General Assembly Leadership to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Codifying the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council

APRIL 9, 2026 -- Today, Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn-Harris, House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Majority Whip Ed Osienski, Minority Leader Tim Dukes, Minority Whip Jeffrey Spiegelman, Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, and Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn released the following statement:

“Governor Pete du Pont and Senator Nancy Cook helped establish a culture of responsible budgeting that continues to guide our state. Their leadership on balanced budgets and long-term financial planning set a standard that remains central to Delaware’s approach to governance.

“A central piece of that legacy is the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, or DEFAC. Established to strengthen the state’s fiscal management, DEFAC delivers nonpartisan, objective revenue and expenditure projections to both the Governor and the General Assembly. For nearly five decades, it has played a critical role in supporting balanced budgets, informing policy decisions, and upholding Delaware’s reputation for fiscal discipline.

“While DEFAC has historically operated under executive order, there has been broad agreement that it should be codified to safeguard its role within Delaware’s fiscal framework, an approach rooted in the fiscally disciplined foundation advanced by Governor du Pont and strengthened over time by leaders like Senator Cook. Through this bipartisan effort, we carry forward the legacy of Senator Cook and Governor du Pont, ensuring the principles they championed continue to guide Delaware’s future.

“That is why today, leadership of all four caucuses in the Delaware General Assembly will be introducing the “DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act,” a bipartisan effort honoring the lasting impact of Governor Pete du Pont and Senator Nancy Cook on Delaware’s fiscal discipline and commitment to transparent, responsible budgeting.”