Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Michael Lawler

Republican on Ratepayer Protection Act 2026-09-15

342 words · 18 sentences · 21 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 83 / 100

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

Greeting 2%Procedure 4%Claims 44%Reasoning 40%Promise 8%The ask 3%

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

Madam Speaker, Greeting · 8 wordsI thank the chairman for yielding me time.Greeting Madam Speaker, Procedure · 12 wordsI rise today in support of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act.Procedure Claims · 98 wordsNew York families and businesses face some of the highest electricity costs in the country. In February, the average residential electricity price in New York reached about 70 percent higher than the national average, ¹and it is up 58 percent in the last 6 years.²Off point At the same time, data centers seeking to connect to New York’s electric grid are reportedly requesting more than 9,000 megawatts of additional electricity.³ Years of failed energy policies out of Albany, including shutting down nuclear, banning natural gas, blocking pipelines, ⁴and other crazy ideas, have already driven up costs for New Yorkers. Reasoning · 67 wordsWe cannot afford to make the problem worse.Off point As we work to bring new investments and jobs to New York and, indeed, America, we need to make sure that the costs of growth do not fall on the families and small businesses already struggling to pay their utility bills. That is why I support the Ratepayer Protection Act. This legislation simply establishes a basic principle of fairness. Claims · 51 wordsIt is about making sure that the companies driving new demand for electricity are responsible for the costs associated with that demand. We are already seeing communities and policymakers grappling with how to manage the rapid growth of large-scale data centers and the demands that they place on our energy infrastructure. Reasoning · 69 wordsThis is something that the Federal Government needs to work together on to create regulations and protect the people because we need a better approach.Vague promise We need one that respects the role of local communities while ensuring that companies driving new demand are responsible for the costs that they create. We need a policy that looks ahead, builds the infrastructure we need, and protects ratepayers at the same time. Promise · 27 wordsI will continue working to ensure that New Yorkers have access to reliable and affordable energy while making sure that large energy users pay their fair share.Vague promise Madam Speaker, The ask · 10 wordsI urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 93

3 of 11 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 thank the chairman for yielding me time.”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 “I rise today in support of H.R.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 73

6 of 11 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “New York families and businesses face some of the highest electricity costs in the country.”New York electricity prices are context for the speaker’s case rather than anything the bill addresses, though they lead into it.
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 February, the average residential electricity price in New York reached about 70 percent higher than the national average,”A statistic about New York residential prices, not about the bill or large-load customers.
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 it is up 58 percent in the last 6 years.”Another price statistic unrelated to the bill’s large-load cost allocation standard.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Years of failed energy policies out of Albany, including shutting down nuclear, banning natural gas, blocking pipelines,”Criticism of Albany’s energy policies is a different subject from the bill’s federal standard for large-load customers.
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 other crazy ideas, have already driven up costs for New Yorkers.”Continues the attack on state energy policies in place of addressing the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We cannot afford to make the problem worse.”A general warning about making the problem worse, not about what the bill does.

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

2 of 11 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “the Federal Government needs to work together on”Names no specific action, date, or measure for how the federal role would be carried out.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “I will continue working to ensure”An open-ended commitment with no date, measure, or condition defining what will be delivered.

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“the average residential electricity price in New York reached about 70 percent higher than the national average”In February 2026, New York’s average residential electricity price was about 70 percent higher than the national average.search
2“it is up 58 percent in the last 6 years”New York’s average residential electricity price rose 58 percent between 2020 and 2026.search
3“requesting more than 9,000 megawatts of additional electricity”Data centers seeking to connect to New York’s electric grid have reportedly requested more than 9,000 megawatts of additional electricity.search
4“shutting down nuclear, banning natural gas, blocking pipelines”New York State under Albany’s energy policies closed nuclear plants, banned natural gas, and blocked pipelines.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-17