Want a way to keep up with legislation passing through the House, even while on the run? “There’s an app for that,” says House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy announced the official launch of Whipcast, a app that gives members, staffers and constituents the ability to access bills, GOP policy talking points, press releases, floor schedules and video — all from their mobile devices.
“While in the minority, we saw how the Democrat majority obscured their actions from the public as they wrote legislation behind closed doors and limited floor debate, and we vowed to chart a new course,” McCarthy said in a statement on Thursday.
Whipcast only makes available House GOP — not Democratic — communications and policy. The Democrats, McCarthy told reporters, “can make their own app.”
Another app by the same name was originally debuted by former House Minority Whip Eric Cantor in 2009, but it only worked with Blackberry. The new app is available for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android. It will be updated from the whip’s office before email lists, and will alert users to key congressional updates.
Whipcast is also a social app: Users will be able to Facebook, Tweet and email about bills and policy right from the program to family and friends, or their members.
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“This is about opening up this place,” McCarthy told reporters during a Tuesday morning briefing at the Capitol. “This is revolutionary.”
It is the job of the whip to communicate information to the rest of the House, McCarthy said, adding that in the past, the last Congress used the control of information to give them power because the release of information gives the people more control over their government.
“This,” he said, “is the people’s house.”
The app was developed by CRAFT | Digital/Media, a political digital communications firm based in Washington, D.C. The video promoting the app was also created by CRAFT, in addition to the newly updated whip website.
“Congressman McCarthy believed it was very important for the app to have visual appeal and was intuitive for a wide range of users,” Donahue, a partner at CRAFT, told TheDC. “It was important for Congressman McCarthy to have an app that the average person could use, as well as a House staffer or a member of Congress. That’s one of the main tenets of producing an app that contributes to government transparency.”
While specifics on the cost of the project were not provided, reporters were told that it was comparable to that of a website. Funds from the majority whip office were used to pay for the app, McCarthy told reporters.
“The pricing was different and separate for each product,” Donahue said. “Integrating the delivery of services cut down all overall costs. By streamlining aesthetics and deliverables we were able to help provide different platforms at an affordable price. The whip office is very conscious about keeping costs down, so efficiency was critical.”
The number one question from reporters Tuesday morning was if the app counted floor votes in real time, which McCarthy said it did not. There is, however, room for expansion, he said.
“The app will look different one from today than it does now,” said McCarthy. “It is a continual rollout.”
“The whip’s office is encouraging feedback on how to make the app better,” said Donahue. “We are working to incorporate improvements into future updates and versions.”
McCarthy — a founding member of House Republican group the Young Guns — spoke at Facebook’s Palo Alto headquarters with the other two founding members of the group, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the same day as President Obama’s LinkedIn town hall.
“It’s exciting to have two key figures in the Republican leadership who understand new technology,” said Donahue. “They are constantly pushing for new ways to communicate using digital and social mediums. They have a strong grasp on the future trends of efficient communicating.”
Since its launch on Tuesday, the app has already received numerous positive reviews. The app is, “What I expect from my government,” one reviewer wrote: “A promise made by one party, and kept by another. Excellent access/fluid info for anyone who cares about their money and how their government is spending it.”
Another reviewer did have an issue with the lack of information from Democrats: “Needs to be more politically transparent. This app is useful for Republicans who like to stay in their own bubble. There is a lot more going on than reading about anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage bills.”
