PolitiFact.com
Statements about Welfare
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."

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."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

False

Veterans pensions, workers' comp were among programs in place then

"When my grandfather came to this country back in 1925, there were no government benefits."  

Paige Kreegel

Paige Kreegel

False

Unsupported speculation

About 800 people refused to get a drug screening because they are "out there on drugs."

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Half-True

Record numbers, but wrong to focus blame on Obama

"More people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history."

Stacey Campfield

Stacey Campfield

Mostly True

Individual tests can be cheap

Says a drug test can be performed for "just $4 or $5."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Half-True

Economy was a big factor too

As a result of welfare reform, "poverty levels went down to the lowest level ever for ... African-American children."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Half-True

Not all by himself

Rick Santorum "reformed welfare."

National Republican Congressional Committee

National Republican Congressional Committee

Mostly False

An ounce of truth and a ton of overreach

Says Rep. Betty Sutton supports allowing "welfare fund withdrawals from strip clubs, casinos and liquor stores."

Boyd Richie

Boyd Richie

True

That was the headline of his article

Says King Street Patriots held a fundraiser featuring an author who believes that registering the poor to vote is un-American.

Tommy Thompson

Tommy Thompson

Mostly True

Not quite all of it

Says that as Wisconsin governor, "we ended welfare."

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