Word Editor
Elizabeth Miniet is a word editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Elizabeth Miniet
"Right now, we have the lowest gas tax of anywhere in the country."
The recent process of awarding $3 billion worth of airport vending contracts was the "most open and transparent procurement process in the city’s history."
Crime rises in communities with casinos.
The fastest-rising expense in the U.S. Defense Department is health care.
Georgia’s HOPE scholarship is "still the richest scholarship program in America."
"The federal government owns tens of thousands of properties that are vacant or underused."
"The ACLU has filed a suit to end prayer from the military completely."
A proposed regional transportation tax will last "a minimum" of 10 years, and has been approved to last longer.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not traditionally asked a lot of questions during oral arguments.
Recent stories from Elizabeth Miniet
PolitiFact Georgia reviews Gingrich's classics(Editor’s note: With the Iowa caucuses only two months away, PolitiFact Georgia will dedicate this week to summaries of key fact-checks on the leading GOP candidates as well as President Barack Obama’s performance on his 500 campaign promises. Today we look at Newt Gingrich.) Want to comment on our findings? Visit us on Facebook.
The Best of Texas Gov. Rick PerryEditor’s note: With the Iowa caucuses only two months away, PolitiFact Georgia will dedicate this week to summaries of key fact-checks on the leading GOP candidates as well as President Barack Obama’s performance on his 500 campaign promises. Today we look at Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Want to comment on our findings? Visit us on Facebook. "We cut property taxes by one-third in the state of Texas while I’ve been governor." On the campaign trail in New Hampshire Oct. 1, Perry repeated this common battle cry in his campaign for the Republican nomination. He’s referring to House Bill 1, which he signed into law in 2006. It’s intended to reduce property taxes paid to local school districts. The overhaul effectively lowered the maintenance and operation segment of the school tax, from $1.50 to $1.00 per $100 of assessed property value, or about one-third. But it didn’t translate to 33 percent lower bills for taxpayers. If you look at total property tax revenue, Texans paid about the same amount in 2010 as they did in 2005. If you adjust for inflation, he's closer (it's about 9 percent less), but it's still far short of one-third. We find his claim Mostly False.
Good week for truthiness at PolitiFact GeorgiaPoliticians kept the truth close at hand at PolitiFact Georgia last week. Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp earned a True on a claim about election law violations. So did Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker, who talked about the region’s transportation needs. A criminal justice expert earned a Mostly True when he questioned the effectiveness of Atlanta’s curfew law. State Sen. Jack Murphy strayed the furthest from the truth with a statement on immigration. Half True, we ruled. All in all, not a bad week for Truthiness. To comment on our findings, hit the "like" button on our Facebook page.You can also follow us on Twitter.
Truth-O-Meter's business is businessFrom the pizza trade to sports management, the Truth-O-Meter was up to all sorts of business last week. We began with a fact check on the corporate track record of Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain at Godfather’s Pizza. We followed with checks on wages in Georgia’s agriculture business and economic recovery data. To wrap up the workweek, we covered crime and the business of football. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, welcome to the Truth-O-Meter. Want to comment on our findings? Hit the "like" button on our Facebook page to join the discussion. You can also follow us on Twitter.
With truth scarce, pants burnThe truth was scarce in Georgia politics last week. PolitiFact Georgia’s scribes struggled to find scraps of truth in statements on the reapportionment process, Gwinnett schools, Muslims in a potential Cabinet for presidential candidate Herman Cain, and trauma centers. But it was nearly for naught. We gave three Barely Trues and one Pants on Fire. It was the second time Cain’s britches have burned since he began hinting at his presidential ambitions. Want to comment on our findings? Hit the "like" button on our Facebook page to join the discussion. You can also follow us on Twitter.
PolitiFact Georgia goes for broke on the national debtThanks to recent battles over federal spending, the Truth-O-Meter hit a jackpot of claims that need checking. U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Mark Warner of Virginia barnstormed the Atlanta area Monday to drum up support for reducing the national debt, so PolitiFact Georgia went for broke. We greeted them with rapid-fire fact checks. The budget hawks were mostly on the money. Warner won a True on Social Security data. Chambliss scored a Mostly True on debt growth figures and a Half True on how tax cuts impact tax revenue. MoveOn.org and U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Athens shortchanged us on the facts. Both earned False rulings on the budget debate. Want to comment on our findings? Go to our Facebook page and hit the "like" button to join the discussion. You can also follow us on Twitter.
Some claims held water. Others needed to be flushed.PolitiFact Georgia had a week of extremes. The Truth-O-Meter dished out one Mostly True and a True to the head of a conservation group on water issues and prospective GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on prisons. The Deal-O-Meter ruled Gov. Nathan Deal was making progress on a promise he made about the Race to the Top education program. Then the Truth-O-Meter lit Georgia presidential prospect Herman Cain’s Pants on Fire. He claimed Planned Parenthood was started to kill black babies before they were born. The Obameter gave a "Promise Broken" to President Barack Obama’s on foreclosure prevention. Want to comment on our findings? Go to our Facebook page and hit the "like" button to join the discussion. You can also follow us on Twitter.
Polifact Georgia tickled by Elmo, truthinessMove over, Elmo. After last week’s outbreak of truthiness, no one can be more tickled than PolitiFact Georgia. Partisans were on target about subjects as disparate as county budget cuts and "Sesame Street," which launched the career of the Muppet that inspired the Tickle Me Elmo doll. They even fared well on the contentious issues of illegal immigration and abortion. The sole exception was President Barack Obama on Social Security checks. Have something to say about our rulings? Speak your mind on our Facebook page or tweet our failings on Twitter.
Truth-O-Meter rattles saber, burns britchesLast week, AJC PolitiFact Georgia's Truth-O-Meter emerged from its holiday slumber and rattled its saber. First, it made quick work of claims on subjects including corporate tax rates, Atlanta's budget and whether DeKalb is the "greenest" county in America. Then, in honor of the Civil War's sesquicentennial, it burned some britches for a group's claim that blacks fought in droves for the Confederacy. The Truth-O-Meter takes no prisoners. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to comment and read our latest updates.
Holidays prompt outbreak of truthinessFolks must be feeling goodwill toward their fellow man this holiday season. Last week, AJC PolitiFact Georgia experienced an outbreak of truthiness. Washington lawmakers found some accurate things to say about federal programs on the homeless and President Barack Obama's proposed tax compromise that just worked its way through Congress. We also uncovered some truths about Georgia public higher education and our beloved Atlanta Braves. We're shocked. And relieved. Happy Holidays. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to comment and read our latest updates.
We want to hear your suggestions and comments. Email the Georgia Truth-O-Meter with feedback and with claims you'd like to see checked. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.
