PolitiFact.com
Statements about Social Security
Kurt Schrader

Kurt Schrader

True

When it comes to federal spending, Schrader’s meaning eclipses his choice of words.

In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget.

Rob Cornilles

Rob Cornilles

Mostly False

We find no evidence of a request for a correction

Rob Cornilles has disputed for two years a news story that said he said he would cut Social Security and Medicare programs before trimming the U.S. defense budget.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

False

Robocall attack lacks facts

Says Rep. Jim Renacci was "trying to leave town for the holidays without extending your payroll tax cut."

John Boehner

John Boehner

Mostly False

The sky is darkening, but not falling

"The Social Security trust fund … is already facing imminent bankruptcy."

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Half-True

UPDATED: The number's on target, but incorrectly described

In Chile "they have 72 percent of the GDP in savings."

Kathleen Connell

Kathleen Connell

False

Closer to 22 percent

"Sixty-percent of the state retirees...don’t get Social Security.’’

Herman Cain

Herman Cain

Half-True

Right on Social Security, wrong on Medicare

"Current projections indicate that Medicare will go bankrupt by 2017, while Social Security will bottom out by 2037."

Steve Lonegan

Steve Lonegan

False

Checks are in the mail

"Today, the Social Security system is broke."

John Boehner

John Boehner

True

There's a reason it's called a 'boom'

"We have 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day."

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

Mostly False

He went right up to the line twice on national TV

Says he never said he wanted to move Social Security "back to the states."

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

Mostly False

Bank shot

Says Mitt Romney wrote that if Social Security was done "in the private sector, it would be called criminal."

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

Mostly True

Older Americans hanging in there

"Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security.

Herman Cain

Herman Cain

Half-True

Some do, some don't

"Today, when people retire in Galveston County, Texas, they retire making at least 50 percent more than they would ever get out of Social Security."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Mostly True

His 2010 book isn't explicit, but strongly suggests it

Says that in his book, Rick Perry said that "Social Security is unconstitutional."

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

False

Perry's tone has softened, but his comparison is still wrong

Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

True

Tough talk straight from Perry's book

"In writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that … by any measure Social Security has been a failure."

Ed Schultz

Ed Schultz

Half-True

Liberal think tank looks just at benefits, not taxes

"In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty."

Margaret Carlson

Margaret Carlson

Half-True

Rec: Read his book

Rick Perry "has advocated abandoning Social Security, scuttling Medicaid and ending the federal income tax."

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio

True

Simple stat exposes Social Security's problems

"When Social Security first started, there was 16 workers for every retiree. Today there are three workers for every retiree and soon there will be only two for every retiree."

Barry Hinckley

Barry Hinckley

False

"No money" earned $117.5 billion in interest last year

"There's no money in Social Security."

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