Whip Count

Enjoy this bonus episode of Whip Count with the full audio of Governor John Carney's 2021 State of the State Address!

To honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we're highlighting Holocaust survivor Ann Jaffe's story.  In 2020, as Delaware lawmakers prepared to vote on a measure that would mandate Holocaust education for students in grades 6-12, Ann Jaffe addressed the General Assembly. Ann spoke about her experience surviving under the Nazi regime and highlighted the importance of ensuring all young peopl...

In 2020, the Delaware General Assembly passed legislation that requires schools to implement a curriculum on the Holocaust and genocide for students in grades 6-12, making Delaware the 15th state to enact such legislation.  This legislation comes not a moment too soon, as a 2020 national survey assessing student's knowledge of the Holocaust ranked Delaware 41st when it comes to Holocaust education...

Every year, people around the country recognize the accomplishments and impact Dr. Martin Luther King had on our society. King’s messages had an enormous effect on race relations in Delaware and across the United States; throughout and beyond the civil rights era.  In this episode of Whip Count, Delaware legislators such as Rep. Kendra Johnson, Rep Sherry Dorsey Walker, Rep. Rae Moore and Rep. Lar...

Everyday residents can play an important role in public policy. Advocacy work can be done as an individual or through a team of people with one goal in mind. In this episode of Whip Count, Rep. Debra Heffernan and Rep. Paul Baumbach shared how often they engage constituents. The two legislators also talked about proposed bills that started as an idea from people they represent. The legislative pro...

When news of Covid-19 hit and restrictions were put in place to stop the spread of the virus, many people anticipated things would be back to normal by 2021. However, that's not the case. Delaware's 151st General Assembly decided to go virtual in the New Year and legislators such as Rep. Krista Griffith, Rep. Franklin Cooke, and Rep. Melissa Minor Brown have learned to not only adapt to the new no...

In 2020, a record number of Americans turned out to cast their vote. This was in part due to expanded voting options, which were put in place by lawmakers temporarily as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This week, Representative David Bentz and Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker talk about legislation they're working on which would permanently make voting in Delaware more accessible and conv...

The new members of Delaware's 151st General Assembly are ready to get to work and focus on community and statewide issues. They don't want to be known for breaking barriers, making headlines or history. In this episode, you'll hear from Sen. Sarah McBride, the nation's first ever transgender state senator, as well as Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, the state's first practicing Muslim to be elected into...

It's been a long journey for Delaware's own, Joseph R. Biden Jr. who formally ran as a Democratic candidate for president in 1988 and 2008. More than a decade later, Biden will be sworn into office as the 46th President of United States in January 2021.  In fact, this episode includes a recap of local stories from some of Delaware's most influential people who believe Biden's experiences, and lead...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness of the second most common cancer diagnosed among women. It's also a time to shine a light on survivors.   In this episode, we'll hear from former First Lady of Delaware, Carla Markell, about her battle with breast cancer. Rep. Melissa Minor Brown shares a personal story about health inequity and provides tips on how wo...

Delaware may be a small state but it is big on Vice President Joe Biden. Many people have encountered "Joe" and shared personal stories that they hold close to their hearts. Some moments have even shaped their lives.  On this special episode of Whip Count, we continue with stories about "Biden Moments" from Rep. Gerald Brady, Margaret Aitken, and Brian McGlinchey.   

Delaware leaders share stories of inspiration and memorable moments about Vice President Joe Biden who made a great impact on their lives.  Rep. Krista Griffith talks about three encounters with Biden, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf details a campaign experience with the Vice President, and Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, Dr. Tony Allen of Delaware State University, Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, a...

State Election Commissioner Anthony Albence, Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, and Rep. David Bentz all set the record straight about vote-by-mail, legislation to modernized the voting process in Delaware and voter education.  The November General Election is fast approaching and voters still have the option to vote-by-mail.   

The back to school season is never without its stresses- but this year those stresses are exasperated by a global health crisis. Delaware schools have been permitted to resume in a hybrid setting, with a mix of online and in-person instruction, but each school district was tasked with creating their own re-opening plan.  In this episode, we spoke to Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown and Rep. Kim Williams o...

Labor Day unofficially marks the end of the summer season for some Americans but for others, it takes on a whole new meaning. In honor of Labor Day, Delaware Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade, Representative Edward Osienski, and James Maravelias, who leads one of the largest trade unions in the state all share their individual perspectives.  The Delaware leaders also highlight social and economic ach...

Get up close and personal with women including Delaware House Rep. Valerie Longhurst and Rep. Kendra Johnson as they reflect on the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment. To further educate the public, Delaware legislators also played a key role in forming the Women's Suffrage Centennial Committee to honor women's constitutional right to vote. Although celebrations were planned for this yea...

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 emo...

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 u...

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 representat...

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 DeStefa...

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 th...

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 tra...

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...

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.

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 c...