DelCOG Urges Passage of Senate Bill 4 Inspector General Bill

The Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) endorses Senate Bill 4 – introduced by State Senator Laura Sturgeon with bipartisan support – to establish an independent, nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General that will uphold the people’s right to transparency and accountability.

An independent state office of the inspector general, promoting ethical and legal behavior and stopping agency mismanagement and abuse of office, would fill a void in Delaware state government.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will benefit state agencies, state employees, and every resident of the First State by providing independent, nonpartisan oversight of state agencies; assisting them to efficiently and effectively carry out their missions, thus saving taxpayer money by reducing waste and costly mismanagement errors; reinforcing agency policies and procedures; and investigating wrongdoing if necessary, while working cooperatively with the Attorney General and the Auditor of Accounts.

The authority of the OIG also will enhance public trust in our government by ensuring that state officials perform their duties in accordance with their Oath of Office, which places the public interest before any personal or special interests.
For all of these reasons, DelCOG supports passage of SB 4.

But your voice – the voice of the people – also matters: it will help to ensure that members of the General Assembly know their constituents expect them to pass this legislation and that the governor will sign the bill into law.

Be sure to write a message or pick up the phone and call your state senator to let them know that you, too, support passage of SB 21 when it comes up for consideration in the Senate Executive Committee, 3pm on March 26 and then later in the full Senate.

Find name/email address for your state legislators: https://legis.delaware.gov/FindMyLegislator

DelCOG envisions the Inspector General Bill as legacy legislation.

The bill’s passage will memorialize the 153rd General Assembly for their deliberation and action for the benefit of all Delawareans. Citizens of the First State deserve no less.