PolitiFact.com
Statements about Children
Gary Sasse

Gary Sasse

True

Reasons why are elusive

Rhode Island spends "52 percent more per capita on human service programs than the national average."

Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan

Mostly True

Bolsters education and ultimately earning power

"For every dollar we invest in Head Start, we get $5 to $7 back into our economy."

David Cicilline

David Cicilline

Pants on Fire!

4 Falses in 46 seconds.

The WIC program "is an incredibly cost effective program, serving nearly 10 million Americans each year and costing less than $100 per person. In my district, more than 18 percent of residents suffer from food insecurity and depend on WIC to make ends meet."

Kathleen Passidomo

Kathleen Passidomo

True

Sobering fact: Illegal gator killing can lead to more prison time than hosting underage drinking party

"It is a greater crime to have an untagged alligator than to host an open house party (for kids)."

Rob Eissler

Rob Eissler

Pants on Fire!

About 34 adults die per hour, according to an outdated estimate

"Obesity kills 34 children per hour."

E.J. Finocchio

E.J. Finocchio

False

There is an association, but it's not "most."

"Most of your serial killers, most of your people who commit domestic violence, they start off by abusing animals."

Amy Hanauer

Amy Hanauer

True

Figures for 2010 broke a record set in 2009

"To give a sense of how families are struggling, a record four out of every 10 school kids in Ohio now qualifies for subsidized lunch."

Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Mostly False

Medicaid spending on the elderly is disproportionate, but not that high

About two-thirds of Medicaid beneficiaries are children, but they account for one-third of the program’s cost, while one-third are elderly, and they account for two-thirds of the cost.

Stephen Wise

Stephen Wise

False

Hardened killers, yes; all from foster care, no

"Every person on death row was a foster kid."

Roberto DaSilva

Roberto DaSilva

Mostly True

Actually, it’s millions

"We’re paying out-of-state residential facilities hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more," to house children in state custody

Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine

True

Opponent Allen can make similar claims

Virginia was named "best managed state, best state for business and best state to raise a child" while I was governor. 

Rick Scott

Rick Scott

False

Child-only policies still being sold; in fact, state program sells them

"Before this (federal health care) law was enacted, Florida parents ... were able to purchase inexpensive 'child-only' coverage for their children. The law’s 'consumer protections' have now eliminated that choice in Florida."

Joseph McNamara

Joseph McNamara

Half-True

Claim is more bloated than our youth

"About 22 percent of adults in Rhode Island and approximately 30 percent of youth (ages 10-17) are considered obese."

Leticia Van de Putte

Leticia Van de Putte

True

At least 154 incidents since 1985 and more than 36 children

"Since 1980, over 145 incidents have been documented of suction entrapment in swimming pools and spas, including 36 deaths of children."

Marion Hammer

Marion Hammer

Mostly True

Group wants handgun ban

The American Academy of Pediatrics "supports banning guns."

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee

Mostly False

"Most" aren't on welfare or under-educated, and a big majority work

Says it’s a "statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death."

Gail Collins

Gail Collins

Mostly True

That's how Texas ranks in teen birth rates

Texas "ranks third in teen pregnancies... and it is No. 1 in repeat teen pregnancies."

Peter Palumbo

Peter Palumbo

Mostly False

He got one number wrong, the other is questionable

"There are nearly 500,000 registered sex offenders across the country and at any one time about 100,000 are unaccounted for."

Jim DeMint

Jim DeMint

True

OK, but what about sales of Jim Lehrer plush toys?

"From 2003 to 2006, 'Sesame Street' made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales."

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg

Half-True

Sexting isn't a felony — but child pornography is

In Texas, "sexting is a felony sex offense for teenagers — that can mean up to 10 years in prison."

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