PolitiFact.com
Statements about Deficit
Frank Wolf

Frank Wolf

True

But a rosier scenario also exists

Says the Congressional Budget Office has estimated "every penny of the federal budget will go to interest on the debt and entitlement spending by 2025."

Rob Portman

Rob Portman

True

No quick fix to balance the books

The Buffett Rule "will bring in less than $5 billion per year. ... Enough to pay one week’s interest on the national debt."

Barry Hinckley

Barry Hinckley

Mostly True

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."

Jim Renacci

Jim Renacci

Half-True

Don't count your dollars before they're spent

"Since President Obama took office, our federal spending has increased by nearly 30 percent and our national debt has increased by almost 50 percent."

Dolores Gresham

Dolores Gresham

False

Many more than “a few” years remain in reserves

"Right now we have sufficient reserves to take care of Tennessee's lottery scholarship students for a few years more."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Pants on Fire!

No mentions? Try six.

Says in the 2012 State of the Union address, President Obama "didn't even mention the deficit or debt."

Bob McDonnell

Bob McDonnell

Mostly False

An exaggerated claim

President Obama's "budget would call for about $25 trillion in debt by the end of his term, if he was re-elected."

Chris Christie

Chris Christie

False

Cutting doesn’t mean not spending

Says "we had to cut 13 billion dollars in state spending over two years."

Red, White and Blue Fund

Red, White and Blue Fund

False

It was the high end of a temporary projection that didn't materialize

Mitt Romney "left Massachusetts $1 billion in debt."

Joseph Kyrillos

Joseph Kyrillos

Half-True

Blame game ignores recession

"Senator Menendez said he would spend our money wisely. But our annual national deficit climbed from $250 billion a year to $1.6 trillion on his watch."

Randy Forbes

Randy Forbes

True

The numbers add up

"The national debt is equal to $48,700 for every American or $128,300 for every U.S. household. It is now equivalent to the size of our entire economy."

Barry Hinckley

Barry Hinckley

Half-True

$8 trillion is a fair projection, but he's just one vote

"Sheldon Whitehouse's failure of leadership, the adding of almost $8 trillion in debt in his first full term, is shameful..."

Bob Corker

Bob Corker

True

That disparity is real

A typical married couple "will contribute $119,000" into Medicare but will "receive $357,000 in Medicare benefits over their lifetimes."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Half-True

Cuts are not to VA budget

President Obama has "said he is going to cut veterans' benefits."

Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Pants on Fire!

Don't forget about the first President Bush

"The Republicans have never done anything really to balance the budget."

Rob Portman

Rob Portman

Mostly True

Spike in increases hasn't persisted

Says federal spending has increased 21 percent over the past three years.

Jon Huntsman

Jon Huntsman

False

Hard to copy ideas you've trashed

Says the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction proposal went from President Barack Obama's desk to "the garbage can."

Anna Little

Anna Little

Mostly False

Writing in CAPS still don’t make it right

"Bob Menendez just voted to increase the government's debt ceiling to $1.9 TRILLION! In his 19 years in Congress, Menendez has helped overspend America over $15 TRILLION into debt."

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Mostly True

Unemployment: $20 million. Food stamps: $0.

Says taking millionaires off food stamps and unemployment would save $20 million.

Rush Holt

Rush Holt

False

Not by any measure

Says in 1944 "we were in debt more than twice as much as we are now."

Advertisement
How to contact us:

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.

Browse the The Truth-O-MeterTM:
Browse The Obameter:
Subscribe:

Keep up to date with Politifact National: