Turning it over to readers

We hear regularly from PolitiFact Wisconsin readers, so we decided it's time to give them some space. Here's the debut of our Mailbag.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Monday, May 13th, 2013 at 8:31 a.m.

In Context: Hillary Clinton's 'What difference does it make' comment

With the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, back in the news, we take an In Context look at what Hillary Clinton said to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson about the attack, which is the subject of a hearing on May 8, 2013.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 at 1:52 p.m.

Public vs. Private: Sorting out the truth in the debate over school choice

Wisconsin was a national pioneer in sending Milwaukee children to private schools with publicly funded vouchers. Now, with the Legislature debating Gov. Scott Walker's plan to expand choice to additional cities, we shed light on some of the key disputes over the choice program.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Sunday, April 28th, 2013 at 7:23 p.m.

The UW System's "slush fund" -- $1 billion, $207 million or what?

The amount of excess cash in the University of Wisconsin System’s bank account is: A) "Nearly $1 billion" B) $648 million C) $207 million Everyone has a different view on how much extra money the UW System has. We dig into the various numbers being tossed about.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 at 9:40 p.m.

In Context: Lawmaker explains food stamps, junk food plan

When Wisconsin state Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, proposed restricting the use of food stamps for junk food, 84 percent of more than 700 people answering an online poll expressed support and more than 200 people liked it on a Facebook page. Critics of the proposal, which made news from Atlanta to San Francisco, lit up Kaufert on Twitter.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

The Chief and The Sheriff: Two views of Milwaukee's homicide picture

Milwaukee saw an increase in homicide in 2012. But how does the city stack up to other communities? Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn and Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. offered starkly different answers in a recent 24-hour period. We dig into the numbers.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Sunday, March 17th, 2013 at 10:00 p.m.

Are Sensenbrenner and Moore in agreement on Voting Rights Act?

As the Supreme Court mulls over the fate of the Voting Rights Act, House Democrat Gwen Moore cites House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner's backing of the landmark law as she advocates for saving it. But do the pair really agree on what constitutes a threat to voting rights? We take a look.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Would expanding Medicaid be good for jobs?

Gov. Scott Walker announced Feb. 13, 2013 that he would reject an expansion of Medicaid offered as part of Obamacare, saying he has a better idea for helping more people get health insurance. Some advocates of making more people eligible for Medicaid say the expansion would create jobs. Is the picture that clear?

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Friday, March 1st, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Fact checking Gov. Scott Walker's budget address and Democratic attacks

After -- even during -- Gov. Scott Walker's 2013 budget address, Democrats tried to poke holes in his rosy picture of the state's finances and economy. We get behind the back-and-forth by reviewing Truth-O-Meter rulings and other sources.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

In Context: Gov. Scott Walker's "from dependence to independence" speech

When Gov. Scott Walker proposed reforming Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment compensation, all in one speech, the howls from the left were sharp. But what did Walker, who increasingly is viewed as a presidential candidate in 2016, actually say? We explore with our In Context feature.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Rounding up claims from the 2013 State of the State

During his 2013 State of the State speech, Republican Gov. Scott Walker made a few familiar claims. So did Democratic leaders in response. Here’s a look at how those past statements fared when we first looked at them.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Wednesday, January 16th, 2013 at 4:11 p.m.

As State of the State approaches, take our quiz on Walker ratings

On Jan. 15, 2013, Gov. Scott Walker will give the annual State of the State speech. Based on what the first-time Republican executive has said in recent months, we have an idea of what some of the themes likely will be. So, if Walker does make some familiar claims, will you know how they were rated on the Truth-O-Meter? Test yourself with our brief quiz.

By Tom Kertscher :: Published on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 at 10:04 a.m.

In context: Johnson's analysis of state's conflicting Senate votes

Political observers on both sides puzzled over the fact Wisconsin elected Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin to the U.S. Senate just two years after voting in conservative Republican Ron Johnson. Johnson's own take -- voters bought into demagoguery and misinformation from the left -- has generated some attention.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Friday, November 16th, 2012 at 8:44 a.m.

Reviewing the key claims in the U.S. Senate race

We've tested dozens of statements by Republican Tommy Thompson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin. With the Nov. 6, 2012 election approaching, here's our guide to some of the key claims and how they fared on the Truth-O-Meter and Flip-O-Meter.

By Tom Kertscher, Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Friday, November 2nd, 2012 at 6:33 p.m.

Tommy vs. Tammy III: Our US Senate debate roundup

With the election for a critical open U.S. Senate seat just over a week away, Republican Tommy Thompson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin squared off Oct. 26, 2012 in their final debate. Here's our roundup of repeat claims and how they fared on the Truth-O-Meter.

By Dave Umhoefer :: Published on Friday, October 26th, 2012 at 9:59 p.m.