Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Michael Baumgartner

Republican on Retirement of Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald 2026-09-15

196 words · 9 sentences · 15 clauses

Statement grade

B–

Average 70 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Greeting 45%Claims 43%Anecdote 7%Procedure 5%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 30 wordsI rise to recognize Ferris High School’s football team for naming a new head coach, Billy Newman, ¹and I congratulate them on their first win of the season on Friday.²Greeting Claims · 29 wordsBilly Newman brings more than two decades of coaching experience and strong ties to the Spokane community.³ I remember him as a standout football player for Washington State University, ⁴Anecdote · 13 wordsand I appreciated Coach Newman when he coached my son in AAU basketball.Anecdote Claims · 55 wordsBilly’s appointment reflects Ferris High School’s commitment to strengthening its football program through character development and meaningful partnership with students, staff, and the broader community. Billy said upon becoming the coach: ``This football program will be built on school and community pride. It is an honor to represent our school, our families. . . .’’ Greeting · 59 wordsI wish the Saxons and all the high school football teams of eastern Washington success as they take on what looks to be a great football season. I wish good luck to the players, coaches, and the entire family, and, once again, I congratulate Coach Newman and the Ferris boys’ football team on that first win of the season.Greeting Procedure · 10 wordsHonoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie’’ Robert WolfeProcedure

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 41

8 of 8 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I rise to recognize Ferris High School’s football team for naming a new head coach, Billy Newman,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and I congratulate them on their first win of the season on Friday.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and I appreciated Coach Newman when he coached my son in AAU basketball.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I wish the Saxons and all the high school football teams of eastern Washington success as they take on what looks to be a great football season.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I wish good luck to the players, coaches,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and the entire family,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and, once again, I congratulate Coach Newman and the Ferris boys’ football team on that first win of the season.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Honoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie’’ Robert Wolfe”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

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 · 100

0 of 8 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 4

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“naming a new head coach, Billy Newman”Ferris High School’s football team named Billy Newman as its new head coach.search
2“their first win of the season on Friday”Ferris High School’s football team won its first game of the season on the Friday before September 15, 2026.search
3“more than two decades of coaching experience”Billy Newman has more than twenty years of coaching experience.search
4“a standout football player for Washington State University”Billy Newman played football for Washington State University.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-17