PolitiFact.com
Statements about Poverty
Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Mostly True

Feds didn't give up control

Rhode Island has taken its federal Medicaid funding and shown it can run the program more cost-effectively than the federal government.

George Allen

George Allen

True

Tough times for many

"The poverty rate amongst women is the worst it’s been in 17 years and the extreme poverty rate is the worst it’s ever been."

David Cicilline

David Cicilline

Mostly False

Doherty's position is more nuanced

Brendan Doherty wants "to repeal Obamacare, increasing drug prices for seniors."

Sheldon Whitehouse

Sheldon Whitehouse

Mostly True

75 years from NOW, not 2033.

"For Social Security, which is projected to remain solvent through 2033, Whitehouse has cosponsored [a bill that] . . . would extend the life of the program by an additional 75 years."

Bill Zedler

Bill Zedler

Mostly True

Close to half of Kenyans in poverty

"While (Barack) Obama preaches ‘we are our brother’s keeper,’ his brother and aunt live in real poverty in Kenya."  

Chain email

Chain email

Pants on Fire!

Wrong in 2009, 2010, 2011 and today

Medicare insurance premiums will be rising to "$120.20 per month in 2013 and $247.00 per month in 2014."

Elizabeth Roberts

Elizabeth Roberts

Half-True

Estimated range is even broader.

"Two thirds to three quarters of people without [health] insurance in Rhode Island work."

Dan Ramos

Dan Ramos

False

Poverty is an issue, but several other urban districts are poorer

Lorain "is the poorest urban school district in the state of Ohio."

David Cicilline

David Cicilline

Mostly False

77 cents not based on a job-by-job comparison

Women "earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men in the same position."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Half-True

Recession, not Obama, mostly to blame

"More Hispanics have fallen into poverty under Obama."

Alcee Hastings

Alcee Hastings

Half-True

The cost of a stamp is much less than what poor voters faced under the poll tax

Florida election officials’ requests to some residents to submit proof of citizenship is a "backdoor poll tax."

Terry Gorman

Terry Gorman

True

The best, the brightest, the unhireable

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

Gwen Moore

Gwen Moore

False

Scaled and filleted, not gutted

Says Gov. Scott Walker approved a "gutting" of two tax credits that help the poor and elderly.

National Republican Congressional Committee

National Republican Congressional Committee

Pants on Fire!

Riot? What riot?

Says that Rep. Betty Sutton "would rather riot with Occupy (Wall Street) than stand up for Ohio families."

Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley

Half-True

One Census Bureau number supports it, but it's an unofficial one

"One out of two Americans … are living either in or near poverty. That means 150 million Americans, half of us."

David Dewhurst

David Dewhurst

Half-True

Economy already slumping when Obama took office

"6.4 million more Americans living in poverty under President Obama."

Sandra Williams

Sandra Williams

Half-True

Number could be off by thousands of students

"99.97 percent of the kids live in poverty that attend Cleveland public schools."

David Dewhurst

David Dewhurst

True

But how many three putts?

Says Barack Obama has played over 90 rounds of golf as president.

Marcy Kaptur

Marcy Kaptur

True

Any way you look at it, women fare worse

"The poorest in this country are women."

Shaun Donovan

Shaun Donovan

Mostly True

Figure is dated but still on target

"It costs about $40,000 a year for a homeless person to be on the streets."

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