Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls (l. to r.) David Dewhurst, Tom Leppert, Ted Cruz and Craig James at the April 13, 2012, Belo Debate in Dallas (Source: WFAA-TV, Channel 8, Dallas).
Republicans deplore each other and Obama in Texas U.S. Senate race
Republicans seeking a Texas U.S. Senate seat have questioned Obama's leadership and whether their GOP opponents are well qualified. We've zeroed in on some factual claims.
A scorecard separating fact from fiction
Says Lee Leffingwell "raised property taxes 20 percent in three years."
Says since 2000, Austin’s "tax burden" rose more than 40 percent while family income rose more than 20 percent.
Says challenger Dominic Chavez is a "Rick Perry Republican" lobbyist.
Says no Austin City Council "member lives south of" Lady Bird Lake "or north of 45th Street."
Says Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley reduces 36 percent of felonies to misdemeanors and hands them off to her.
Says "Austin has the lowest property tax rate by far of the five major cities in Texas."
Says the Department of Homeland Security has ordered "enough rounds of .40 caliber ammunition to kill every man, woman and child in the United States," possibly to combat "massive civil unrest" or "an invasion by a foreign power."
"Just on Jan. 1 of this year, there were 40,000 new laws put on the books in one day."
Says legislative cuts mean Texas is "spending on average $500 less per student."
Says bus riders subsidize the "expensive, romanticized" Leander-to-Austin train.
Promise: Pursue state aid to pay share of education center at Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington
Update: No state money appropriated for D.C. Vietnam memorial Education Center
Says there is an upcoming vote to preserve benefits of Texas homestead exemption for seniors and the disabled.
Says that when adjusted for inflation and population growth, state general revenue spending has decreased 10.7 percent on his watch.
"The Austin school district calendar lists 64 different dates for either a state-mandated test or make-up test."
Says Ted Cruz represents a Chinese company found guilty of stealing blueprints from an American manufacturer.
Says his Texas election fraud investigations have resulted in 50 convictions.
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Every day, reporters and researchers from the American-Statesman examine statements by Texas elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance. We research their statements and then rate the accuracy on our Truth-O-Meter:
TRUE – The statement is accurate and there’s nothing significant missing.
MOSTLY TRUE – The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information.
HALF TRUE – The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context.
MOSTLY FALSE – The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression.
FALSE – The statement is not accurate.
PANTS ON FIRE – The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.
For more details, see the Principles of PolitiFact and the Truth-O-Meter.
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