Nancy MadsenPolitiFact Virginia writer
Nancy Madsen joined PolitiFact Virginia in January 2012. Prior to that, she spent four years as a reporter at the Watertown Daily Times in New York, covering local government and business. She grew up in many places, but mostly Mississippi and Texas. She is a graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois and has an M.A. in journalism from Syracuse University.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Nancy Madsen
If Congress froze the current spending level and then cut it by 2 percent annually, "we could balance the budget in five years."
"On most things except witch trials, Virginia will always have been first."
The CBO says the cost of health care reform will rise to $1.8 trillion, "increasing the price to far greater than the $900 billion" originally projected.
"And the revenue generated by drilling off Virginia’s coast? $40 million over 10 years."
"This bill allows Virginia to join about 23 other states that have an ultrasound procedure" before an abortion.
Says Obama has "doubled the stock market from where we started when he was sworn into office"
"It’s going to be harder to vote in Virginia than it is now to buy a gun..."
Recent stories from Nancy Madsen
Barack Obama debuts stump speechPresident Barack Obama held his first official campaign rallies in Columbus, Ohio, and Richmond, Va., on Saturday. He repeated several claims that PolitiFact has rated before and made new ones that PolitiFact will rate in the coming weeks.
Ad Watch: Obama lauds his energy recordDomestic oil production has increased during President Obama's term. But much of the gain comes from drilling on private lands that the president does not control. More from PolitiFact Virginia: *Ad Watch: American Energy Alliance blames Obama for high gas prices *On health care reform: What does the public want?
Contrary to reports, Virginia's student-to-teacher ratios are stablePolitiFact looked into the numbers and concluded that those who have used them should not be subjected to our Truth-O-Meter. They were relying on data that had been incorrectly reported to the federal government by the state education department, according to Charles Pyle, a department spokesman.
We want to hear your suggestions and comments. Email the Virginia Truth-O-Meter with feedback and with claims you'd like to see checked. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.
