Latest Fact-checks in Federal Budget 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 Sarah Palin stated on September 3, 2008 in a speech at the Republican Nationention in St. Paul, Minn.: "I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." Sarah Palin stated on August 30, 2008: On support for the Bridge to Nowhere. Joe Biden stated on August 27, 2008 in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver: McCain voted 19 times against a minimum-wage increase. John McCain stated on August 16, 2008 in Orange County, Calif.: "We spent $3-million of your money to study the DNA of bears." John McCain stated on August 20, 2008 in a radio ad called "Millions": Obama wants to increase the size of government by 23 percent. Barack Obama stated on August 12, 2008 in a radio ad: "McCain opposed a requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles. And he said all buy-American provisions were quote 'disgraceful.' " John McCain stated on July 28, 2008 in an interview on CNN's <i> Larry King Live </i>: Spending increases, not tax cuts, are the major cause of the federal budget deficit. Barack Obama stated on June 16, 2008 in Flint, Mich.: "These steps (a middle-class tax cut, national health care plan, foreclosure prevention fund, Social Security fix and more) are all paid for." Barack Obama stated on June 21, 2008 in remarks to U.S. Conference of Mayors: John McCain "opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork." Barack Obama stated on May 13, 2008 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.: We're borrowing money from China and Saudi Arabia "to finance this war" in Iraq. John McCain stated on June 17, 2008 in a comment by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina on MSNBC's "Morning Joe": "George Bush, and a Republican Congress, have presided over a 55 percent increase in the size of domestic government spending in the last seven years." Barack Obama stated on June 12, 2008 in a campaign e-mail to reporters: "McCain lobbied for (a) $10-million pork project honoring conservative justice." Bob Barr stated on May 12, 2008 in a news conference announcing his Libertarian candidacy in Washington, D.C.: Eliminating earmarks "would make barely a drop in the bucket with regard to the national debt, the deficit." John McCain stated on April 20, 2008 in a television interview.: "My friend, we have increased the size of government by some 40 percent just in the last few years." John McCain stated on April 7, 2008 in a poll on McCain's Web site: Democrats' budget resolution would raise America's tax bill by "$500-billion." Republican National Committee stated on February 29, 2008 in a graphic on the RNC website.: "Obama's liberal fiscal agenda: Over $874-billion in new spending." John McCain stated on February 3, 2008 in a campaign event in Fairfield, Conn.: "In her short time in the United States Senate, the senator from New York, Senator Clinton, got $500-million worth of pork barrel projects." Mike Huckabee stated on January 30, 2008 in a debate in Simi Valley, Calif.: "Let's not blame President Bush for all of this. We've got a Congress who sat around on their hands and done nothing but spend a lot of money ... leaving us $9-trillion in debt that we're passing on to our grandchildren." John McCain stated on January 12, 2008 in a speech to the Americans for Prosperity Michigan summit in Livonia, Mich.: "Congress just passed another huge, pork-filled spending bill. The Democrats allowed less than a day to read all 3,400 pages and stuffed it with nearly 10,000 earmarks costing about $10-billion dollars." John McCain stated on January 6, 2008 in a debate in Manchester, N.H.: "I have never asked for nor received a single earmark or pork barrel project for my state." John McCain stated on November 28, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Fla.: "I saved the taxpayers $2-billion on a bogus Air Force Boeing tanker deal where people went to jail." Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in Web "Spend-O-Meter": "If Sen. Hillary Clinton could enact all of her campaign proposals, taxpayers would be faced with financing more than $777.6-billion in new spending over one White House term." Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in a Web site.: "Hillary's baby bond proposal would give $5,000 to each of the 4-million babies born in the U.S. each year, totaling $20-billion per year, multiplied by four years = $80-billion." Rudy Giuliani stated on July 1, 2007 in "Innovators in Action" magazine: "The $2.3-billion budget deficit I inherited when I came into office became a $2.9-billion surplus." Mitt Romney stated on October 9, 2007 in an interview on CNBC.: "John McCain is right on that one. The line-item veto is the best tool the president has to rein in excessive spending." Mitt Romney stated on October 6, 2007: "Mayor Giuliani's lawsuit killed the line-item veto." John McCain stated on October 21, 2007 in a Republican debate in Orlando, Fla.: "Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock Concert Museum." John McCain stated on July 25, 2007 in a speech in Nashua, N.H.: "We spent $223-million on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it." John McCain stated on August 4, 2007 in a comment to a reporter.: "We spent approximately $20-billion of that money on pork barrel, earmark projects. Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges across the country." John McCain stated on October 8, 2007 in a campaign Web site.: "Earmarked dollars have doubled just since 2000, and more than tripled in the last 10 years."
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
Sarah Palin stated on September 3, 2008 in a speech at the Republican Nationention in St. Paul, Minn.: "I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." Sarah Palin stated on August 30, 2008: On support for the Bridge to Nowhere. Joe Biden stated on August 27, 2008 in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver: McCain voted 19 times against a minimum-wage increase. John McCain stated on August 16, 2008 in Orange County, Calif.: "We spent $3-million of your money to study the DNA of bears." John McCain stated on August 20, 2008 in a radio ad called "Millions": Obama wants to increase the size of government by 23 percent. Barack Obama stated on August 12, 2008 in a radio ad: "McCain opposed a requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles. And he said all buy-American provisions were quote 'disgraceful.' " John McCain stated on July 28, 2008 in an interview on CNN's <i> Larry King Live </i>: Spending increases, not tax cuts, are the major cause of the federal budget deficit. Barack Obama stated on June 16, 2008 in Flint, Mich.: "These steps (a middle-class tax cut, national health care plan, foreclosure prevention fund, Social Security fix and more) are all paid for." Barack Obama stated on June 21, 2008 in remarks to U.S. Conference of Mayors: John McCain "opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork." Barack Obama stated on May 13, 2008 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.: We're borrowing money from China and Saudi Arabia "to finance this war" in Iraq. John McCain stated on June 17, 2008 in a comment by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina on MSNBC's "Morning Joe": "George Bush, and a Republican Congress, have presided over a 55 percent increase in the size of domestic government spending in the last seven years." Barack Obama stated on June 12, 2008 in a campaign e-mail to reporters: "McCain lobbied for (a) $10-million pork project honoring conservative justice." Bob Barr stated on May 12, 2008 in a news conference announcing his Libertarian candidacy in Washington, D.C.: Eliminating earmarks "would make barely a drop in the bucket with regard to the national debt, the deficit." John McCain stated on April 20, 2008 in a television interview.: "My friend, we have increased the size of government by some 40 percent just in the last few years." John McCain stated on April 7, 2008 in a poll on McCain's Web site: Democrats' budget resolution would raise America's tax bill by "$500-billion." Republican National Committee stated on February 29, 2008 in a graphic on the RNC website.: "Obama's liberal fiscal agenda: Over $874-billion in new spending." John McCain stated on February 3, 2008 in a campaign event in Fairfield, Conn.: "In her short time in the United States Senate, the senator from New York, Senator Clinton, got $500-million worth of pork barrel projects." Mike Huckabee stated on January 30, 2008 in a debate in Simi Valley, Calif.: "Let's not blame President Bush for all of this. We've got a Congress who sat around on their hands and done nothing but spend a lot of money ... leaving us $9-trillion in debt that we're passing on to our grandchildren." John McCain stated on January 12, 2008 in a speech to the Americans for Prosperity Michigan summit in Livonia, Mich.: "Congress just passed another huge, pork-filled spending bill. The Democrats allowed less than a day to read all 3,400 pages and stuffed it with nearly 10,000 earmarks costing about $10-billion dollars." John McCain stated on January 6, 2008 in a debate in Manchester, N.H.: "I have never asked for nor received a single earmark or pork barrel project for my state." John McCain stated on November 28, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Fla.: "I saved the taxpayers $2-billion on a bogus Air Force Boeing tanker deal where people went to jail." Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in Web "Spend-O-Meter": "If Sen. Hillary Clinton could enact all of her campaign proposals, taxpayers would be faced with financing more than $777.6-billion in new spending over one White House term." Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in a Web site.: "Hillary's baby bond proposal would give $5,000 to each of the 4-million babies born in the U.S. each year, totaling $20-billion per year, multiplied by four years = $80-billion." Rudy Giuliani stated on July 1, 2007 in "Innovators in Action" magazine: "The $2.3-billion budget deficit I inherited when I came into office became a $2.9-billion surplus." Mitt Romney stated on October 9, 2007 in an interview on CNBC.: "John McCain is right on that one. The line-item veto is the best tool the president has to rein in excessive spending." Mitt Romney stated on October 6, 2007: "Mayor Giuliani's lawsuit killed the line-item veto." John McCain stated on October 21, 2007 in a Republican debate in Orlando, Fla.: "Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock Concert Museum." John McCain stated on July 25, 2007 in a speech in Nashua, N.H.: "We spent $223-million on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it." John McCain stated on August 4, 2007 in a comment to a reporter.: "We spent approximately $20-billion of that money on pork barrel, earmark projects. Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges across the country." John McCain stated on October 8, 2007 in a campaign Web site.: "Earmarked dollars have doubled just since 2000, and more than tripled in the last 10 years."
Sarah Palin stated on September 3, 2008 in a speech at the Republican Nationention in St. Paul, Minn.: "I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere."
Joe Biden stated on August 27, 2008 in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver: McCain voted 19 times against a minimum-wage increase.
John McCain stated on August 16, 2008 in Orange County, Calif.: "We spent $3-million of your money to study the DNA of bears."
John McCain stated on August 20, 2008 in a radio ad called "Millions": Obama wants to increase the size of government by 23 percent.
Barack Obama stated on August 12, 2008 in a radio ad: "McCain opposed a requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles. And he said all buy-American provisions were quote 'disgraceful.' "
John McCain stated on July 28, 2008 in an interview on CNN's <i> Larry King Live </i>: Spending increases, not tax cuts, are the major cause of the federal budget deficit.
Barack Obama stated on June 16, 2008 in Flint, Mich.: "These steps (a middle-class tax cut, national health care plan, foreclosure prevention fund, Social Security fix and more) are all paid for."
Barack Obama stated on June 21, 2008 in remarks to U.S. Conference of Mayors: John McCain "opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."
Barack Obama stated on May 13, 2008 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.: We're borrowing money from China and Saudi Arabia "to finance this war" in Iraq.
John McCain stated on June 17, 2008 in a comment by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina on MSNBC's "Morning Joe": "George Bush, and a Republican Congress, have presided over a 55 percent increase in the size of domestic government spending in the last seven years."
Barack Obama stated on June 12, 2008 in a campaign e-mail to reporters: "McCain lobbied for (a) $10-million pork project honoring conservative justice."
Bob Barr stated on May 12, 2008 in a news conference announcing his Libertarian candidacy in Washington, D.C.: Eliminating earmarks "would make barely a drop in the bucket with regard to the national debt, the deficit."
John McCain stated on April 20, 2008 in a television interview.: "My friend, we have increased the size of government by some 40 percent just in the last few years."
John McCain stated on April 7, 2008 in a poll on McCain's Web site: Democrats' budget resolution would raise America's tax bill by "$500-billion."
Republican National Committee stated on February 29, 2008 in a graphic on the RNC website.: "Obama's liberal fiscal agenda: Over $874-billion in new spending."
John McCain stated on February 3, 2008 in a campaign event in Fairfield, Conn.: "In her short time in the United States Senate, the senator from New York, Senator Clinton, got $500-million worth of pork barrel projects."
Mike Huckabee stated on January 30, 2008 in a debate in Simi Valley, Calif.: "Let's not blame President Bush for all of this. We've got a Congress who sat around on their hands and done nothing but spend a lot of money ... leaving us $9-trillion in debt that we're passing on to our grandchildren."
John McCain stated on January 12, 2008 in a speech to the Americans for Prosperity Michigan summit in Livonia, Mich.: "Congress just passed another huge, pork-filled spending bill. The Democrats allowed less than a day to read all 3,400 pages and stuffed it with nearly 10,000 earmarks costing about $10-billion dollars."
John McCain stated on January 6, 2008 in a debate in Manchester, N.H.: "I have never asked for nor received a single earmark or pork barrel project for my state."
John McCain stated on November 28, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Fla.: "I saved the taxpayers $2-billion on a bogus Air Force Boeing tanker deal where people went to jail."
Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in Web "Spend-O-Meter": "If Sen. Hillary Clinton could enact all of her campaign proposals, taxpayers would be faced with financing more than $777.6-billion in new spending over one White House term."
Republican National Committee stated on November 26, 2007 in a Web site.: "Hillary's baby bond proposal would give $5,000 to each of the 4-million babies born in the U.S. each year, totaling $20-billion per year, multiplied by four years = $80-billion."
Rudy Giuliani stated on July 1, 2007 in "Innovators in Action" magazine: "The $2.3-billion budget deficit I inherited when I came into office became a $2.9-billion surplus."
Mitt Romney stated on October 9, 2007 in an interview on CNBC.: "John McCain is right on that one. The line-item veto is the best tool the president has to rein in excessive spending."
John McCain stated on October 21, 2007 in a Republican debate in Orlando, Fla.: "Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock Concert Museum."
John McCain stated on July 25, 2007 in a speech in Nashua, N.H.: "We spent $223-million on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it."
John McCain stated on August 4, 2007 in a comment to a reporter.: "We spent approximately $20-billion of that money on pork barrel, earmark projects. Maybe if we had done it right, maybe some of that money would have gone to inspect those bridges and other bridges across the country."
John McCain stated on October 8, 2007 in a campaign Web site.: "Earmarked dollars have doubled just since 2000, and more than tripled in the last 10 years."
