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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity. Average 66 / 100
Signal
58 / 100
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Relevance
53 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
88 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 7% Claims 48% Positioning 21% Promise 4% Reasoning 6% Aside 12% The ask 2%
Structure · 30 steps
Claims · 5
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Mr. Speaker, Claims · 28 words I rise today in support of the Stop Insider Trading Act. There is a lot of talk in this town about draining the swamp and cleaning up Washington. Procedure · 6 words Today, the rubber hits the road. Procedure Positioning · 13 words Good governance matters, and the Committee on House Administration is leading the way. Positioning Claims · 42 words Under current law, Members of Congress are required to publicly disclose their stock trades.1 The disclosures lack details and are often filed months after a transaction. This lack of transparency and the continued practice of Members purchasing stock is fueling public frustration. Promise · 18 words It is time we ban Members of Congress from being able to buy individual companies’ shares of stock. Reasoning · 8 words Doing so removes even the appearance of impropriety. Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 10 words we have an opportunity to pass transformational congressional ethics reform. Positioning Claims · 27 words This is the first congressional stock trading ban to receive a vote on the floor of the House.2 Today, every American will know where their Member stands. Aside · 17 words If you want to day trade, there is a place for that. It is called Wall Street. Aside Reasoning · 17 words If you want to come to Washington, you should be working on behalf of the American people. Claims · 18 words In addition, this bill also includes a commonsense proposal that we have advanced through committee on voter ID.3 Positioning · 11 words Voter ID strengthens election integrity and is nonpartisan and common sense. Positioning Aside · 33 words In this country, you have to show a photo ID to fly, to open a bank account, to buy a beer, and, more recently, to enjoy a never-ending pasta bowl at Olive Garden. Aside Claims · 17 words You don’t have to show an ID to vote in States like Minnesota, Illinois, California, 4 and others, Positioning · 23 words which are literally not doing the job of securing our elections, when the easy task of photo ID is in front of us. Positioning Off point Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 5 words it is a simple concept: Procedure Claims · 55 words To vote in a Federal election, you need to show a photo ID. Twenty-four States already require a form of photo ID to vote.5 This bill, of course, allows provisional voting if someone forgets their ID when they go to the polls--again, common sense. That is why it is so popular with the American people. Unearned certainty Positioning · 11 words They understand it. Unearned certainty They know the need for this commonsense reform. Positioning Claims · 13 words Photo ID will help strengthen election integrity, bolster voter confidence, Vague promise and increase participation. Positioning · 8 words That is a good thing for our democracy. Positioning Off point Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 14 words these two proposals will clean up Washington and strengthen the integrity of our elections. Positioning Vague promise Mr. Speaker, The ask · 10 words I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, Procedure · 8 words and I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×17 Positioning ×9 Procedure ×4 Aside ×4 Unearned certainty ×2 Vague promise ×2
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 58
17 of 38 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Today, the rubber hits the road.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Good governance matters,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and the Committee on House Administration is leading the way.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “we have an opportunity to pass transformational congressional ethics reform.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “If you want to day trade, there is a place for that.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “It is called Wall Street.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Voter ID strengthens election integrity and is nonpartisan and common sense.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “In this country, you have to show a photo ID to fly, to open a bank account, to buy a beer,” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “and, more recently, to enjoy a never-ending pasta bowl at Olive Garden.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “which are literally not doing the job of securing our elections, when the easy task of photo ID is in front of us.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “it is a simple concept:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “They understand it.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “They know the need for this commonsense reform.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “That is a good thing for our democracy.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “these two proposals will clean up Washington and strengthen the integrity of our elections.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “and I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 53
17 of 38 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “In addition, this bill also includes a commonsense proposal that we have advanced through committee on voter ID.” Pivots to a voter ID rider rather than the stock trading bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Voter ID strengthens election integrity and is nonpartisan and common sense.” Argues the merits of voter ID, not the bill before the House.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “In this country, you have to show a photo ID to fly, to open a bank account, to buy a beer,” Illustrations about photo ID for flying, banking, and other activities are unrelated to insider trading.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and, more recently, to enjoy a never-ending pasta bowl at Olive Garden.” An aside about Olive Garden and photo ID does not address the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “You don’t have to show an ID to vote in States like Minnesota, Illinois, California,” Catalogues states without photo ID requirements, unrelated to the stock trading bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and others,” Continues the list of states without voter ID, off the bill’s subject.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “which are literally not doing the job of securing our elections, when the easy task of photo ID is in front of us.” Criticizes states on election security, not the insider trading measure.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “it is a simple concept:” Transition line serving the voter ID discussion, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “To vote in a Federal election, you need to show a photo ID.” States the voter ID proposal’s content, not the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Twenty-four States already require a form of photo ID to vote.” Statistic about states requiring photo ID, unrelated to insider trading.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “This bill, of course, allows provisional voting if someone forgets their ID when they go to the polls--again, common sense.” Explains the voter ID provision’s provisional voting, not the bill’s stock provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “That is why it is so popular with the American people.” Popularity of voter ID, not the bill before the House.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They understand it.” About the public understanding voter ID, off the bill’s subject.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They know the need for this commonsense reform.” Continues the voter ID pitch, not the insider trading bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Photo ID will help strengthen election integrity, bolster voter confidence,” Claims benefits of photo ID, unrelated to the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and increase participation.” Further voter ID benefits, not the stock trading measure.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “That is a good thing for our democracy.” Concludes the voter ID argument, off the bill’s subject.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 88
4 of 38 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “it is so popular with the American people” Asserts public popularity with no poll or source offered.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “They understand it.” Claims to know how Americans think without any supporting evidence.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “Photo ID will help strengthen election integrity, bolster voter confidence,” Promised outcomes with no measure, date, or success condition.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “these two proposals will clean up Washington and strengthen the integrity of our elections.” Broad benefits asserted with no actor, measure, or way to check success.
Claims · 5
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “Under current law, Members of Congress are required to publicly disclose their stock trades” Current US law requires Members of Congress to publicly disclose their stock trades. search 2 “This is the first congressional stock trading ban to receive a vote on the floor of the House” The Stop Insider Trading Act is the first congressional stock trading ban to receive a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. search 3 “this bill also includes a commonsense proposal that we have advanced through committee on voter ID” The Stop Insider Trading Act includes a voter ID provision that was advanced through committee. search 4 “You don’t have to show an ID to vote in States like Minnesota, Illinois, California” Minnesota, Illinois, and California do not require voters to show photo ID in order to vote. search 5 “Twenty-four States already require a form of photo ID to vote” Twenty-four US states require some form of photo ID to vote. search
