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 Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 4, 2014 in a news release: "The only time over the last 25 years when the state’s unemployment rate exceeded the U.S. average was when (Mary) Burke was commerce secretary." Tammy Baldwin stated on January 22, 2014 in a news release: "Over 3 million Americans are employed in the growing green-collar workforce," which is more than the number "of people working in the fossil fuel industry." Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on January 19, 2014 in an email: A bill backed by Sean Duffy and other House Republicans "could actually require the Internal Revenue Service to conduct audits of rape victims" who get an abortion. David A. Clarke Jr. stated on January 31, 2014 in an interview: Says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is responsible for the roughly $7,800 "I pay in property taxes per year." Scott Walker stated on January 22, 2014 in a speech: "After years of 5.5 percent average tuition increases, we now have a two-year tuition freeze for the first time in the history of the UW System." Ron Johnson stated on January 10, 2014 in a speech: "The average rate of fraud" in the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps programs "is 20 to 25 percent." Mary Burke stated on January 7, 2014 in an interview: Scott Walker's income "tax plan is a tax hike. It increases taxes for nearly 80% of the people in the state." Paul Ryan stated on December 19, 2013 in an interview: Members of the military don’t "contribute toward their pension." Kathleen Vinehout stated on December 5, 2013 in a meeting: Gov. Scott Walker bought "80 new, brand-new vehicles" for the state that "we probably don’t need." Ron Johnson stated on December 5, 2013 in an interview: Under President Obama’s health-care reforms, the premium for "an average plan for a family didn't go down by $2,500 per year, it's gone up about $2,500 per year." Scott Walker stated on November 27, 2013 in an interview: Even after collective bargaining reforms, most Wisconsin public employees "are still paying about 12 to 13 percent" of their health insurance premiums, while most state residents who work in the private sector "pay 20 to 25 percent." One Wisconsin Now stated on November 27, 2013 in an email: "The Walton family, which owns Wal-Mart, controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined." Mike Tate stated on November 17, 2013 in a fund-raising email: Says Gov. Scott Walker has dropped Wisconsin "to 45th in the nation in job growth prospects while campaigning for president out of state." Mary Burke stated on November 5, 2013 in an interview: "The state budget has actually grown by $4.6 billion under" Gov. Scott Walker’s actions. Scott Walker stated on November 12, 2013 in a book: "The national debt is on track to double during Obama’s presidency." Janet Bewley stated on October 24, 2013 in a speech: "The Legislature passed Gov. Walker’s so-called property tax relief bill," but the Republicans "are still raising your property taxes." Amardeep Kaleka stated on October 20, 2013 in an interview: Wisconsin sold fresh water to California, helping that state's dairy industry, and "lost a bunch of jobs (and) a bunch of farmland." 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." Sondy Pope stated on October 3, 2013 in a radio interview: Common Core "is not from the federal government," they "do not have their fingerprints on this thing at all." Sean Duffy stated on October 8, 2013 in an interview: All members of Congress are required to be in Obamacare, but Obama and members of his administration "have their own gold-plated health care plans that they're in." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stated on October 8, 2013 in a robo-call and video: "Live cats have holes drilled into their skulls," posts put into their heads and coils put into their eyes, and some have had their ears cut off or are intentionally deafened or starved at UW-Madison labs that do research to improve hearing in humans. Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on October 7, 2013 in a web post: Says Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke "has proven on the Madison Board of Education" that she supports raising taxes and spending. Gwen Moore stated on September 29, 2013 in an interview: Domestic violence "is seen as a pre-existing" health condition and "women had to pay 50 percent more for health care because of gender ratings," but under Obamacare, "all of that is over." Tom Barrett stated on September 24, 2013 in an interview: Among the nation’s 51 largest metropolitan areas, Milwaukee is the "only one" where the poverty rate is more than "four times greater in the city than it is in the suburbs." John Scocos stated on September 20, 2013 in a statement: "There are still tens of thousands of missing service members from previous and current conflicts that our nation is working to find and repatriate." Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on September 18, 2013 in a column on the party's website: The 2013-’15 state budget backed by Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers "left our technical colleges funded at 1989 levels." Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings" Chris Kapenga stated on August 23, 2013 in a newsletter: "The amount of interest" paid on the federal debt exceeds "total tax revenue." Chris Larson stated on August 27, 2013 in an interview: Says Gov. Scott Walker "hasn't done a public event this entire year." Kathleen Vinehout stated on August 24, 2013 in a column: Because of Gov. Scott Walker’s budgeting, a greater percentage of general fund tax dollars is "going to pay off debt than ever before in our history."
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
Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 4, 2014 in a news release: "The only time over the last 25 years when the state’s unemployment rate exceeded the U.S. average was when (Mary) Burke was commerce secretary." Tammy Baldwin stated on January 22, 2014 in a news release: "Over 3 million Americans are employed in the growing green-collar workforce," which is more than the number "of people working in the fossil fuel industry." Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on January 19, 2014 in an email: A bill backed by Sean Duffy and other House Republicans "could actually require the Internal Revenue Service to conduct audits of rape victims" who get an abortion. David A. Clarke Jr. stated on January 31, 2014 in an interview: Says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is responsible for the roughly $7,800 "I pay in property taxes per year." Scott Walker stated on January 22, 2014 in a speech: "After years of 5.5 percent average tuition increases, we now have a two-year tuition freeze for the first time in the history of the UW System." Ron Johnson stated on January 10, 2014 in a speech: "The average rate of fraud" in the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps programs "is 20 to 25 percent." Mary Burke stated on January 7, 2014 in an interview: Scott Walker's income "tax plan is a tax hike. It increases taxes for nearly 80% of the people in the state." Paul Ryan stated on December 19, 2013 in an interview: Members of the military don’t "contribute toward their pension." Kathleen Vinehout stated on December 5, 2013 in a meeting: Gov. Scott Walker bought "80 new, brand-new vehicles" for the state that "we probably don’t need." Ron Johnson stated on December 5, 2013 in an interview: Under President Obama’s health-care reforms, the premium for "an average plan for a family didn't go down by $2,500 per year, it's gone up about $2,500 per year." Scott Walker stated on November 27, 2013 in an interview: Even after collective bargaining reforms, most Wisconsin public employees "are still paying about 12 to 13 percent" of their health insurance premiums, while most state residents who work in the private sector "pay 20 to 25 percent." One Wisconsin Now stated on November 27, 2013 in an email: "The Walton family, which owns Wal-Mart, controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined." Mike Tate stated on November 17, 2013 in a fund-raising email: Says Gov. Scott Walker has dropped Wisconsin "to 45th in the nation in job growth prospects while campaigning for president out of state." Mary Burke stated on November 5, 2013 in an interview: "The state budget has actually grown by $4.6 billion under" Gov. Scott Walker’s actions. Scott Walker stated on November 12, 2013 in a book: "The national debt is on track to double during Obama’s presidency." Janet Bewley stated on October 24, 2013 in a speech: "The Legislature passed Gov. Walker’s so-called property tax relief bill," but the Republicans "are still raising your property taxes." Amardeep Kaleka stated on October 20, 2013 in an interview: Wisconsin sold fresh water to California, helping that state's dairy industry, and "lost a bunch of jobs (and) a bunch of farmland." 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." Sondy Pope stated on October 3, 2013 in a radio interview: Common Core "is not from the federal government," they "do not have their fingerprints on this thing at all." Sean Duffy stated on October 8, 2013 in an interview: All members of Congress are required to be in Obamacare, but Obama and members of his administration "have their own gold-plated health care plans that they're in." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stated on October 8, 2013 in a robo-call and video: "Live cats have holes drilled into their skulls," posts put into their heads and coils put into their eyes, and some have had their ears cut off or are intentionally deafened or starved at UW-Madison labs that do research to improve hearing in humans. Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on October 7, 2013 in a web post: Says Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke "has proven on the Madison Board of Education" that she supports raising taxes and spending. Gwen Moore stated on September 29, 2013 in an interview: Domestic violence "is seen as a pre-existing" health condition and "women had to pay 50 percent more for health care because of gender ratings," but under Obamacare, "all of that is over." Tom Barrett stated on September 24, 2013 in an interview: Among the nation’s 51 largest metropolitan areas, Milwaukee is the "only one" where the poverty rate is more than "four times greater in the city than it is in the suburbs." John Scocos stated on September 20, 2013 in a statement: "There are still tens of thousands of missing service members from previous and current conflicts that our nation is working to find and repatriate." Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on September 18, 2013 in a column on the party's website: The 2013-’15 state budget backed by Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers "left our technical colleges funded at 1989 levels." Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings" Chris Kapenga stated on August 23, 2013 in a newsletter: "The amount of interest" paid on the federal debt exceeds "total tax revenue." Chris Larson stated on August 27, 2013 in an interview: Says Gov. Scott Walker "hasn't done a public event this entire year." Kathleen Vinehout stated on August 24, 2013 in a column: Because of Gov. Scott Walker’s budgeting, a greater percentage of general fund tax dollars is "going to pay off debt than ever before in our history."
Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on February 4, 2014 in a news release: "The only time over the last 25 years when the state’s unemployment rate exceeded the U.S. average was when (Mary) Burke was commerce secretary."
Tammy Baldwin stated on January 22, 2014 in a news release: "Over 3 million Americans are employed in the growing green-collar workforce," which is more than the number "of people working in the fossil fuel industry."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on January 19, 2014 in an email: A bill backed by Sean Duffy and other House Republicans "could actually require the Internal Revenue Service to conduct audits of rape victims" who get an abortion.
David A. Clarke Jr. stated on January 31, 2014 in an interview: Says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is responsible for the roughly $7,800 "I pay in property taxes per year."
Scott Walker stated on January 22, 2014 in a speech: "After years of 5.5 percent average tuition increases, we now have a two-year tuition freeze for the first time in the history of the UW System."
Ron Johnson stated on January 10, 2014 in a speech: "The average rate of fraud" in the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps programs "is 20 to 25 percent."
Mary Burke stated on January 7, 2014 in an interview: Scott Walker's income "tax plan is a tax hike. It increases taxes for nearly 80% of the people in the state."
Paul Ryan stated on December 19, 2013 in an interview: Members of the military don’t "contribute toward their pension."
Kathleen Vinehout stated on December 5, 2013 in a meeting: Gov. Scott Walker bought "80 new, brand-new vehicles" for the state that "we probably don’t need."
Ron Johnson stated on December 5, 2013 in an interview: Under President Obama’s health-care reforms, the premium for "an average plan for a family didn't go down by $2,500 per year, it's gone up about $2,500 per year."
Scott Walker stated on November 27, 2013 in an interview: Even after collective bargaining reforms, most Wisconsin public employees "are still paying about 12 to 13 percent" of their health insurance premiums, while most state residents who work in the private sector "pay 20 to 25 percent."
One Wisconsin Now stated on November 27, 2013 in an email: "The Walton family, which owns Wal-Mart, controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined."
Mike Tate stated on November 17, 2013 in a fund-raising email: Says Gov. Scott Walker has dropped Wisconsin "to 45th in the nation in job growth prospects while campaigning for president out of state."
Mary Burke stated on November 5, 2013 in an interview: "The state budget has actually grown by $4.6 billion under" Gov. Scott Walker’s actions.
Scott Walker stated on November 12, 2013 in a book: "The national debt is on track to double during Obama’s presidency."
Janet Bewley stated on October 24, 2013 in a speech: "The Legislature passed Gov. Walker’s so-called property tax relief bill," but the Republicans "are still raising your property taxes."
Amardeep Kaleka stated on October 20, 2013 in an interview: Wisconsin sold fresh water to California, helping that state's dairy industry, and "lost a bunch of jobs (and) a bunch of farmland."
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."
Sondy Pope stated on October 3, 2013 in a radio interview: Common Core "is not from the federal government," they "do not have their fingerprints on this thing at all."
Sean Duffy stated on October 8, 2013 in an interview: All members of Congress are required to be in Obamacare, but Obama and members of his administration "have their own gold-plated health care plans that they're in."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stated on October 8, 2013 in a robo-call and video: "Live cats have holes drilled into their skulls," posts put into their heads and coils put into their eyes, and some have had their ears cut off or are intentionally deafened or starved at UW-Madison labs that do research to improve hearing in humans.
Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on October 7, 2013 in a web post: Says Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke "has proven on the Madison Board of Education" that she supports raising taxes and spending.
Gwen Moore stated on September 29, 2013 in an interview: Domestic violence "is seen as a pre-existing" health condition and "women had to pay 50 percent more for health care because of gender ratings," but under Obamacare, "all of that is over."
Tom Barrett stated on September 24, 2013 in an interview: Among the nation’s 51 largest metropolitan areas, Milwaukee is the "only one" where the poverty rate is more than "four times greater in the city than it is in the suburbs."
John Scocos stated on September 20, 2013 in a statement: "There are still tens of thousands of missing service members from previous and current conflicts that our nation is working to find and repatriate."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on September 18, 2013 in a column on the party's website: The 2013-’15 state budget backed by Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers "left our technical colleges funded at 1989 levels."
Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings"
Chris Kapenga stated on August 23, 2013 in a newsletter: "The amount of interest" paid on the federal debt exceeds "total tax revenue."
Chris Larson stated on August 27, 2013 in an interview: Says Gov. Scott Walker "hasn't done a public event this entire year."
Kathleen Vinehout stated on August 24, 2013 in a column: Because of Gov. Scott Walker’s budgeting, a greater percentage of general fund tax dollars is "going to pay off debt than ever before in our history."
