Latest Fact-checks by Tom Kertscher 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 Chris Larson stated on April 22, 2011 in a tweet: Republicans offered Wisconsin bar patrons "free shots (of alcohol) to sign recall petitions against" Democrats. Mark Pocan stated on February 19, 2011 in a blog post: Says salaries and benefits for Wisconsin state employee comprised 8.5 percent of the 2009-2011 state budget. Sarah Palin stated on April 16, 2011 in a speech in Madison, Wisconsin: Says $38 billion in spending cuts in federal budget compromise is "less than $1 billion in real cuts." Jesse Jackson stated on April 4, 2011 in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Milwaukee is "the most segregated city in America." MoveOn.org stated on April 6, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: The newly proposed House Republican budget "abolishes Medicare within 10 years." Citizens for a Strong America stated on March 31, 2011 in a TV ad: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg "put an 80-year-old farmer in jail for refusing to plant native vegetation on his farm." JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 29, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: PolitiFact Wisconsin "concluded that the charge that Justice Prosser prejudges matters that come before the court is True." Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 30, 2011 in a television ad: Says David Prosser = Scott Walker. Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 24, 2011 in a TV ad: As a prosecutor, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser did not investigate or file charges in a case involving 30-year pedophile priest, then participated in cover-up. JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 16, 2011 in a newspaper interview: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser "has prejudged matters that are likely to come before the court." Marla Stephens stated on January 27, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: The state of Wisconsin pays plumbers, engineers and other attorneys "much, much more" than it pays attorneys to represent poor people. Milwaukee Police Association stated on March 9, 2011 in a newspaper ad: Says it has offered $12 million in savings through 2011 and $184 million in savings over the next 25 years in contract negotiations with the City of Milwaukee. Michael Moore stated on March 5, 2011 in a speech to protesters in Madison, Wisconsin: "Just 400 Americans -- 400 -- have more wealth than half of all Americans combined." Scott Walker stated on February 20, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: Wisconsin state and local government workers pay "$500, $600 or in some cases, $1,000" per year in union dues. MacIver Institute stated on March 3, 2010 in a video news release: In 2011, "the average annual compensation for a teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools system will exceed $100,000." Rand Paul stated on February 24, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: "The average (public school) teacher in Wisconsin’s making $89,000 a year" in salary and benefits. Ed Garvey stated on February 21, 2011 in a newspaper column and blog post: Claims Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said: "It is necessary to eliminate unions in order to balance future budgets." Scott Walker stated on February 21, 2011 in a news conference: If public employees don’t pay more for benefits starting April 1, 2011, "the equivalent" is 1,500 state employee layoffs by June 30, 2011 and 10,000 to 12,000 state and local government employee layoffs in the next two years. Scott Walker stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: In 2009, Democratic Wisconsin state senators "rammed through a billion-dollar tax hike in 24 hours with no public input." Lena Taylor stated on February 15, 2011 in in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Hitler "abolished unions and that’s what" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is "doing today." Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: At protests in Wisconsin against proposed collective bargaining changes, "phony sick notes (were) passed out to excuse striking union members." Scott Walker stated on February 18, 2011 in a radio interview: Says under his budget-repair bill, "collective bargaining is fully intact." Ed Schultz stated on February 15, 2011 in a statement on his television talk show: Under changes being debated, state employees in Wisconsin "who earn $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year might have 20 percent of their income just disappear overnight." Progressive Change Campaign Committee stated on February 14, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: Says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "has threatened to call out the National Guard if workers protest against" changes to bargaining laws. Scott Walker stated on February 11, 2011 in a news conference: "The alternative" to higher state worker pension and health care payments "is to look at 1,500 layoffs of state employees or close to 200,000 children who would be bumped off Medicaid-related programs." Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: When the Milwaukee County mental health facility is full, "cops sit out there in their squad cars with a mentally ill patient" and sometimes "spend an entire shift out there doing that." Rebecca Kleefisch stated on January 26, 2011 in a news conference: "United States students are achieving at number 25 out of 29 developing countries when it comes to science and math." Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: "We currently have one guy who is in charge of painting the entire Milwaukee County parks system." One Wisconsin Now stated on January 28, 2011 in a news release: "Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature have added over $140 million in new special interest spending" Chris Abele stated on January 25, 2011 in a campaign TV ad: Says he "helped lead an outside audit that’ll save (Milwaukee County) taxpayers over $200 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
Chris Larson stated on April 22, 2011 in a tweet: Republicans offered Wisconsin bar patrons "free shots (of alcohol) to sign recall petitions against" Democrats. Mark Pocan stated on February 19, 2011 in a blog post: Says salaries and benefits for Wisconsin state employee comprised 8.5 percent of the 2009-2011 state budget. Sarah Palin stated on April 16, 2011 in a speech in Madison, Wisconsin: Says $38 billion in spending cuts in federal budget compromise is "less than $1 billion in real cuts." Jesse Jackson stated on April 4, 2011 in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Milwaukee is "the most segregated city in America." MoveOn.org stated on April 6, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: The newly proposed House Republican budget "abolishes Medicare within 10 years." Citizens for a Strong America stated on March 31, 2011 in a TV ad: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg "put an 80-year-old farmer in jail for refusing to plant native vegetation on his farm." JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 29, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: PolitiFact Wisconsin "concluded that the charge that Justice Prosser prejudges matters that come before the court is True." Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 30, 2011 in a television ad: Says David Prosser = Scott Walker. Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 24, 2011 in a TV ad: As a prosecutor, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser did not investigate or file charges in a case involving 30-year pedophile priest, then participated in cover-up. JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 16, 2011 in a newspaper interview: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser "has prejudged matters that are likely to come before the court." Marla Stephens stated on January 27, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: The state of Wisconsin pays plumbers, engineers and other attorneys "much, much more" than it pays attorneys to represent poor people. Milwaukee Police Association stated on March 9, 2011 in a newspaper ad: Says it has offered $12 million in savings through 2011 and $184 million in savings over the next 25 years in contract negotiations with the City of Milwaukee. Michael Moore stated on March 5, 2011 in a speech to protesters in Madison, Wisconsin: "Just 400 Americans -- 400 -- have more wealth than half of all Americans combined." Scott Walker stated on February 20, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: Wisconsin state and local government workers pay "$500, $600 or in some cases, $1,000" per year in union dues. MacIver Institute stated on March 3, 2010 in a video news release: In 2011, "the average annual compensation for a teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools system will exceed $100,000." Rand Paul stated on February 24, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: "The average (public school) teacher in Wisconsin’s making $89,000 a year" in salary and benefits. Ed Garvey stated on February 21, 2011 in a newspaper column and blog post: Claims Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said: "It is necessary to eliminate unions in order to balance future budgets." Scott Walker stated on February 21, 2011 in a news conference: If public employees don’t pay more for benefits starting April 1, 2011, "the equivalent" is 1,500 state employee layoffs by June 30, 2011 and 10,000 to 12,000 state and local government employee layoffs in the next two years. Scott Walker stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: In 2009, Democratic Wisconsin state senators "rammed through a billion-dollar tax hike in 24 hours with no public input." Lena Taylor stated on February 15, 2011 in in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Hitler "abolished unions and that’s what" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is "doing today." Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: At protests in Wisconsin against proposed collective bargaining changes, "phony sick notes (were) passed out to excuse striking union members." Scott Walker stated on February 18, 2011 in a radio interview: Says under his budget-repair bill, "collective bargaining is fully intact." Ed Schultz stated on February 15, 2011 in a statement on his television talk show: Under changes being debated, state employees in Wisconsin "who earn $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year might have 20 percent of their income just disappear overnight." Progressive Change Campaign Committee stated on February 14, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: Says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "has threatened to call out the National Guard if workers protest against" changes to bargaining laws. Scott Walker stated on February 11, 2011 in a news conference: "The alternative" to higher state worker pension and health care payments "is to look at 1,500 layoffs of state employees or close to 200,000 children who would be bumped off Medicaid-related programs." Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: When the Milwaukee County mental health facility is full, "cops sit out there in their squad cars with a mentally ill patient" and sometimes "spend an entire shift out there doing that." Rebecca Kleefisch stated on January 26, 2011 in a news conference: "United States students are achieving at number 25 out of 29 developing countries when it comes to science and math." Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: "We currently have one guy who is in charge of painting the entire Milwaukee County parks system." One Wisconsin Now stated on January 28, 2011 in a news release: "Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature have added over $140 million in new special interest spending" Chris Abele stated on January 25, 2011 in a campaign TV ad: Says he "helped lead an outside audit that’ll save (Milwaukee County) taxpayers over $200 million."
Chris Larson stated on April 22, 2011 in a tweet: Republicans offered Wisconsin bar patrons "free shots (of alcohol) to sign recall petitions against" Democrats.
Mark Pocan stated on February 19, 2011 in a blog post: Says salaries and benefits for Wisconsin state employee comprised 8.5 percent of the 2009-2011 state budget.
Sarah Palin stated on April 16, 2011 in a speech in Madison, Wisconsin: Says $38 billion in spending cuts in federal budget compromise is "less than $1 billion in real cuts."
Jesse Jackson stated on April 4, 2011 in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Milwaukee is "the most segregated city in America."
MoveOn.org stated on April 6, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: The newly proposed House Republican budget "abolishes Medicare within 10 years."
Citizens for a Strong America stated on March 31, 2011 in a TV ad: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg "put an 80-year-old farmer in jail for refusing to plant native vegetation on his farm."
JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 29, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: PolitiFact Wisconsin "concluded that the charge that Justice Prosser prejudges matters that come before the court is True."
Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 30, 2011 in a television ad: Says David Prosser = Scott Walker.
Greater Wisconsin Committee stated on March 24, 2011 in a TV ad: As a prosecutor, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser did not investigate or file charges in a case involving 30-year pedophile priest, then participated in cover-up.
JoAnne Kloppenburg stated on March 16, 2011 in a newspaper interview: Says Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser "has prejudged matters that are likely to come before the court."
Marla Stephens stated on January 27, 2011 in a statement at a candidate forum: The state of Wisconsin pays plumbers, engineers and other attorneys "much, much more" than it pays attorneys to represent poor people.
Milwaukee Police Association stated on March 9, 2011 in a newspaper ad: Says it has offered $12 million in savings through 2011 and $184 million in savings over the next 25 years in contract negotiations with the City of Milwaukee.
Michael Moore stated on March 5, 2011 in a speech to protesters in Madison, Wisconsin: "Just 400 Americans -- 400 -- have more wealth than half of all Americans combined."
Scott Walker stated on February 20, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: Wisconsin state and local government workers pay "$500, $600 or in some cases, $1,000" per year in union dues.
MacIver Institute stated on March 3, 2010 in a video news release: In 2011, "the average annual compensation for a teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools system will exceed $100,000."
Rand Paul stated on February 24, 2011 in an appearance on a TV interview program: "The average (public school) teacher in Wisconsin’s making $89,000 a year" in salary and benefits.
Ed Garvey stated on February 21, 2011 in a newspaper column and blog post: Claims Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said: "It is necessary to eliminate unions in order to balance future budgets."
Scott Walker stated on February 21, 2011 in a news conference: If public employees don’t pay more for benefits starting April 1, 2011, "the equivalent" is 1,500 state employee layoffs by June 30, 2011 and 10,000 to 12,000 state and local government employee layoffs in the next two years.
Scott Walker stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: In 2009, Democratic Wisconsin state senators "rammed through a billion-dollar tax hike in 24 hours with no public input."
Lena Taylor stated on February 15, 2011 in in a TV interview, as well as other venues: Hitler "abolished unions and that’s what" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is "doing today."
Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 19, 2011 in a news release: At protests in Wisconsin against proposed collective bargaining changes, "phony sick notes (were) passed out to excuse striking union members."
Scott Walker stated on February 18, 2011 in a radio interview: Says under his budget-repair bill, "collective bargaining is fully intact."
Ed Schultz stated on February 15, 2011 in a statement on his television talk show: Under changes being debated, state employees in Wisconsin "who earn $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year might have 20 percent of their income just disappear overnight."
Progressive Change Campaign Committee stated on February 14, 2011 in an email blast to supporters: Says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "has threatened to call out the National Guard if workers protest against" changes to bargaining laws.
Scott Walker stated on February 11, 2011 in a news conference: "The alternative" to higher state worker pension and health care payments "is to look at 1,500 layoffs of state employees or close to 200,000 children who would be bumped off Medicaid-related programs."
Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: When the Milwaukee County mental health facility is full, "cops sit out there in their squad cars with a mentally ill patient" and sometimes "spend an entire shift out there doing that."
Rebecca Kleefisch stated on January 26, 2011 in a news conference: "United States students are achieving at number 25 out of 29 developing countries when it comes to science and math."
Jim Sullivan stated on January 31, 2011 in a meeting with Journal Sentinel reporters and editors: "We currently have one guy who is in charge of painting the entire Milwaukee County parks system."
One Wisconsin Now stated on January 28, 2011 in a news release: "Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature have added over $140 million in new special interest spending"
Chris Abele stated on January 25, 2011 in a campaign TV ad: Says he "helped lead an outside audit that’ll save (Milwaukee County) taxpayers over $200 million."
