Editor, Politifact Texas
W. Gardner Selby, chief political writer for the Austin American-Statesman, has covered Texas politics and government off and on since working part-time for The Beaumont Enterprise at the Texas Capitol in 1982-83. He joined the Statesman as a reporter and columnist in 2005 having reported previously for four other newspapers at the Capitol. His background includes nearly five years as a state employee and nearly 30 parent-years as the father of two girls. One of the latest baseball books he read noted the popularity of "Horse ---" as an expression by ball players and umpires--perhaps an appropriate warm-up for the launch of Politifact Texas.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from W. Gardner Selby
Says that according to a report, "the tech sector now drives more than one-quarter of Austin’s economy."
Says nearly 1 million people are "coming to town" in the next 20 years.
Says "we" have put more boots on the U.S.-Mexico border "than at any time in our history, and illegal crossings are down by nearly 80 percent from their peak in 2000."
"The economy added more jobs during four years under Obama than it did in the entire eight years under George W. Bush."
"Over the last 10 years, Texas created 33 percent of the net new jobs nationwide."
Says Texas leads the nation in fatal industrial accidents.
Says that under Rick Perry’s plan, "Texas has cut funding for public schools by 25%."
Says only about 250 Texans have been killed in action since 9/11.
Recent stories from W. Gardner Selby
UPDATED: Grading Texas claims by, and about, Barack ObamaThe president’s one-day swing to the Austin area gave rise to fact checks of, and about, him.
Mailbag: PolitiFact Texas's pants are on fireWe blew it, readers say, in rating Pants on Fire a claim about science and greenhouse gas emissions.
Obama, Perry, Hinojosa and jobs, jobs, jobsBarack Obama came and went. Rick Perry and a leader of Texas Democrats took the occasion to loft jobs-related claims--now fact-checked.
Top 10 PolitiFact checks of claims by, and about, Barack Obama as he hies to TexasWhat better way to welcome Obama to Central Texas than walking through the most popular PolitiFact fact checks of, or about, him this year--plus they include a 2012 check of Romney.
Mailbag: PolitiFact Texas proves facts ‘are irrelevant to what you do’A Texas congressman is silly, one reader writes. PolitiFact Texas writes as if facts are irrelevant, another says. Let’s open the mailbag.
Cartoonist incorrect about last state inspection of Texas plantA California editorial cartoonist said the state of Texas last inspected the plant in West in 2006. That’s not so.
More voters turned out for Austin election of '73 than for latest election with mayor's race?Bee Moorhead tweeted about Austin's local voter turnout being worse of late than in, say, 1973. Get out!
Most Texas government workers got no pay raise from 2009 to 2012An employees group says most state workers got no raises from 2009 to 2012. That checked out.
Hammond: Businesses pay 60 percent of taxes in TexasBill Hammond, who helms the Texas Association of Business, spoke up for business tax cuts by saying businesses pay 60 percent of taxes in the state. Really?
Perry says Obama yet to respond to 2010 letter on border securityIn a CNN interview, Perry said Obama has yet to respond to the 2010 letter on border security he tried to hand the president on the tarmac of a Texas airport. We see smoke.
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