May 24, 2012 • freshdc
May 21, 2012 • Washington Post
May 21, 2012 • sunlightfoundation.com
Is Congress getting dumber, or just more plainspoken? Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words. Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak over the heads of the average American, who reads at between at 8th and 9th grade level. Today’s Congress collectively speaks at a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005. View image bigger.

Is Congress getting dumber, or just more plainspoken?

Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words.

Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak over the heads of the average American, who reads at between at 8th and 9th grade level.

Today’s Congress collectively speaks at a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005.

View image bigger.

May 11, 2012 • reporting.sunlightfoundation.com
Momma’s boy: Santorum holds congressional record for ‘mother’ When it comes to their mothers, are the nation’s lawmakers getting forgetful? With Mother’s Day coming up, Sunlight decided to use our Capitol Words tool to see who in Congress talks about mom the most. Our database, which searches the Congressional Record back to 1996, indicates that talk of “mother” and “mom” has been tailing off in more recent years. Several of Congress’ top mother- and mom-mentioners are no longer in the nation’s top debating society.

Momma’s boy: Santorum holds congressional record for ‘mother’

When it comes to their mothers, are the nation’s lawmakers getting forgetful?

With Mother’s Day coming up, Sunlight decided to use our Capitol Words tool to see who in Congress talks about mom the most. Our database, which searches the Congressional Record back to 1996, indicates that talk of “mother” and “mom” has been tailing off in more recent years. Several of Congress’ top mother- and mom-mentioners are no longer in the nation’s top debating society.

April 10, 2012 • greatergreaterwashington.org
March 28, 2012 • The New York Times
Compare usage of ‘Obamacare’ vs ‘Affordable Care Act’ in the congressional record. Fighting to Control the Meaning of ‘Obamacare’ On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin three days of arguments over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The act is often called “Obamacare,” primarily by Republicans, as a term of disdain. Democrats have tried to limit the term’s use to reshape perceptions, but that has been a tough sell. Grant Barrett, a vice president for the American Dialect Society, says it is almost impossible to persuade people to discontinue the use of a political word. “It’s an invitation to have your heart broken. You forbid it, and they start writing it on the bathroom stalls.” Now Democrats seem to be embracing the term, launching a Twitter campaign that seeks to build positive associations for it.

Compare usage of ‘Obamacare’ vs ‘Affordable Care Act’ in the congressional record.

Fighting to Control the Meaning of ‘Obamacare’

On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin three days of arguments over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The act is often called “Obamacare,” primarily by Republicans, as a term of disdain. Democrats have tried to limit the term’s use to reshape perceptions, but that has been a tough sell. Grant Barrett, a vice president for the American Dialect Society, says it is almost impossible to persuade people to discontinue the use of a political word. “It’s an invitation to have your heart broken. You forbid it, and they start writing it on the bathroom stalls.” Now Democrats seem to be embracing the term, launching a Twitter campaign that seeks to build positive associations for it.

February 1, 2012 • sunlightfoundation.com
January 31, 2012 • reporting.sunlightfoundation.com
January 30, 2012 • staff

staff:

Tumblr Insights: Election 2012 Report

With the U.S. presidential campaign already off to a roaring start, news from the Republican primary contests has been a major topic across Tumblr. As we near another crescendo in Florida, we were curious how the campaign—from the numerous debates and rallies, to election ads and gaffes—has played out so far in terms of the type and quantity of attention received by each candidate on Tumblr.

The first graph shows how frequently each candidate’s name appeared in posts. The second shows other tags most frequently associated with each candidate. We’re most impressed with the viral power of one creative concept blog: When Rick Perry’s Unpopular Opinions sprang up as a parody of one of Perry’s campaign videos, he easily became the most blogged candidate overnight.

Our Insights team will be bringing you more data as the campaigns progress!

January 25, 2012 • opensecrets.org
January 24, 2012 • motherjones
January 11, 2012 • USA Today
November 16, 2011 • adamlaiacano
November 16, 2011 • kateoplis
kateoplis: Politico: Why SOPA is on the Congressional agenda Hollywood’s in a showdown over its TV shows, movies and music with an up-and-coming opponent in the Washington arena: the Silicon Valley gang. And that can only mean a huge payday for lobbyists. According to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, the film, music and TV industries have spent more than $91 million on lobbying so far this year — an amount that puts them on pace to beat all of their previous spending records.  Tell Them No

kateoplis:

Politico: Why SOPA is on the Congressional agenda

Hollywood’s in a showdown over its TV shows, movies and music with an up-and-coming opponent in the Washington arena: the Silicon Valley gang.

And that can only mean a huge payday for lobbyists.

According to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, the film, music and TV industries have spent more than $91 million on lobbying so far this year — an amount that puts them on pace to beat all of their previous spending records. 
September 6, 2011 • Washington Post
The supercommittee’s K Street connections Nearly 100 former aides to members of the new budget-cutting “supercommittee” now work as K Street lobbyists, often representing clients with a vested interest in the panel’s decisions. A half dozen former lobbyists are also currently employed by the lawmakers. The connections mean that many lobbyists are now trying to convince their former employers to go easy on their corporate clients.

The supercommittee’s K Street connections

Nearly 100 former aides to members of the new budget-cutting “supercommittee” now work as K Street lobbyists, often representing clients with a vested interest in the panel’s decisions. A half dozen former lobbyists are also currently employed by the lawmakers. The connections mean that many lobbyists are now trying to convince their former employers to go easy on their corporate clients.