The IRS has been under fire for allegedly targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. We checked recent claims by two lawmakers.
As the IRS sits in the hot seat, we check tax facts
We looked at two claims -- one by a Republican lawmaker, one by a Democratic lawmaker -- that go to the heart of whether the IRS is too fearsome, or not doing enough.
A scorecard separating fact from fiction
"We have a tax code that allows groups to use their political operations within the tax code, under the guise of a charity, to use undisclosed millions of dollars to do political campaigns."
"The IRS doesn't have to prove something against you ... you've got the burden of proof."
Says Hillary Clinton "was asked repeatedly to provide security in Benghazi on several occasions, including direct cables."
The IRS is going to be "in charge" of "a huge national database" on health care that will include Americans’ "personal, intimate, most close-to-the-vest-secrets."
The IRS is "going to be in charge of our health care."
"The IRS will have the ability potentially" to deny or delay health care.
"The Affordable Care Act is bringing the cost of health care in our country down."
Says Kelly Ayotte voted to "fix background checks."
"We had people that were getting killed (in Benghazi), we had people who are willing to risk their lives to go save them, and somebody told them to stand down."
"Over the last several months, there was a review board headed by two distinguished Americans, Mike Mullen and Tom Pickering, who investigated every element of" the Benghazi incident.
When Susan Rice spoke about Benghazi on Sunday news shows, she said "that al-Qaida might be involved, or other al-Qaida affiliates might be involved, or non-al-Qaida Libyan extremists, which I think demonstrates that there was no effort to play that down."
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The Lie of the Year, still
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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.
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The Obameter is following more than 500 promises made by President Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.
The latest from the Obameter
Beyond the Truth-O-Meter
Fact-checking around the Web
Rhode Island —
"If you are black or brown, you are nine times more likely to be stopped and frisked" in New York City.
— Lynne Derbyshire
Ohio —
"Forty-six cents of every dollar" Ohio could get for Medicaid expansion "is going to come from China or some other country that doesn’t like us very much."
— Ron Maag- Florida —
"This budget also reflects the smallest state government workforce per 1,000 residents in Florida in this century."
— Rick Scott
Texas —
Says Sam Houston opposed slavery and as governor said Texas should not leave the union over slavery.
— Rick Perry- Wisconsin —
A referendum "gives the people the chance to decide" on cutting the Milwaukee County Board budget by two-thirds
— Leah Vukmir
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