Protecting Families & Seniors 

• Lower Personal Income Tax: Margaret Rose Henry has worked to lower taxes every year she has been in office. For seven consecutive years, taxpayers in all income brackets saw lower income taxes. 
• Senior Citizens Property Tax Rebates and Pension Exclusion: Margaret Rose Henry knows the importance of protecting seniors on fixed incomes. The General Assembly recently provided property tax rebates and increased the amount of pension income protected from state taxes so seniors can have a more secure future. For questions about eligibility, call (302) 395-5520.
• Eliminate the Marriage Penalty: Senator Henry knows that for too long Delaware tax laws unfairly discriminated against married couples. Now married couples will each be able to enjoy the same deduction that would have received if single. The standard deduction for couples filing jointly has been increased from $4,000 to $6,000 
• Senior Prescription Drug Assistance: Drug costs for seniors are skyrocketing. Senator Henry worked had to ensure the new Delaware Prescription Assistance program or "Pill Bill" assists low-income seniors with high prescription drug costs. To obtain more information on this important program, please call 1-800-996-9969, ext. 17 or visit the  Delaware Prescription Assistance Program web site. 
• Managed Care Appeals: Margaret believes no one should be blocked from receiving needed medical care due to an unfair managed care decision. Delaware now has a process for residents denied necessary or appropriate medical treatment and coverage by their managed care organization. For more information, please call 1-800-942-7373. 
• Raising Minimum Wage: Margaret Rose Henry knows that many people depend upon minimum wage as an important source of income. 85% of minimum wage holders are adults and 33% are heads of households. Senator Henry has fought hard to raise the minimum wage in Delaware. Learn more: Delaware Department of Labor
• Earned Income Tax Credit: Delaware's working low-income families need the earned income tax credit (EITC). The EITC has worked wonderfully in other states to provide additional tax breaks for those who are struggling to make ends meet. Senator Henry is working hard to bring this program to Delaware to put keep more money in the pockets of those who need it most.
• Reducing Unwanted Pregnancies: Delaware's teen pregnancy rate is 10th in the nation and Delaware women have traditionally had to pay out-of-pocket for contraception. To address these issues, Senator Henry sponsored legislation that requires insurance companies to cover all FDA approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, including the birth control pill, IUDs, Depo-Provera, diaphragms and Norplant.
• Strengthening Delaware Families: Delaware's children are more and more likely to be raised by a family member other than a parent--a grandparent, uncle, aunt or other relative. In cases where a relative agrees to raise a child in place of a parent, the relative is actually entitled to less government support that if a stranger agreed to raise that same child. Senator Henry's Kinship Care Taskforce recommended treating these children and their relatives more equally and has a bill pending in the General Assembly to create a "Kinship Care" benefit to supplement the current foster care system.
• Substance Abuse Treatment Task Force: Drugs have been linked to many societal problems including poverty, crime, unemployment, physical abuse, and teen pregnancy. Delaware's drug problem is growing in certain geographic areas and among our most vulnerable populations. Senator Henry recently sponsored legislation to create and co-chair a Substance Abuse Legislative Task Force. The Task Force's mission is to study unmet treatment needs and present recommendations to improve the quality and quantity of treatment services in the State of Delaware.  The report is due Spring 2002.  If you would like to obtain a copy, please call 577-8744.