DOVER, Del. (AP) - State lawmakers are gathering in Dover to convene a new legislative session. The 147th session of the Delaware General Assembly is to be gaveled to order Tuesday afternoon.
As usual, a key issue for lawmakers this year will be the state budget, with stagnant revenues and rising costs putting a squeeze on Delaware's fiscal forecast.
Other thorny issues likely to surface this year include gun control and gay marriage.
A Democratic state senator from Wilmington already is promising to propose tighter controls on guns in Delaware in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.
And Gov. Jack Markell, who signed a bill recognizing same-sex civil unions in Delaware starting a year ago, says he expects lawmakers to take the next step this year to legalize gay marriage.
