Latest Fact-checks by C. Eugene Emery Jr. Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it." Barry Hinckley stated on January 17, 2012 in a YouTube video: "Sheldon Whitehouse's failure of leadership, the adding of almost $8 trillion in debt in his first full term, is shameful..." Travis Rowley stated on January 21, 2012 in an opinion column: "Martin Luther King was a Republican." Stephanie DeSilva stated on January 11, 2012 in a news release: "[Mitt] Romney and [Brendan] Doherty certainly have a lot in common, like flip-flopping on abortion -- in Doherty's case, in a little over a week." John DePetro stated on January 13, 2012 in an assertion on his WPRO radio show: "[The] ACLU and atheists in Denver are demanding the NFL stop [Tim Tebow] from praying on the sidelines." Einer Elhauge stated on January 5, 2012 in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine: "In 1790, the first Congress, which was packed with framers, required all ship owners to provide medical insurance for seamen; in 1798, Congress also required seamen to buy hospital insurance for themselves. In 1792, Congress enacted a law mandating that all able-bodied citizens obtain a firearm." Thomas Sgouros Jr. stated on December 30, 2011 in an appearance on Rhode Island PBS's "A Lively Experiment": "[If] you apply for a job, the chances are 1 in 7 that you are going to be denied that job unfairly if everybody is forced to use E-Verify." David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund. Chain email stated on December 10, 2011 in a message via the Internet: "What is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not . . . a Congress!" Barry Hinckley stated on December 4, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's "Newsmakers" program: "Our tax code is . . . 80,000 pages." Theresa Price stated on December 10, 2011 in a speech during a rally on homelessness: "Rhode Island is leading our nation in foreclosures." Chain email stated on November 28, 2011 in a message via the Internet: While CEOs of some large charities have big salaries, the heads of some veterans groups do the job for free. Jon Stewart stated on December 6, 2011 in a segment of "The Daily Show": "When the country was founded, Congress had exactly the same attitude about the sanctity of Christmas celebrations that a 7-Eleven does today: 'Yeah, we're open.'" Lisa Baldelli-Hunt stated on November 17, 2011 in a General Assembly debate on pension overhaul: "Eighty-five percent . . . of Rhode Island tax returns that were filed for the year 2010 . . . were from individuals who earned $30,000 or less." John DePetro stated on November 29, 2011 in a talk-show discussion: "For the past eight years, Gov. Carcieri and Mrs. Carcieri would host the lighting of the State House Christmas tree." Jack Reed stated on November 10, 2011 in a speech on the Senate floor: In Rhode Island, "only 5 percent of ozone pollution is from local or in-state sources. . . Ninety-five percent comes from outside of our borders, particularly the Midwest." Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years." David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58." Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis. Helen Glover stated on October 24, 2011 in an introduction to a radio interview: "The State of Rhode Island has the worst state-funded pension in the country." George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired." James Langevin stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "Foster children are disproportionately victims of identity theft." Peter Palumbo stated on October 5, 2011 in a speech: "The Tax Foundation figures Rhode Island as the 10th highest state for state and local tax burden per capita in the country. We're the 6th worst in the country for the business tax index. We're the 3rd highest per capita in the country for all taxes." Brian Newberry stated on October 2, 2011 in a television interview: "Legally, it doesn't make any difference" which state district you live in when running for Congress. Daniel McKee stated on August 21, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: "This year, the Blackstone Valley Mayoral Academy became the first public school in Rhode Island history to have 100 percent of its elementary-age students proficient in reading on state assessments." Richard Tomlins stated on August 22, 2011 in a recorded telephone message to Cranston residents: "Mayor Fung wants to punish our children's education by removing 12 million dollars from current funding to pay for his private charter school. Your taxes would increase by between 6 and 8 percent per year." Doreen Costa stated on August 10, 2011 in a radio interview: "The studies have shown us that [drug testing for welfare recipients] will be saving us money" James Bennett stated on August 15, 2011 in a news conference: Providence's port is "200 miles closer to Europe than any other Eastern port." Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population. Daniel McKee stated on August 2, 2011 in a radio interview: Central Falls "schools are overfunded by state money by as much as $8 million."
Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category
Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it." Barry Hinckley stated on January 17, 2012 in a YouTube video: "Sheldon Whitehouse's failure of leadership, the adding of almost $8 trillion in debt in his first full term, is shameful..." Travis Rowley stated on January 21, 2012 in an opinion column: "Martin Luther King was a Republican." Stephanie DeSilva stated on January 11, 2012 in a news release: "[Mitt] Romney and [Brendan] Doherty certainly have a lot in common, like flip-flopping on abortion -- in Doherty's case, in a little over a week." John DePetro stated on January 13, 2012 in an assertion on his WPRO radio show: "[The] ACLU and atheists in Denver are demanding the NFL stop [Tim Tebow] from praying on the sidelines." Einer Elhauge stated on January 5, 2012 in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine: "In 1790, the first Congress, which was packed with framers, required all ship owners to provide medical insurance for seamen; in 1798, Congress also required seamen to buy hospital insurance for themselves. In 1792, Congress enacted a law mandating that all able-bodied citizens obtain a firearm." Thomas Sgouros Jr. stated on December 30, 2011 in an appearance on Rhode Island PBS's "A Lively Experiment": "[If] you apply for a job, the chances are 1 in 7 that you are going to be denied that job unfairly if everybody is forced to use E-Verify." David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund. Chain email stated on December 10, 2011 in a message via the Internet: "What is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not . . . a Congress!" Barry Hinckley stated on December 4, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's "Newsmakers" program: "Our tax code is . . . 80,000 pages." Theresa Price stated on December 10, 2011 in a speech during a rally on homelessness: "Rhode Island is leading our nation in foreclosures." Chain email stated on November 28, 2011 in a message via the Internet: While CEOs of some large charities have big salaries, the heads of some veterans groups do the job for free. Jon Stewart stated on December 6, 2011 in a segment of "The Daily Show": "When the country was founded, Congress had exactly the same attitude about the sanctity of Christmas celebrations that a 7-Eleven does today: 'Yeah, we're open.'" Lisa Baldelli-Hunt stated on November 17, 2011 in a General Assembly debate on pension overhaul: "Eighty-five percent . . . of Rhode Island tax returns that were filed for the year 2010 . . . were from individuals who earned $30,000 or less." John DePetro stated on November 29, 2011 in a talk-show discussion: "For the past eight years, Gov. Carcieri and Mrs. Carcieri would host the lighting of the State House Christmas tree." Jack Reed stated on November 10, 2011 in a speech on the Senate floor: In Rhode Island, "only 5 percent of ozone pollution is from local or in-state sources. . . Ninety-five percent comes from outside of our borders, particularly the Midwest." Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years." David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58." Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis. Helen Glover stated on October 24, 2011 in an introduction to a radio interview: "The State of Rhode Island has the worst state-funded pension in the country." George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired." James Langevin stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "Foster children are disproportionately victims of identity theft." Peter Palumbo stated on October 5, 2011 in a speech: "The Tax Foundation figures Rhode Island as the 10th highest state for state and local tax burden per capita in the country. We're the 6th worst in the country for the business tax index. We're the 3rd highest per capita in the country for all taxes." Brian Newberry stated on October 2, 2011 in a television interview: "Legally, it doesn't make any difference" which state district you live in when running for Congress. Daniel McKee stated on August 21, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: "This year, the Blackstone Valley Mayoral Academy became the first public school in Rhode Island history to have 100 percent of its elementary-age students proficient in reading on state assessments." Richard Tomlins stated on August 22, 2011 in a recorded telephone message to Cranston residents: "Mayor Fung wants to punish our children's education by removing 12 million dollars from current funding to pay for his private charter school. Your taxes would increase by between 6 and 8 percent per year." Doreen Costa stated on August 10, 2011 in a radio interview: "The studies have shown us that [drug testing for welfare recipients] will be saving us money" James Bennett stated on August 15, 2011 in a news conference: Providence's port is "200 miles closer to Europe than any other Eastern port." Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population. Daniel McKee stated on August 2, 2011 in a radio interview: Central Falls "schools are overfunded by state money by as much as $8 million."
Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it."
Barry Hinckley stated on January 17, 2012 in a YouTube video: "Sheldon Whitehouse's failure of leadership, the adding of almost $8 trillion in debt in his first full term, is shameful..."
Travis Rowley stated on January 21, 2012 in an opinion column: "Martin Luther King was a Republican."
Stephanie DeSilva stated on January 11, 2012 in a news release: "[Mitt] Romney and [Brendan] Doherty certainly have a lot in common, like flip-flopping on abortion -- in Doherty's case, in a little over a week."
John DePetro stated on January 13, 2012 in an assertion on his WPRO radio show: "[The] ACLU and atheists in Denver are demanding the NFL stop [Tim Tebow] from praying on the sidelines."
Einer Elhauge stated on January 5, 2012 in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine: "In 1790, the first Congress, which was packed with framers, required all ship owners to provide medical insurance for seamen; in 1798, Congress also required seamen to buy hospital insurance for themselves. In 1792, Congress enacted a law mandating that all able-bodied citizens obtain a firearm."
Thomas Sgouros Jr. stated on December 30, 2011 in an appearance on Rhode Island PBS's "A Lively Experiment": "[If] you apply for a job, the chances are 1 in 7 that you are going to be denied that job unfairly if everybody is forced to use E-Verify."
David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund.
Chain email stated on December 10, 2011 in a message via the Internet: "What is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not . . . a Congress!"
Barry Hinckley stated on December 4, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's "Newsmakers" program: "Our tax code is . . . 80,000 pages."
Theresa Price stated on December 10, 2011 in a speech during a rally on homelessness: "Rhode Island is leading our nation in foreclosures."
Chain email stated on November 28, 2011 in a message via the Internet: While CEOs of some large charities have big salaries, the heads of some veterans groups do the job for free.
Jon Stewart stated on December 6, 2011 in a segment of "The Daily Show": "When the country was founded, Congress had exactly the same attitude about the sanctity of Christmas celebrations that a 7-Eleven does today: 'Yeah, we're open.'"
Lisa Baldelli-Hunt stated on November 17, 2011 in a General Assembly debate on pension overhaul: "Eighty-five percent . . . of Rhode Island tax returns that were filed for the year 2010 . . . were from individuals who earned $30,000 or less."
John DePetro stated on November 29, 2011 in a talk-show discussion: "For the past eight years, Gov. Carcieri and Mrs. Carcieri would host the lighting of the State House Christmas tree."
Jack Reed stated on November 10, 2011 in a speech on the Senate floor: In Rhode Island, "only 5 percent of ozone pollution is from local or in-state sources. . . Ninety-five percent comes from outside of our borders, particularly the Midwest."
Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years."
David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58."
Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis.
Helen Glover stated on October 24, 2011 in an introduction to a radio interview: "The State of Rhode Island has the worst state-funded pension in the country."
George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired."
James Langevin stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "Foster children are disproportionately victims of identity theft."
Peter Palumbo stated on October 5, 2011 in a speech: "The Tax Foundation figures Rhode Island as the 10th highest state for state and local tax burden per capita in the country. We're the 6th worst in the country for the business tax index. We're the 3rd highest per capita in the country for all taxes."
Brian Newberry stated on October 2, 2011 in a television interview: "Legally, it doesn't make any difference" which state district you live in when running for Congress.
Daniel McKee stated on August 21, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: "This year, the Blackstone Valley Mayoral Academy became the first public school in Rhode Island history to have 100 percent of its elementary-age students proficient in reading on state assessments."
Richard Tomlins stated on August 22, 2011 in a recorded telephone message to Cranston residents: "Mayor Fung wants to punish our children's education by removing 12 million dollars from current funding to pay for his private charter school. Your taxes would increase by between 6 and 8 percent per year."
Doreen Costa stated on August 10, 2011 in a radio interview: "The studies have shown us that [drug testing for welfare recipients] will be saving us money"
James Bennett stated on August 15, 2011 in a news conference: Providence's port is "200 miles closer to Europe than any other Eastern port."
Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population.
Daniel McKee stated on August 2, 2011 in a radio interview: Central Falls "schools are overfunded by state money by as much as $8 million."
