the House and are awaiting a floor vote in the Senate.
The wish list for transparency advocates includes making legislators' emails public, creating more transparency around the governor's schedule, and tightening gift and lobbyist requirements.
In the words of Flaherty, "They're making some progress, but it's not that much. They could do a lot more."
[1] Delaware Public Media. (2025). Delaware lawmakers back transparency in education, but no sign yet they'll pass ethics reform. www.delawarepublic.org.[2] News Journal. (2025). Transparency legislation lacking traction in Delaware legislature. www.delawareonline.com.[3] News Journal. (2025). Delaware Hospital Transparency Law Cooled By Hospitals Pushback. www.delawareonline.com.[4] Veronda, B. (2025). Proposed Delaware bill would ban lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists, special interest groups. www.delawareonline.com.[5] Delaware Business Times. (2025). Delaware lawmakers pass stockholder inspection rights bill. www.delawarebusinesstimes.com.
Politics and policy-and-legislation have been a central focus in Delaware's new governor's tenure, with progressives and open government advocates tracking both triumphs and stumbles. For instance, John Flaherty, a spokesperson for the Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DELCOG), applauds Gov. Matt Meyer's endorsement of legislation for an inspector general office, a main goal of DELCOG. However, on a different front, the governor has yet to voice support for significant transparency measures such as reducing exemptions for documents that can be withheld from the public, revamping the police bill of rights, or making legislators' emails public. These are some of the unfulfilled expectations from Meyer's campaign promises, as he navigates the complexities of policy-and-legislation and politics in the state. (General-news)
