PolitiFact.com
Statements about Social Security
Peter DeFazio

Peter DeFazio

Mostly True

Robinson has also called to increase Social Security payments

Art Robinson says "Social Security should be ended through attrition."

Allen West

Allen West

True

When times are bad, SSDI filings go up

In June 2012 "we actually had more people go on Social Security Disability [85,000] ... than the 80,000 jobs that were created."

Ann McLane Kuster

Ann McLane Kuster

Mostly False

The record shows it differently

Says Rep. Charles Bass "supports privatizing Social Security, risking trillions more on Wall Street."

E.W. Jackson

E.W. Jackson

True

Plan works, but some better off with Social Security

"In Galveston, Texas, they have allowed people to privatize part of their Social Security. And people are building wealth."

Chain email

Chain email

Pants on Fire!

Inflaming inboxes for years

Says President Barack Obama’s finance team is recommending a "1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution."

Saxby Chambliss

Saxby Chambliss

Half-True

Some voted for it -- and still lost.

Each U.S. House member who voted to overhaul Social Security in 1983 was re-elected.

Frank Wolf

Frank Wolf

True

No doubt about it

"In 1950, the average American lived for 68 years and 16 workers supported one retiree. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 and three workers support one retiree."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Mostly True

It may even be higher now

"A little less than 50 percent of the people in this country depend on some form of federal payment, some form of government benefit to help provide for them."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Half-True

Wrong figure for 1958, better number for 2011

"When I was born, less than 10 percent of the federal budget was entitlement spending. It's now 60 percent of the budget."

Chris Redfern

Chris Redfern

Mostly True

Yes, but retirees and those near retirement would be unaffected

Says Mitt Romney supports a plan "to slowly and gradually raise the retirement age of 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."

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