Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 19, 2010.
Fact-checking Tim Pawlenty
We fact-check two claims involving the Minnesota governor. Many believe the Republican is eyeing a 2012 run for president.
A scorecard separating fact from fiction
"Tim Pawlenty has cut education funding in Minnesota. Classrooms are overcrowded. Districts have gone to four-day school weeks."
"I don't think the argument can be credibly made that the United States of America is undertaxed compared to our competitors."
The president's budget "would take ... non-defense spending to its lowest level ... as a percentage of the economy since JFK."
Over the last 10 years, incomes for the top 1 percent "have grown." Meanwhile, the bottom half of the country, "they've seen their wages stagnate."
"25 percent of our economy is the financial sector."
Definitions of Truth-O-Meter rulings
The definitions of our Truth-O-Meter rulings:
TRUE – The statement is accurate and there"s nothing significant missing.
MOSTLY TRUE – The statement is accurate but needs ...
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Coverage of PolitiFact
Highlights from press coverage of PolitiFact:
PolitiFact in the States
Poynter Online, Q&A on PolitiFact state partnerships, May 6, 2010
American Journalism Review, Facing ...
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We've added a new promise to the Obameter
We've added a new promise to the Obameter.
On the campaign trail, President Barack Obama said he would give car manufacturers about $50 billion ...
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We want to hear your suggestions and comments. For tips or comments on our campaign promise database, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the promise number. For comments about our Truth-O-Meter or Flip-O-Meter items, please e-mail the Truth-O-Meter. We’re especially interested in seeing any chain e-mails you receive that you would like us to check out. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.
PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter. We’re also tracking more than 500 of Barack Obama’s campaign promises and are rating their progress on our new Obameter. >> More
“I want you to hold our government accountable. I want you to hold me accountable.” — Barack Obama
“Okay, we will.” — PolitiFact
Tracking Obama’s promises
Promises we have rated recently
No. 456:
Create cap and trade system with interim goals to reduce global warming
No. 286:
Secure the borders
No. 232:
Create a public "Contracts and Influence" database
No. 323:
Cap interest rates on payday loans and improve disclosure
No. 422:
Create new financial regulations
"There's no negative advertising in my campaign at all."
— Bill McCollum
Dave Aronberg "was the first to demand that BP create a billion-dollar fund to pay for the devastation."
— Dave Aronberg
"In 2009, Yost spent 2.5 times more money than it took to run the (prosecutor’s) office before he got there."
— Progress Ohio 
"There are more pain clinics in Broward County than there are McDonald's in Broward County."
— Dave Aronberg
Claims that Rep. Sanford Bishop votes similar to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are "inaccurate."
— Sanford Bishop
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