DOVER, DE- It’s been 100 days since Governor Matt Meyer took office, and lawmakers are weighing in on his early efforts to address Delaware’s most pressing issues.
From housing to education, Meyer’s agenda has sparked both praise and skepticism in Legislative Hall.
Republican Sen. Eric Buckson, who represents District 16, said Delaware faces significant challenges — and now is a critical time to make progress.
“We’ve got real needs. We’ve got a shortfall in our budget. We’ve got educational scores that are really challenging."
Meyer said one of his top priorities since taking office in January has been tackling the state’s ongoing housing crisis, which he argues has reached a breaking point.
“The price of housing right now is too high. The rent is too damn high — the price of buying a house, it’s not affordable."
As a former public school teacher, Meyer has also turned his attention to education.
Meyer has been advocating for higher pay for teachers and new restrictions on cell phone use in classrooms, amid concerns over low test scores and literacy rates.
“We need to make sure we’re serving kids, and that starts by making sure we get teachers in the classroom."
Despite the governor’s priorities, Buckson says more detailed policy is still missing.
“Right now — there has not been any concrete proposals on his behalf, just directives."
Meyer has also cited national political instability as a challenge to progress, saying federal gridlock makes it harder to move forward at the state level.
“We have leadership in Washington that doesn’t seem that interested in growing economic opportunity for working people and reducing the cost."
Buckson believes the governor should stay focused on local concerns.
“We see a lot of this national narrative being pushed into public platforms here in Delaware, and I think it does a disservice to Delawareans."
Meyer’s proposed $6.58 billion budget — which includes three new tax brackets — is now at the center of legislative debate as his administration moves beyond its first 100 days.