PolitiFact.com
Statements about Taxes
Rick Perry

Rick Perry

Mostly False

It's for anything lawmakers agree on (including disasters)

Says the state’s rainy day fund is "our insurance policy against a major natural disaster."  

Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman

True

Close--$60--call

Says taxes paid by the poorest residents of Texas are above the national average.

Phil King

Phil King

Mostly False

Backup study disputed

Says families now pay out 40 percent of their income to taxes.

Mike Villarreal

Mike Villarreal

Mostly True

The numbers stick, yet experts diverge on meaning

Says that over the last decade, the state's population grew three times faster than the Texas state tax system.

Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman

Mostly True

New Jersey reference is off

Says that "data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggest that the Texas budget gap is worse than New York’s, about as bad as California’s, but not quite up to New Jersey levels."

Lloyd Doggett

Lloyd Doggett

Mostly True

What's average?

"The richest 1 percent of America will get a bigger tax cut through this bill than the family income of the average family here in Central Texas."

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

False

Levies on cigarettes, fireworks and more

Says he has a track record of not raising taxes.

Valinda Bolton

Valinda Bolton

False

Only if Texas eliminated property taxes

"Paul Workman wants to raise the sales tax."

Jason Isaac

Jason Isaac

Pants on Fire!

Income-affected tax maybe, not income tax

Patrick Rose "voted to explore a state income tax."

Lloyd Doggett

Lloyd Doggett

Mostly True

She said she would vote to end federal education funding

"Donna Campbell has called for ending all federal funding for education"

Kathie Glass

Kathie Glass

Pants on Fire!

Perry signed changes into law--in 2006.

Says Rick Perry recently said he "wanted another (Texas) business tax."  

Chain email

Chain email

Pants on Fire!

Wrong on topics and election's timing

Says Texas voters are being asked to act this November on a proposed constitutional amendment affecting property taxes.

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

Half-True

He's talking about changes in net assets ...

"Houston suffered $1.7 billion in operating losses under Mayor Bill White."

Patrick Rose

Patrick Rose

Mostly False

No plan, but he likes the idea of subbing in sales taxes for property taxes

Says Republican opponent Jason Isaac is peddling a plan meaning Texans "would pay the highest sales taxes in America, up to 14.5 percent."

Rick Perry

Rick Perry

False

He paid in -- and got some out

Says Bill White "didn't pay taxes while earning $133,600 annual salary as deputy secretary of energy."

Republican Party of Texas

Republican Party of Texas

Mostly True

Obama administration says the mandate is legal under Congress' taxing power

Says President Barack Obama initially said the national health-care mandate isn't a tax, but his administration now says it is a tax.

Empower Texans

Empower Texans

Mostly True

Librarians, counselors and bus drivers abound

"There are 321,092 public school teachers in Texas. And there are 313,850 non-teachers in our public schools."

Bill White

Bill White

Half-True

Rates dropped -- but revenue rose

Says he cut 'tax rates five times'

Paul Workman

Paul Workman

Mostly False

Her husband claimed an exemption for the 2009 tax year

"Holly Turner... still takes her homestead (property tax) exemption in Fort Worth."

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Mostly False

Taxpayers picked up security tab only

"Taxpayers even footed the bill for Perry’s trip to a bachelor party in Las Vegas."

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