No opinions. Just paperwork, translated.
Every number in Capitol Receipts comes from a government filing. Here's where we get it, how often it updates, and exactly how we count.
Our three rules
Same ruler for everyone
Every member gets measured the same way, whatever their party. No hand-picked villains.
No grades, no spin
We don't score anyone as good or bad. We show what they filed and how it compares to everyone else.
Always show the source
Every fact links to the original record, so you never have to take our word for it.
Nine public sources. Zero guesswork.
How we count, in plain English.
Small-donor share
Money from people giving $200 or less, divided by everything raised this election cycle.
Stock trades
Each buy or sale on a disclosure report counts once. If a report is amended, we drop the duplicate.
Committee-tied trades
A trade in a company whose industry falls under a committee the member sits on. We match the company's official SEC industry code to each committee's area.
Votes missed
Recorded votes they didn't cast, divided by every vote held while they were in office.
Party loyalty
On votes where most Democrats and most Republicans disagreed, how often they sided with their own party.
Ex-staff lobbying
Registered lobbyists who list a past job in that member's office on their lobbying forms.
Fair questions
Who pays for Capitol Receipts?
Subscribers and newsrooms. We take no money from parties, campaigns, PACs or lobbyists.
Are you left or right?
Neither. Both parties show up on every list, and every member is measured the same way. If the numbers look bad for one side, that's what the filings say.
Why can't I see some trades in detail?
Some members still file handwritten paper reports. We can't read those reliably, so we link the original scan instead of guessing.
Does a high number mean someone did something wrong?
No. Trading stock is legal, and missing votes can have good reasons. We show the record so you can decide what to ask.
I found a mistake. What now?
Email corrections@capitolreceipts.com with a link to the record. We fix confirmed errors fast and note every correction in the app.