Latest Fact-checks in Deficit 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 National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Gerry Connolly and his fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Steny Hoyer stated on June 1, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown": "We went from a $5.6 trillion surplus that George Bush inherited to over ... $11-plus trillion debt when George Bush left office." Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail news release: Says that PolitiFact Ohio confirms that Betty Sutton "maxed out federal debt" National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in a news release: "Betty Sutton and her fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Bob McDonnell stated on May 20, 2011 in an interview.: For more than 30 years after World War II, there was a steady reduction in U.S. debt as a percentage of gross domestic product. Scott Brown stated on May 23, 2011 in a public appearance and an op-ed: On whether he would vote for the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Frank Wolf stated on April 19, 2011 in a news release.: The U.S. has "over $62 trillion in unfunded liabilities." Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over." Nancy Pelosi stated on May 3, 2011 in a chart posted on her Flickr account: Promotes a chart saying that Barack Obama has "increased the debt" by 16 percent, compared to George W. Bush, who increased it by 115 percent. Randy Forbes stated on May 5, 2011 in a statement.: Failure to raise the debt limit does not force a U.S. default on debt payments. Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt." Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market." Jim Renacci stated on March 29, 2011 in a video posted to YouTube: The federal debt is more than $14 trillion, "almost equal to the size of our entire economy," and "every child born today inherits a $45,000 share of the national debt before they take their first breath." David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day." Terry McAuliffe stated on May 26, 2011 in an appearance on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.: "China now owns $1.1 trillion of our debt, our trade deficit last year with them was a quarter of a trillion dollars." Gerry Connolly stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release.: Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan "lines the pockets of the private insurance companies," increases costs for seniors and does not reduce the deficit. Dennis Kucinich stated on April 13, 2011 in a radio interview: The Bush tax cuts "helped to create a substantial part of the deficit." Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11. John Boehner stated on April 25, 2011 in an interview with ABC news: President Barack Obama "took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission’s ideas. Not one." Barack Obama stated on April 14, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says Paul Ryan "voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill -- but wasn't paid for." Randy Forbes stated on April 14, 2011 in a press release.: "Each day our nation pays communist China $73.9 million in interest on our debt." Herman Cain stated on April 16, 2011 in a speech in Iowa: China holds 26 percent of the U.S. debt. Mark Warner stated on April 17, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "Right now we are spending at an all-time high, close to 25 percent of our GDP [is] being spent on the federal government. But our revenues are at an almost all-time low of about 15 percent [of GDP]." Jean Schmidt stated on April 14, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "For every 33 pregnant women that walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic, 32 receive an abortion." Marcy Kaptur stated on April 6, 2011 in a radio interview: General Electric "hasn't really created any jobs in this country, doesn't pay any taxes, and they're making historic profits." Jamie Radtke stated on April 12, 2011 in a blog post.: George Allen voted to add $3 trillion to the federal debt, voted to raise the debt ceiling four times and voted for the No Child Left Behind Act while he was a senator. Marco Rubio stated on March 30, 2011 in an opinion article in the 'Wall Street Journal': To pay for government growth, leaders of both parties "borrowed $4 billion a day, leaving us with today's $14 trillion debt." Barack Obama stated on April 13, 2011 in a speech: "By the end of this decade, the interest we owe on our debt could rise to nearly $1 trillion."
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
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Gerry Connolly and his fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Steny Hoyer stated on June 1, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown": "We went from a $5.6 trillion surplus that George Bush inherited to over ... $11-plus trillion debt when George Bush left office." Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail news release: Says that PolitiFact Ohio confirms that Betty Sutton "maxed out federal debt" National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in a news release: "Betty Sutton and her fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Bob McDonnell stated on May 20, 2011 in an interview.: For more than 30 years after World War II, there was a steady reduction in U.S. debt as a percentage of gross domestic product. Scott Brown stated on May 23, 2011 in a public appearance and an op-ed: On whether he would vote for the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Frank Wolf stated on April 19, 2011 in a news release.: The U.S. has "over $62 trillion in unfunded liabilities." Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over." Nancy Pelosi stated on May 3, 2011 in a chart posted on her Flickr account: Promotes a chart saying that Barack Obama has "increased the debt" by 16 percent, compared to George W. Bush, who increased it by 115 percent. Randy Forbes stated on May 5, 2011 in a statement.: Failure to raise the debt limit does not force a U.S. default on debt payments. Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt." Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market." Jim Renacci stated on March 29, 2011 in a video posted to YouTube: The federal debt is more than $14 trillion, "almost equal to the size of our entire economy," and "every child born today inherits a $45,000 share of the national debt before they take their first breath." David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day." Terry McAuliffe stated on May 26, 2011 in an appearance on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.: "China now owns $1.1 trillion of our debt, our trade deficit last year with them was a quarter of a trillion dollars." Gerry Connolly stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release.: Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan "lines the pockets of the private insurance companies," increases costs for seniors and does not reduce the deficit. Dennis Kucinich stated on April 13, 2011 in a radio interview: The Bush tax cuts "helped to create a substantial part of the deficit." Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11. John Boehner stated on April 25, 2011 in an interview with ABC news: President Barack Obama "took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission’s ideas. Not one." Barack Obama stated on April 14, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says Paul Ryan "voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill -- but wasn't paid for." Randy Forbes stated on April 14, 2011 in a press release.: "Each day our nation pays communist China $73.9 million in interest on our debt." Herman Cain stated on April 16, 2011 in a speech in Iowa: China holds 26 percent of the U.S. debt. Mark Warner stated on April 17, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "Right now we are spending at an all-time high, close to 25 percent of our GDP [is] being spent on the federal government. But our revenues are at an almost all-time low of about 15 percent [of GDP]." Jean Schmidt stated on April 14, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "For every 33 pregnant women that walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic, 32 receive an abortion." Marcy Kaptur stated on April 6, 2011 in a radio interview: General Electric "hasn't really created any jobs in this country, doesn't pay any taxes, and they're making historic profits." Jamie Radtke stated on April 12, 2011 in a blog post.: George Allen voted to add $3 trillion to the federal debt, voted to raise the debt ceiling four times and voted for the No Child Left Behind Act while he was a senator. Marco Rubio stated on March 30, 2011 in an opinion article in the 'Wall Street Journal': To pay for government growth, leaders of both parties "borrowed $4 billion a day, leaving us with today's $14 trillion debt." Barack Obama stated on April 13, 2011 in a speech: "By the end of this decade, the interest we owe on our debt could rise to nearly $1 trillion."
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Gerry Connolly and his fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out."
Steny Hoyer stated on June 1, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown": "We went from a $5.6 trillion surplus that George Bush inherited to over ... $11-plus trillion debt when George Bush left office."
Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined."
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail news release: Says that PolitiFact Ohio confirms that Betty Sutton "maxed out federal debt"
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in a news release: "Betty Sutton and her fellow Democrats went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out."
Bob McDonnell stated on May 20, 2011 in an interview.: For more than 30 years after World War II, there was a steady reduction in U.S. debt as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Scott Brown stated on May 23, 2011 in a public appearance and an op-ed: On whether he would vote for the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
Frank Wolf stated on April 19, 2011 in a news release.: The U.S. has "over $62 trillion in unfunded liabilities."
Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over."
Nancy Pelosi stated on May 3, 2011 in a chart posted on her Flickr account: Promotes a chart saying that Barack Obama has "increased the debt" by 16 percent, compared to George W. Bush, who increased it by 115 percent.
Randy Forbes stated on May 5, 2011 in a statement.: Failure to raise the debt limit does not force a U.S. default on debt payments.
Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt."
Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market."
Jim Renacci stated on March 29, 2011 in a video posted to YouTube: The federal debt is more than $14 trillion, "almost equal to the size of our entire economy," and "every child born today inherits a $45,000 share of the national debt before they take their first breath."
David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt."
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day."
Terry McAuliffe stated on May 26, 2011 in an appearance on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.: "China now owns $1.1 trillion of our debt, our trade deficit last year with them was a quarter of a trillion dollars."
Gerry Connolly stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release.: Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan "lines the pockets of the private insurance companies," increases costs for seniors and does not reduce the deficit.
Dennis Kucinich stated on April 13, 2011 in a radio interview: The Bush tax cuts "helped to create a substantial part of the deficit."
Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11.
John Boehner stated on April 25, 2011 in an interview with ABC news: President Barack Obama "took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission’s ideas. Not one."
Barack Obama stated on April 14, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says Paul Ryan "voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill -- but wasn't paid for."
Randy Forbes stated on April 14, 2011 in a press release.: "Each day our nation pays communist China $73.9 million in interest on our debt."
Mark Warner stated on April 17, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "Right now we are spending at an all-time high, close to 25 percent of our GDP [is] being spent on the federal government. But our revenues are at an almost all-time low of about 15 percent [of GDP]."
Jean Schmidt stated on April 14, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "For every 33 pregnant women that walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic, 32 receive an abortion."
Marcy Kaptur stated on April 6, 2011 in a radio interview: General Electric "hasn't really created any jobs in this country, doesn't pay any taxes, and they're making historic profits."
Jamie Radtke stated on April 12, 2011 in a blog post.: George Allen voted to add $3 trillion to the federal debt, voted to raise the debt ceiling four times and voted for the No Child Left Behind Act while he was a senator.
Marco Rubio stated on March 30, 2011 in an opinion article in the 'Wall Street Journal': To pay for government growth, leaders of both parties "borrowed $4 billion a day, leaving us with today's $14 trillion debt."
Barack Obama stated on April 13, 2011 in a speech: "By the end of this decade, the interest we owe on our debt could rise to nearly $1 trillion."
