Latest Mostly True 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 Mitt Romney stated on August 11, 2011 in the Republican debate in Ames, Iowa: Says that under President John F. Kennedy, "government took up" 27 percent of the economy, and today it "consumes 37 percent." Saxby Chambliss stated on August 2, 2011 in a press release: The deal to raise the federal debt limit created the "largest debt ceiling increase in America’s history." Randy Forbes stated on July 25, 2011 in an opinion column. : "As a percentage of our gross domestic product, the defense budget remains just 3.6 percent. This figure is low by all historical standards." Eric Cantor stated on August 1, 2011 in a message on Twitter: "There are no tax increases in this debt limit bill. Period." Barack Obama stated on July 21, 2011 in an interview on NPR: Says Ronald Reagan "repeatedly talked about how irresponsible it would be to allow the full faith and credit of the United States to be impaired in any kind of way." Richard Codey stated on July 13, 2011 in an interview on Hannity on Fox News: "Every president has raised the debt ceiling." Josh Treviño stated on July 13, 2011 in a TV appearance.: Says recent polls show Americans agree with Republicans that the federal debt ceiling should not be raised and the debt and deficit should be dealt with mostly by cutting spending. Barack Obama stated on July 15, 2011 in a press conference: "Eighty percent of the American people support an approach (to federal budget problems) that includes revenues and includes cuts." Mitt Romney stated on June 27, 2011 in a roundtable with small business leaders in Salem, N.H.: By the end of his first term, President Obama will have added as much debt as all the prior 43 presidents combined. Tim Ryan stated on April 14, 2011 in an interview on Fox News: "For every dollar we invest in Head Start, we get $5 to $7 back into our economy." Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year. Tim Pawlenty stated on June 13, 2011 in a debate in New Hampshire: "There was a recent report out that the premiums for Medicare and the payroll withholdings are only paying about half the program. So it is not financially solvent." The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would "privatize Medicare." George LeMieux stated on May 10, 2011 in a Web ad: "(Bill) Nelson voted for billions in wasteful spending earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere." David Wu stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release: House Republican plan would increase costs for Oregon seniors by $6,000 with health care vouchers instead of Medicare 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." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day." 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." Rachel Maddow stated on April 12, 2011 in an episode of The Rachel Maddow Show.: Says Texas routinely gets "a lot more federal spending" than it pays in taxes. Chris Van Hollen stated on April 10, 2011 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The Republicans have demanded deep cuts in education. They've demanded cuts in cancer research and other research to find cures and treatments to diseases." 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." Saxby Chambliss stated on March 29, 2011 in an op-ed: Says "an average of $4 billion is added to the national debt" every day. Barbara Boxer stated on April 1, 2011 in a press release: Says House Republicans rejected a straightforward measure that would prevent members of Congress and the president from being paid during a government shutdown. Young Americans for Liberty stated on March 24, 2011 in a press release: "Every taxpayer owes about $130,000 to pay off the national debt." Bob Goodlatte stated on February 25, 2011 in a column.: The House budget plan proposes "the largest discretionary spending cut in history." Betty Sutton stated on March 3, 2011 in a House committee hearing: "Lake Erie supports nearly 10 percent of Ohio's jobs and generates $750 million in state and local taxes." Matt Miller stated on February 24, 2011 in a column in the Washington Post: Says Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget "roadmap … doesn't balance the budget until the 2060s and … adds an unthinkable $62 trillion to the national debt between now and then." Rand Paul stated on January 27, 2011 in a Senate Tea Party Caucus meeting: Says President Barack Obama revealed in his State of the Union address that he "now is against earmarks." Kent Conrad stated on January 23, 2011 in "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The American people say, don't touch Social Security, don't touch Medicare, don't cut defense. That's 84 percent of the federal budget." Bobby Scott stated on December 16, 2010 in a news release.: The tax-cut deal "adds more than $800 billion to the deficit over two years -- more than the cost of TARP and more than the cost of the Recovery Act" and about the same as health care reform.
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
Mitt Romney stated on August 11, 2011 in the Republican debate in Ames, Iowa: Says that under President John F. Kennedy, "government took up" 27 percent of the economy, and today it "consumes 37 percent." Saxby Chambliss stated on August 2, 2011 in a press release: The deal to raise the federal debt limit created the "largest debt ceiling increase in America’s history." Randy Forbes stated on July 25, 2011 in an opinion column. : "As a percentage of our gross domestic product, the defense budget remains just 3.6 percent. This figure is low by all historical standards." Eric Cantor stated on August 1, 2011 in a message on Twitter: "There are no tax increases in this debt limit bill. Period." Barack Obama stated on July 21, 2011 in an interview on NPR: Says Ronald Reagan "repeatedly talked about how irresponsible it would be to allow the full faith and credit of the United States to be impaired in any kind of way." Richard Codey stated on July 13, 2011 in an interview on Hannity on Fox News: "Every president has raised the debt ceiling." Josh Treviño stated on July 13, 2011 in a TV appearance.: Says recent polls show Americans agree with Republicans that the federal debt ceiling should not be raised and the debt and deficit should be dealt with mostly by cutting spending. Barack Obama stated on July 15, 2011 in a press conference: "Eighty percent of the American people support an approach (to federal budget problems) that includes revenues and includes cuts." Mitt Romney stated on June 27, 2011 in a roundtable with small business leaders in Salem, N.H.: By the end of his first term, President Obama will have added as much debt as all the prior 43 presidents combined. Tim Ryan stated on April 14, 2011 in an interview on Fox News: "For every dollar we invest in Head Start, we get $5 to $7 back into our economy." Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year. Tim Pawlenty stated on June 13, 2011 in a debate in New Hampshire: "There was a recent report out that the premiums for Medicare and the payroll withholdings are only paying about half the program. So it is not financially solvent." The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would "privatize Medicare." George LeMieux stated on May 10, 2011 in a Web ad: "(Bill) Nelson voted for billions in wasteful spending earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere." David Wu stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release: House Republican plan would increase costs for Oregon seniors by $6,000 with health care vouchers instead of Medicare 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." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day." 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." Rachel Maddow stated on April 12, 2011 in an episode of The Rachel Maddow Show.: Says Texas routinely gets "a lot more federal spending" than it pays in taxes. Chris Van Hollen stated on April 10, 2011 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The Republicans have demanded deep cuts in education. They've demanded cuts in cancer research and other research to find cures and treatments to diseases." 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." Saxby Chambliss stated on March 29, 2011 in an op-ed: Says "an average of $4 billion is added to the national debt" every day. Barbara Boxer stated on April 1, 2011 in a press release: Says House Republicans rejected a straightforward measure that would prevent members of Congress and the president from being paid during a government shutdown. Young Americans for Liberty stated on March 24, 2011 in a press release: "Every taxpayer owes about $130,000 to pay off the national debt." Bob Goodlatte stated on February 25, 2011 in a column.: The House budget plan proposes "the largest discretionary spending cut in history." Betty Sutton stated on March 3, 2011 in a House committee hearing: "Lake Erie supports nearly 10 percent of Ohio's jobs and generates $750 million in state and local taxes." Matt Miller stated on February 24, 2011 in a column in the Washington Post: Says Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget "roadmap … doesn't balance the budget until the 2060s and … adds an unthinkable $62 trillion to the national debt between now and then." Rand Paul stated on January 27, 2011 in a Senate Tea Party Caucus meeting: Says President Barack Obama revealed in his State of the Union address that he "now is against earmarks." Kent Conrad stated on January 23, 2011 in "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The American people say, don't touch Social Security, don't touch Medicare, don't cut defense. That's 84 percent of the federal budget." Bobby Scott stated on December 16, 2010 in a news release.: The tax-cut deal "adds more than $800 billion to the deficit over two years -- more than the cost of TARP and more than the cost of the Recovery Act" and about the same as health care reform.
Mitt Romney stated on August 11, 2011 in the Republican debate in Ames, Iowa: Says that under President John F. Kennedy, "government took up" 27 percent of the economy, and today it "consumes 37 percent."
Saxby Chambliss stated on August 2, 2011 in a press release: The deal to raise the federal debt limit created the "largest debt ceiling increase in America’s history."
Randy Forbes stated on July 25, 2011 in an opinion column. : "As a percentage of our gross domestic product, the defense budget remains just 3.6 percent. This figure is low by all historical standards."
Eric Cantor stated on August 1, 2011 in a message on Twitter: "There are no tax increases in this debt limit bill. Period."
Barack Obama stated on July 21, 2011 in an interview on NPR: Says Ronald Reagan "repeatedly talked about how irresponsible it would be to allow the full faith and credit of the United States to be impaired in any kind of way."
Richard Codey stated on July 13, 2011 in an interview on Hannity on Fox News: "Every president has raised the debt ceiling."
Josh Treviño stated on July 13, 2011 in a TV appearance.: Says recent polls show Americans agree with Republicans that the federal debt ceiling should not be raised and the debt and deficit should be dealt with mostly by cutting spending.
Barack Obama stated on July 15, 2011 in a press conference: "Eighty percent of the American people support an approach (to federal budget problems) that includes revenues and includes cuts."
Mitt Romney stated on June 27, 2011 in a roundtable with small business leaders in Salem, N.H.: By the end of his first term, President Obama will have added as much debt as all the prior 43 presidents combined.
Tim Ryan stated on April 14, 2011 in an interview on Fox News: "For every dollar we invest in Head Start, we get $5 to $7 back into our economy."
Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year.
Tim Pawlenty stated on June 13, 2011 in a debate in New Hampshire: "There was a recent report out that the premiums for Medicare and the payroll withholdings are only paying about half the program. So it is not financially solvent."
The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would "privatize Medicare."
George LeMieux stated on May 10, 2011 in a Web ad: "(Bill) Nelson voted for billions in wasteful spending earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere."
David Wu stated on April 15, 2011 in a press release: House Republican plan would increase costs for Oregon seniors by $6,000 with health care vouchers instead of Medicare
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."
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on April 28, 2011 in an automated political phone call: "The federal government borrows $4 billion every day."
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."
Rachel Maddow stated on April 12, 2011 in an episode of The Rachel Maddow Show.: Says Texas routinely gets "a lot more federal spending" than it pays in taxes.
Chris Van Hollen stated on April 10, 2011 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The Republicans have demanded deep cuts in education. They've demanded cuts in cancer research and other research to find cures and treatments to diseases."
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."
Saxby Chambliss stated on March 29, 2011 in an op-ed: Says "an average of $4 billion is added to the national debt" every day.
Barbara Boxer stated on April 1, 2011 in a press release: Says House Republicans rejected a straightforward measure that would prevent members of Congress and the president from being paid during a government shutdown.
Young Americans for Liberty stated on March 24, 2011 in a press release: "Every taxpayer owes about $130,000 to pay off the national debt."
Bob Goodlatte stated on February 25, 2011 in a column.: The House budget plan proposes "the largest discretionary spending cut in history."
Betty Sutton stated on March 3, 2011 in a House committee hearing: "Lake Erie supports nearly 10 percent of Ohio's jobs and generates $750 million in state and local taxes."
Matt Miller stated on February 24, 2011 in a column in the Washington Post: Says Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget "roadmap … doesn't balance the budget until the 2060s and … adds an unthinkable $62 trillion to the national debt between now and then."
Rand Paul stated on January 27, 2011 in a Senate Tea Party Caucus meeting: Says President Barack Obama revealed in his State of the Union address that he "now is against earmarks."
Kent Conrad stated on January 23, 2011 in "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The American people say, don't touch Social Security, don't touch Medicare, don't cut defense. That's 84 percent of the federal budget."
Bobby Scott stated on December 16, 2010 in a news release.: The tax-cut deal "adds more than $800 billion to the deficit over two years -- more than the cost of TARP and more than the cost of the Recovery Act" and about the same as health care reform.
