Jane KahounPolitiFact Ohio editor and deputy metro editor, The Plain Dealer
Jane Kahoun is the editor of PolitiFact Ohio, as well as a deputy metro editor for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper. Her editing duties include coordinating The Plain Dealer's politics coverage and news coverage from bureaus in Washington and Columbus.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Jane Kahoun
"Forty-six cents of every dollar" Ohio could get for Medicaid expansion "is going to come from China or some other country that doesn’t like us very much."
"The Social Security trust fund is sound. Without anything being done, it would function well into 2038; and even after that time with no changes, we could pay 80 percent of the benefits that people have earned."
"Six out of 10 of the highest unemployment rates are also in so-called right to work states."
"Just about everyone everywhere is spending more hours on the job, less time with their families, bringing home smaller and smaller paychecks, while they're paying more and more at the gas pump and the grocery stores."
Accuses Ed FitzGerald of "pay-to-play and corruption politics."
"Nearly 40,000 new jobs have been created in the last year due to the new wells . . . right here in Ohio."
Recent stories from Jane Kahoun
Is Ted Cruz constitutionally eligible to be president?Rising Republican star Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, is being looked at as a potential presidential contender. But some question whether Cruz, who was born in Canada, could become the chief executive because of the Constitution’s requirement that the president be a "natural born citizen." PolitiFact Ohio dug in.
Is Ted Cruz eligible under the Constitution to become president?Rising Republican star Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, is being looked at as a potential presidential contender. But some question whether Cruz, who was born in Canada, could become the chief executive because of the Constitution’s requirement that the president be a "natural born citizen." We look at the legal issues.
Even in an age of fact checking, the whopper livesPoliticians of all parties have been bending the truth since the beginning of the republic. The two previous presidential administrations are perhaps best known for lies or untruths -- see Lewinsky, Monica, and weapons of mass destruction. And even in this, another presidential election year, rare is the day when a candidate does not utter or repeat a claim that will be debunked by an independent truth squad. Why do they do it? Those who study politics and communications say the consequences appear to be minimal.
Kasich making progress on some campaign promisesThe Kasich-O-Meter tracks Gov. John Kasich's performance toward fulfilling pledges he made on the campaign trail. We identified 21 specific promises he repeated several times, most of which deal with taxes, the state budget and education. Here's some recent updates.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur's quip about First Energy revenues rated No. 1 for 2010The quirkyness of a statement from Rep. Marcy Kaptur caught the eye of the editors at PolitiFact Ohio. They chose one of her comments to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as the No. 1 PolitiFact Ohio item for 2010. Her claim: Electric utility FirstEnergy's annual revenues are greater "than the GDP of Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, or 15 African nations."
Glenn Beck's 'Wonderful Life' tale rated No. 2After making more than 100 Truth-O-Meter rulings, the editors who rate the items for PolitiFact Ohio looked back over the year and selected the Top 10 for 2010. Today we offer No. 2: A statement about economically beleaguered Wilmington, Ohio, which radio host Glenn Beck characterized as a real life Bedford Falls.
Rob Portman's claim about Lee Fisher and gun control rated No. 3 for 2010After making more than 100 Truth-O-Meter rulings, the editors who rate the items for PolitiFact Ohio looked back over the year and selected the Top 10 for 2010. Today we offer No. 3: A statement about Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and his views on gun control. The statement, from Sen.-elect Rob Portman's campaign, led to this story that debunked a decades-old myth.
Rep. John Boehner's ice maker claim rated as No. 4After making more than 100 Truth-O-Meter rulings, the editors who rate the items for PolitiFact Ohio looked back over the year and selected the Top 10 for 2010. Today we offer No. 4: A statement about quirky aspects of the tax laws that were part of health care reform legislation. Rep. John Boehner made the statement when he spoke to the City Club of Cleveland in August.
PolitiFact Ohio selects the Top 10 for 2010After making more than 100 Truth-O-Meter rulings, the editors who rate the items for PolitiFact Ohio looked back over the year and selected the Top 10 for 2010. Selections weren't just based on which articles were true or false. In fact, only two that got Pants On Fire ratings — awarded to statements that are both false and ridiculous — made the cut.
Election may be over, but we're just getting startedPolitiFact Ohio launched July 25 just as the election season was picking up steam. Since then it has reviewed more than 80 statements made by politicians. And while it's true that the bulk of the statements came from candidates and their campaigns, PolitiFact Ohio's mission didn't end when the voting ended. As governments in Washington, Columbus and hometown Ohio get back to work, we'll be watching.
We want to hear your suggestions and comments. Email the Ohio 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.
