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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. Average 74 / 100
Signal
70 / 100
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Relevance
83 / 100
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Reasoning
60 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
82 / 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 4% Positioning 24% Claims 66% Reasoning 5% Promise 2%
Structure · 15 steps
Claims · 7
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 Positioning · 25 words Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are skirting very closely to having their words taken down when they call out individual Members. Positioning Off point Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 41 words our colleagues sometimes ask who is to blame for the lack of trust of Members of Congress. It is Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal. Positioning Off point No reason given Claims · 37 words We already have laws in place against insider trading. There have been a couple of Members of Congress who have been prosecuted for that, 1 and that is appropriate, but the Stop Insider Trading Act will prevent that. Positioning · 24 words I believe, and Republicans believe, that no lawmaker should profit off of insider information. I frankly don’t know how people get the insider information, Positioning Claims · 175 words but the top line of the legislation we are bringing here, the Stop Insider Trading Act, led by Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, will ensure that lawmakers cannot use their positions to profit off insider information, Unearned certainty if there is insider information. The Stop Insider Trading Act has a prohibition on stock purchasing.2 It bans Members, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing securities issued by publicly traded companies.3 It requires Members to file a public notice at least 7 days but no more than 14 days in advance for any intended stock sale with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate.4 Then, if a Member of Congress, spouse, or dependent child decides not to sell a covered investment, the Member must publicly withdraw the notice prior to its expiration.5 There are penalties, Mr. Speaker, for violators. They will be assessed a fine equal to $2,000 or 10 percent of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, 6 and then any net gain realized from a transaction. Reasoning · 22 words This is designed to make sure that Members do not take advantage of any potential information or advantage that the Member has. Mr. Speaker, Promise · 9 words we want to restore public trust in this institution. Vague promise Positioning · 15 words Members are doing their jobs diligently. They do not want to be under a cloud. Positioning Claims · 77 words News outlets and social media accounts have garnered significant attention for aggregating the stock trades of Members of Congress. Under the STOCK Act of 2012, lawmakers are prohibited from using nonpublic information for their own financial benefit, 7 but many Americans have become concerned that the STOCK Act is insufficient and stronger measures must be implemented. The Stop Insider Trading Act will increase transparency and reinforce to the American people that Members are working for them, not themselves. Vague promise Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 7 words I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Positioning ×8 Off point ×3 Procedure ×2 Vague promise ×2 No reason given Unearned certainty
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 70
10 of 17 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.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are skirting very closely to having their words taken down when they call out individual Members.” 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 → “our colleagues sometimes ask who is to blame for the lack of trust of Members of Congress.” 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 → “It is Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal.” 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 → “I believe,” 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 Republicans believe, that no lawmaker should profit off of insider information.” 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 → “I frankly don’t know how people get the insider information,” 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 → “Members are doing their jobs diligently.” 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 do not want to be under a cloud.” 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 → “I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 83
3 of 17 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 → “Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are skirting very closely to having their words taken down when they call out individual Members.” A complaint about colleagues’ conduct in the chamber, not about the rule or any bill under consideration.
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 → “our colleagues sometimes ask who is to blame for the lack of trust of Members of Congress.” A rhetorical question about who is to blame for distrust of Congress, not about the legislation being considered.
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 Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal.” A political point blaming other Members and the press, rather than addressing the rule or the bills.
Reasoning · 60
1 of 17 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
No reason given A conclusion stated with no reason given for it. What the tags mean → “It is Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal.” The blame is asserted directly in c6 with no supporting reasons; c31 notes press attention to trades but does not tie it to lost trust.
Conclusions found · 2
Conclusion “It is Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal.”
Because No reason given
Conclusion “The Stop Insider Trading Act will increase transparency and reinforce to the American people that Members are working for them, not themselves.”
Because “The Stop Insider Trading Act has a prohibition on stock purchasing.”
“It bans Members, their spouses,”
“and their dependent children from purchasing securities issued by publicly traded companies.”
“It requires Members to file a public notice at least 7 days but no more than 14 days in advance for any intended stock sale with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate.”
“Then,”
“if a Member of Congress, spouse,”
“or dependent child decides not to sell a covered investment, the Member must publicly withdraw the notice prior to its expiration.”
“There are penalties, Mr. Speaker, for violators.”
“They will be assessed a fine equal to $2,000 or 10 percent of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater,”
“and then any net gain realized from a transaction.”
“but many Americans have become concerned that the STOCK Act is insufficient and stronger measures must be implemented.”
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 · 82
3 of 17 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 → “will ensure that lawmakers cannot use their positions to profit” Asserts the bill’s effectiveness as certain with no source or evidence offered.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “we want to restore public trust in this institution” A stated desire with no actor, date, measure, or success condition attached.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “will increase transparency and reinforce to the American people that Members are working for them” A future commitment with no concrete measure or way to verify it is met.
Claims · 7
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 “There have been a couple of Members of Congress who have been prosecuted for that” A couple of Members of Congress have been prosecuted for insider trading. search 2 “The Stop Insider Trading Act has a prohibition on stock purchasing.” The Stop Insider Trading Act contains a prohibition on stock purchasing. search 3 “and their dependent children from purchasing securities issued by publicly traded companies.” The Stop Insider Trading Act bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing securities issued by publicly traded companies. search 4 “requires Members to file a public notice at least 7 days but no more than 14 days in advance for any intended stock sale with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate” The Stop Insider Trading Act requires Members to file a public notice at least 7 days but no more than 14 days in advance of any intended stock sale with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate. search 5 “the Member must publicly withdraw the notice prior to its expiration” Under the Stop Insider Trading Act, if a Member, spouse, or dependent child decides not to sell a covered investment, the Member must publicly withdraw the advance notice before it expires. search 6 “a fine equal to $2,000 or 10 percent of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater” The Stop Insider Trading Act penalizes violators with a fine equal to $2,000 or 10 percent of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, plus any net gain realized. search 7 “Under the STOCK Act of 2012, lawmakers are prohibited from using nonpublic information for their own financial benefit” The STOCK Act of 2012 prohibits lawmakers from using nonpublic information for their own financial benefit. search
