Brendan Doherty

Deadly spending

"Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees."

Promise: Upgrade state website to put government services such as obtaining drivers licenses online

Update: Online driver’s license renewal fulfills one element of Chafee promise, but at a small price

John Matson

Repaying a loan to himself

"Jimmy Langevin is having a fundraiser . . . to retire the debt from his campaign for secretary of state, which was 12 years ago."

Promise: Support same-sex marriage, support repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

Update: Recognition of out-of-state unions goes beyond "support" of same-sex marriage

Terry Gorman

The best, the brightest, the unhireable

"When these [undocumented] students graduate from college, they're still illegal aliens. They cannot get a job."

Promise: Reform municipal employee pension plans

Update: After state pension reform, focus now on cities, towns

Sheldon Whitehouse

Try 611,000 one-year jobs over a decade

"If you put the $47 billion in revenue (raised over 10 years by the Buffett rule) into infrastructure you could create 611,000 infrastructure jobs."

David Dooley

When a $100,000 salary is considered low.

"We have to recognize that our salaries for faculty are the lowest in New England with the exception of the University of Maine."

National Republican Congressional Committee

What about the price spike in 2008?

Gas prices have gone up 99 percent since Obama became president, "the highest gas price increase since Carter."

Barry Hinckley

The money was for Egypt. Big difference.

President Obama gave Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood one and a half billion dollars.

Promise: Reform state employee pension plan

Update: Chafee got pension plan changes, but not in the way he had hoped

Promise: Support anti-bullying legislation, protect gay, bisexual and transgender youths in schools

Update: Anti-bullying law includes sexual orientation issues

Mitt Romney

Decline started before Obama became president

"The number of new businesses started per year has dropped by 100,000 during this president’s term."

Jon O'Brien

Numbers vary, but not by much

"Only 14 percent of Catholics agree with the Vatican's position that abortion should be illegal."

Lisa Tomasso

The scrap metal state?

"Rhode Island’s exports have increased by 53 percent in the last two years."

Barry Hinckley

Because the national debt is so high.

The "Buffett rule" "raises virtually no money, maybe a day and a half of our borrowing per year."

Mike Huckabee

Scores of permits granted

President Obama's refusal to grant permits for offshore drilling is one reason gasoline prices are soaring.

Jeffrey Hernandez

Perhaps statewide change in grading system helped?

Says his reform efforts improved performance at all 10 low-performing schools in Palm Beach, Florida.

Doreen Costa

A documented fact.

"This is the only state in the country that bypassed the General Assembly to authorize [in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants]."

Chain e-mail

Higher than other states, but not that high

"Having an entirely Democrat congressional delegation in 2009, when the [federal stimulus] bill passed, increases the per capita stimulus dollars that the state receives per person by $460."