PolitiFact | Tommy Thompson

The Poynter Institute

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Tommy Thompson, a Republican, was a 2012 candidate for the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin. He served as governor of Wisconsin from 1987 until 2001, when he left office to become President George W. Bush's secretary of health and human services. He previously spent 20 years in the Wisconsin Assembly. Thompson briefly ran for president, withdrawing in 2007.

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Tommy Thompson
stated on September 25, 2013 in an interview:

"Wisconsin is not as obese as the national average is. The national average, 35.7 percent of the population is obese. In Wisconsin, it's closer to 26 percent."

By Tom Kertscher • October 24, 2013
Tommy Thompson
stated on October 26, 2012 in debate comments:

On support for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform plan

By Dave Umhoefer • November 1, 2012
Tommy Thompson
stated on October 18, 2012 in a debate:

Says Democrats first proposed prohibiting the government from negotiating prices for prescription drugs in Medicare Part D and he "had nothing to do with" that provision in the law.

By Tom Kertscher • October 30, 2012
Tommy Thompson
stated on October 18, 2012 in debate comments:

Says when he was governor, "most of the Democrats" voted for his billion-dollar property-tax cuts, but U.S. Senate rival Tammy Baldwin "voted against it."

By Dave Umhoefer • October 26, 2012
Tommy Thompson
stated on October 23, 2012 in a television ad:

Says "Tammy Baldwin had the opportunity to vote to honor the victims of 9/11 and she voted against it."

By James B. Nelson • October 26, 2012

Progressive Change Campaign Committee
stated on October 31, 2012 in a TV ad:

Says U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson "says he’ll do away with Medicare."

By Dave Umhoefer • November 2, 2012
Majority PAC
stated on October 31, 2012 in a TV ad:

"Tommy Thompson made millions from corporations who outsource American jobs and now he's trying to lavish huge tax breaks on them."

By Tom Kertscher • November 1, 2012
Tammy Baldwin
stated on October 18, 2012 in a debate:

Says U.S. Senate rival Tommy Thompson ran Medicare "into the ground" and "nine years closer to bankruptcy."

By Tom Kertscher • October 26, 2012
Tammy Baldwin
stated on October 24, 2012 in a TV ad:

Says U.S. Senate opponent Tommy Thompson "personally made over $3 million" from a federal contract granted to his healthcare company, but left 9/11 first responders "without the care they were promised."

By Dave Umhoefer • October 26, 2012
Workers' Voice
stated on October 1, 2012 in a campaign flier:

Says U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson supports a plan for "privatizing Social Security."

By Dave Umhoefer • October 24, 2012

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