Delaware Lawmaker Looks to Pull Legal Ads from Newspapers

By: A Delaware lawmaker says ending the state's practice of running legal ads in newspapers' classified sections would save millions of dollars.

Millsboro Democratic Rep. John Atkins is proposing moving the ads to the Internet. He says it would save the state $9 million.

Opponents say the change would cut off access to public information for people and businesses without Internet access.

Controller General Russell Larson says the $9 million figure represents Delaware Financial Management System expenditures that carried an advertising accounting code, which could include advertising other than traditional public notices.

The bill would not prohibit state agencies from running newspaper ads, but Atkins says he sees agencies running shorter versions directing readers to a Web site.