Whip Count

Latest Episodes:

I Told You We Would Make It: The Freshman Class of the 150th General Assembly Jul 14, 2019

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In 2019, 8 new legislators joined the Delaware House Democratic Caucus. They come from a variety of backgrounds and bring unique perspectives and experiences to the General Assembly, which has helped them already make an impact on the policies that affect every Delawarean. We spoke to five of the new representatives about their lives, their journey to the House of Representatives, and the unique experiences of being a freshman legislator, including learning the building and running their first bill.

Early Voting (Finally) Comes to Delaware Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

Voting is the fundamental right that underpins our democracy, and giving people the option to vote early in-person makes that process easier, simpler, and more accessible. In this episode of Whip Count we spoke to Rep. David Bentz and Jennifer Hill from Common Cause Delaware about early voting and the fight for its passage in our state, and cover the signing ceremony for Delaware's new early voting law.

Overnight In 10 Years: The Long Fight for LGBTQ Rights In Delaware Jun 23, 2019

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Just 10 years ago in Delaware it was legal to discriminate against someone because they were gay. A landlord could refuse to rent to you, you could be denied insurance, and you could show up to work to find that you were fired simply for who you loved. That was the reality. The LGBTQ community didn't gain legal protections in our state until 2009, when the General Assembly passed landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Within four years of that law's passage, Delaware had passed civil unions, marriage equality, and protected gender identity, and to some the changes may have seemed to happen basically overnight. But in reality the fight for equal rights was a decade-long process where lawmakers and advocates ran up against bigotry and hatred at every turn. This is the story of that struggle, as told by three people who were intimately involved with the process right from the very beginning.

411 Legislative Avenue: 40 Years of Legislative Hall History Jun 16, 2019

Show notes

"There is still magic in this place. Just a total happenstance that's going to change someone's life forever." Legislative Hall is rich with history and tradition. Few people in this building have a better knowledge of these distinctly Delaware quirks than long-time staffers Rich Puffer, Dick Carter, and Bernard Brady. In this special episode of Whip Count, we're going to let them speak for themselves. Learn about some of the most memorable characters, stories and events of the last 40 years in Legislative Hall straight from the people who experienced it themselves. This episode also includes exclusive historical audio from floor votes that you haven't heard anywhere else.

House Bill 1: The Equal Rights Amendment Jun 09, 2019

Show notes

If you thought Delaware already guaranteed women equal rights under the law, well you wouldn't be the only one. But it wasn't until this year that lawmakers passed an Equal Rights Amendment, enshrining equality under the law for Delaware women. The fight for women's equality has been 100 years in the making, with Delaware lawmakers paving the way in 1972 by ratifying the federal ERA. Unfortunately, the federal ERA never became a reality, so Delaware had to take on the issue and run with it. Today, the state ERA is law. To give us the history, we spoke to a retired judge, our House Majority Leader, and a family member of a 1972-era legislator who led the charge.

It Starts with an Idea: How a Bill Becomes a Law May 30, 2019

Show notes

Every bill starts with an idea, Schoolhouse Rock taught us that. But there may be plenty of things that go on behind the scenes that not everyone gets to see. Consider this a crash course in what happens in-between an idea and a law. This is the inaugural episode of Whip Count, a podcast by the Delaware House Democratic Caucus. Join an issue advocate, a cabinet secretary, a state representative, a legislative drafting lawyer, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Clerk of the House, and the Governor of Delaware to learn the ins and outs of the legislative process.

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