Whip Count

Justice For All: In Conversation With the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus

Since the killing of George Floyd, the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus has stepped into a leading role in the General Assembly. Last week they held a press conference announcing their "Justice for All Agenda" - a start down the road of reforming police and fighting back against institutionalized racism in Delaware. We spoke to three members of the Black Caucus in surprising, illuminating and emotional interviews about this initiative, their perspectives on policing and racism, and Black leadership in Delaware.

Making History From Home: Delaware's First Virtual Session

In March, the leadership of the General Assembly made a hard decision: to postpone part of Delaware's legislative session. When they reconvened on Tuesday, 39 of its 41 members weren't in the chamber like normal. Instead, this meeting made history as Delaware's first ever virtual session. We spoke to Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and Representative Stephanie T. Bolden about their impressions of this unprecedented change to the way Delaware's legislative branch operates.

Delaware's Response to COVID-19 Part 2: The Daily Work of State Legislators in Lockdown

In March, Delaware's General Assembly decided to postpone legislative session and begin working from home to keep legislators and staff safe and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. During that time, state legislators have found new ways to communicate with constituents, serve the needs of their district, and work with the executive branch as Delaware locked down. In this episode, 4 representatives talk about their unique perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic and the work they've been doing over the last two months.

Delaware's Response to COVID-19: Public health, unemployment and small businesses

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our state and our world in a profound way. Today, almost two months into a state of emergency in Delaware, there are still many myths and misconceptions about this virus and how our government is responding to it. In this episode we speak with DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade and Division of Small Business Director Damian DeStefano to gain a better understanding of the actions our state is taking to fight back against COVID-19. Important links:
Visit https://de.gov/coronavirus for daily updates.
Visit https://uics.delawareworks.com/Forms/Form_WL1 to apply for unemployment.
Visit https://business.delaware.gov/coronavirus/ for small business resources.

HB 275: Dining Out With Your Dog

A controversy erupted when an obscure regulation reared its head last summer: preventing dogs from joining their families on the outdoor patios of restaurants. In dog-friendly Delaware towns like Dewey Beach, this posed a real problem for business owners. Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf's HB 275, which has now been signed into law, overturned that regulation so dogs can now stay with their owners. In this episode we speak to Speaker Schwartzkopf, a local Dewey Beach business owner, and a dog lover about the legislation.

Making Your Vote Count: Elections, the Iowa Caucus & voting in Delaware

Just one week ago, the confidence millions of Americans hold in the integrity of their elections was shaken when the Iowa Caucus, a long-standing political institution, descended into absolute chaos. The results of that caucus are, due to errors and delays in reporting, still unclear. Delaware does not hold a caucus - however voters here might still be worried about the security, accuracy, and transparency of our election systems. This week on Whip Count we spoke to Rep. Paul Baumbach about what he saw in Iowa at the caucus and efforts the House is making to expand voting rights, and Delaware Elections Commissioner Anthony Albence about the failsafes we've put in place to make sure that our elections work.

The Budget Episode

Delaware's General Assembly is constitutionally obligated to do only one thing - pass a balanced budget. Last week, Governor John Carney announced his proposed budget and today the Joint Finance Committee is meeting to begin its process of writing it. However, for many people this process started just after the last budget was passed this summer.
In this episode of Whip Count we speak to Secretary of Health and Social Services Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mike Jackson, and House Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee Rep. Quinn Johnson to learn about the budget process from beginning to end.

Bonus Episode: The State of the State 2020

Last week, Governor John Carney gave his annual State of the State Address to a joint session of the Delaware General Assembly. Here is the full audio of the speech, outlining his priorities for the coming year.

House Bill 200: The Clean Water Act

This year, House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst and Governor John Carney announced an influx of funding for clean water infrastructure in Delaware. Communities up and down our state have been facing problems with access to clean water, stormwater management, flooding, and waste water. This investment will help rebuild drinking water infrastructure, protect our waterways and support vulnerable communities. We spoke to an advocate for clean water, the Mayor of Milford, a southern Delaware town, and Rep. Longhurst about the history of this bill, the impact it will have on our state, and where it is in the legislative process.

"Thank God That Banker Made Me Mad" - The Governor Ruth Ann Minner Special Part 2

In 2008, Governor Ruth Ann Minner left political office having led one of the most extraordinary political careers in Delaware history. A twice-widowed mother of three who never finished high school, she worked her way up from a job as a Delaware House of Representatives attache to being a two-term governor. 
While in office Ruth Ann tackled tough issues head-on, and has left a lasting legacy in our state and throughout our country. Last week she celebrated her 85th birthday on her Milford farm, surrounded by the towing business she built with her husband and the houses her sons still live in. We spoke to her about her life and legacy to cap off this two-part special for the premiere of Whip Count Season 2.