Legislative Opinions

Judges write an opinion explaining the reason for a court decision. This document situates the current case within the expanses of legal history and identifies the salient features and premises which formed the final conclusions. It's a judge's job to decide, and the opinion is how they explain that they're doing it well.

I would like written opinions from our representatives and senators. It's a member of Congress's job to vote; I would appreciate an explanation. Legislative opinions would identify insights along with confusions. Even indications of kowtowing to lobbyists or the party line might surface. The opinions must be accessible: one to two pages of plain English. The reasons described ought to be the legislator's own, concrete reasons specific to this vote. Lack of citation would be cause for impeachment; we the constituency need to know how those reasons were developed (interviews, statistics, texts, etc)¹.

As far as I know, legislative opinions don't exist. I've never even heard of the idea. (Which seems a bit ridiculous.) Of course, every campaign includes the politician's general opinion on a per issue basis, but these are undelivered speeches, persuading instead of explaining. They're too abstract and tailored to be of much use and geared on what the politician will do once elected. But the opinion I want to read justifies what the elected official has done. An opinion for each vote would help legislators share concrete, specific beliefs with the public. It would answer the questions: What was right with this bill? What was wrong with this amendment? An opinion leaving these questions unanswered would indicate the absence of understanding, of research, and of respect for accountability.

I would immediately sign up for my representatives' and senators' opinion newsletter.

¹ The sneaky computer scientist in me knows that data mining citations would identify references of particular import, pangs of the party line, and even traces of opinion-plagiarism.