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 Leonard Lance stated on November 16, 2011 in a speech on the House floor: "When the national debt reaches $15 trillion, it means that U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 99.7 percent of our debt and this is $47,900 for every living American." Sheldon Whitehouse stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "The American healthcare system burns 18 percent of our national GDP. Nobody else is close." David Plouffe stated on October 30, 2011 in an interview on "Meet the Press": The loan guarantee program that helped Solyndra "was a program that was supported by President Bush." Public Notice stated on November 14, 2011 in a political ad: "41 cents out of every dollar (the U.S. spends) is borrowed from places like China." Marcia Fudge stated on November 1, 2011 in an MSNBC interview with Al Sharpton: "More than half of the people on food stamps today are children." Mark Neumann stated on November 9, 2011 in a radio interview: The federal "limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office." Sanford Bishop stated on September 15, 2011 in a letter to the the Postal Regulatory Commission chairwoman: "No other public or private business in America" except for the U.S. Postal Service must fund 100 percent of employee retirement and retirement health costs in advance. Rob Portman stated on November 1, 2011 in a congressional hearing: "A couple retiring today will pay about $119,000 in lifetime Medicare taxes and receive about $357,000 in lifetime Medicare benefits. ... about 3 bucks in benefits for every dollar in taxes." Allen West stated on October 21, 2011 in a TV interview: The EPA "wants to hire 230,000 new government regulators that will cost the taxpayer $21 billion." Mitt Romney stated on November 4, 2011 in an op-ed in USA Today: Repealing the health care law "would save $95 billion in 2016." Michele Bachmann stated on October 28, 2011 in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Under Barack Obama's watch, we have expended $805 billion to liberate the people of Iraq and, more importantly, 4,400 American lives." Jeb Hensarling stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing of the congressional "Supercommittee": The departments of Commerce, Education and Energy and the EPA saw their spending increase by between 130 percent and 219 percent between 2008 and 2010. Leon Panetta stated on October 23, 2011 in congressional testimony: "After every major conflict ... what happened was that we ultimately hollowed out the force, largely by doing deep, across-the-board cuts." Paul Ryan stated on October 9, 2011 in a television interview: Even a 100 percent tax on millionaires would only fund four months of government operations, failing to seriously address budget deficits and debt. David Axelrod stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics: Says Republicans want to cut education by 25 percent. Michele Bachmann stated on October 11, 2011 in Republican presidential primary debate: "Our government right now. . . (is) spending 40 percent more than what we take in." Mitt Romney stated on October 11, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Hanover, N.H.: In the early 1960s, all levels of government were "consuming about 27 percent of the U.S. economy," a number that has risen to 37 percent today. With that trendline, "we cease at some point to be a free economy." Bill O'Reilly stated on September 28, 2011 in an interview on "The Daily Show": Says the federal government hosted a conference and "ordered 250 muffins at 16 bucks a piece." Save America's Postal Service stated on September 29, 2011 in a television ad: The Postal Service’s financial losses result from "a 2006 law that drains $5 billion a year from post office revenue, while the Postal Service is forced to overpay billions more into federal accounts." Chris Christie stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Says President Barack Obama failed "to stand up for the bipartisan debt solutions of the Simpson-Bowles Commission." Mark Neumann stated on September 16, 2011 in a television interview: The federal government is spending $46,000 a year per family (or group of four) and could balance its budget by dropping that to $30,000. Rush Holt stated on September 16, 2011 in an opinion article: Says "as a share of the US economy, the government’s support for research and development (R&D) has fallen by nearly two-thirds since the 1960s." National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on September 19, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is backing President Barack Obama’s plan to pass a $1.5 trillion tax increase. Gary Johnson stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla.: "We're bankrupt." Rick Perry stated on September 16, 2011 in answer to questions.: Says he did not support the October 2008 legislation to rescue Wall Street firms. Ron Paul stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa: The U.S. military "is in 130 countries. We have 900 bases around the world." Michele Bachmann stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "We know that President Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare." Bob Goodlatte stated on September 3, 2011 in a speech.: Thomas Jefferson expressed "strong support" for a balanced budget amendment in 1798. Tom Graves stated on September 1, 2011 in an article: "Two days of interest we pay to China is enough to buy one joint strike fighter [jet]." Jon Runyan stated on September 3, 2011 in a mailer posted on bluejersey.com: The deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling will "directly link a debt ceiling increase to spending cuts for the first time ever."
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
Leonard Lance stated on November 16, 2011 in a speech on the House floor: "When the national debt reaches $15 trillion, it means that U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 99.7 percent of our debt and this is $47,900 for every living American." Sheldon Whitehouse stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "The American healthcare system burns 18 percent of our national GDP. Nobody else is close." David Plouffe stated on October 30, 2011 in an interview on "Meet the Press": The loan guarantee program that helped Solyndra "was a program that was supported by President Bush." Public Notice stated on November 14, 2011 in a political ad: "41 cents out of every dollar (the U.S. spends) is borrowed from places like China." Marcia Fudge stated on November 1, 2011 in an MSNBC interview with Al Sharpton: "More than half of the people on food stamps today are children." Mark Neumann stated on November 9, 2011 in a radio interview: The federal "limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office." Sanford Bishop stated on September 15, 2011 in a letter to the the Postal Regulatory Commission chairwoman: "No other public or private business in America" except for the U.S. Postal Service must fund 100 percent of employee retirement and retirement health costs in advance. Rob Portman stated on November 1, 2011 in a congressional hearing: "A couple retiring today will pay about $119,000 in lifetime Medicare taxes and receive about $357,000 in lifetime Medicare benefits. ... about 3 bucks in benefits for every dollar in taxes." Allen West stated on October 21, 2011 in a TV interview: The EPA "wants to hire 230,000 new government regulators that will cost the taxpayer $21 billion." Mitt Romney stated on November 4, 2011 in an op-ed in USA Today: Repealing the health care law "would save $95 billion in 2016." Michele Bachmann stated on October 28, 2011 in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Under Barack Obama's watch, we have expended $805 billion to liberate the people of Iraq and, more importantly, 4,400 American lives." Jeb Hensarling stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing of the congressional "Supercommittee": The departments of Commerce, Education and Energy and the EPA saw their spending increase by between 130 percent and 219 percent between 2008 and 2010. Leon Panetta stated on October 23, 2011 in congressional testimony: "After every major conflict ... what happened was that we ultimately hollowed out the force, largely by doing deep, across-the-board cuts." Paul Ryan stated on October 9, 2011 in a television interview: Even a 100 percent tax on millionaires would only fund four months of government operations, failing to seriously address budget deficits and debt. David Axelrod stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics: Says Republicans want to cut education by 25 percent. Michele Bachmann stated on October 11, 2011 in Republican presidential primary debate: "Our government right now. . . (is) spending 40 percent more than what we take in." Mitt Romney stated on October 11, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Hanover, N.H.: In the early 1960s, all levels of government were "consuming about 27 percent of the U.S. economy," a number that has risen to 37 percent today. With that trendline, "we cease at some point to be a free economy." Bill O'Reilly stated on September 28, 2011 in an interview on "The Daily Show": Says the federal government hosted a conference and "ordered 250 muffins at 16 bucks a piece." Save America's Postal Service stated on September 29, 2011 in a television ad: The Postal Service’s financial losses result from "a 2006 law that drains $5 billion a year from post office revenue, while the Postal Service is forced to overpay billions more into federal accounts." Chris Christie stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Says President Barack Obama failed "to stand up for the bipartisan debt solutions of the Simpson-Bowles Commission." Mark Neumann stated on September 16, 2011 in a television interview: The federal government is spending $46,000 a year per family (or group of four) and could balance its budget by dropping that to $30,000. Rush Holt stated on September 16, 2011 in an opinion article: Says "as a share of the US economy, the government’s support for research and development (R&D) has fallen by nearly two-thirds since the 1960s." National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on September 19, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is backing President Barack Obama’s plan to pass a $1.5 trillion tax increase. Gary Johnson stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla.: "We're bankrupt." Rick Perry stated on September 16, 2011 in answer to questions.: Says he did not support the October 2008 legislation to rescue Wall Street firms. Ron Paul stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa: The U.S. military "is in 130 countries. We have 900 bases around the world." Michele Bachmann stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "We know that President Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare." Bob Goodlatte stated on September 3, 2011 in a speech.: Thomas Jefferson expressed "strong support" for a balanced budget amendment in 1798. Tom Graves stated on September 1, 2011 in an article: "Two days of interest we pay to China is enough to buy one joint strike fighter [jet]." Jon Runyan stated on September 3, 2011 in a mailer posted on bluejersey.com: The deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling will "directly link a debt ceiling increase to spending cuts for the first time ever."
Leonard Lance stated on November 16, 2011 in a speech on the House floor: "When the national debt reaches $15 trillion, it means that U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 99.7 percent of our debt and this is $47,900 for every living American."
Sheldon Whitehouse stated on September 21, 2011 in a speech: "The American healthcare system burns 18 percent of our national GDP. Nobody else is close."
David Plouffe stated on October 30, 2011 in an interview on "Meet the Press": The loan guarantee program that helped Solyndra "was a program that was supported by President Bush."
Public Notice stated on November 14, 2011 in a political ad: "41 cents out of every dollar (the U.S. spends) is borrowed from places like China."
Marcia Fudge stated on November 1, 2011 in an MSNBC interview with Al Sharpton: "More than half of the people on food stamps today are children."
Mark Neumann stated on November 9, 2011 in a radio interview: The federal "limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office."
Sanford Bishop stated on September 15, 2011 in a letter to the the Postal Regulatory Commission chairwoman: "No other public or private business in America" except for the U.S. Postal Service must fund 100 percent of employee retirement and retirement health costs in advance.
Rob Portman stated on November 1, 2011 in a congressional hearing: "A couple retiring today will pay about $119,000 in lifetime Medicare taxes and receive about $357,000 in lifetime Medicare benefits. ... about 3 bucks in benefits for every dollar in taxes."
Allen West stated on October 21, 2011 in a TV interview: The EPA "wants to hire 230,000 new government regulators that will cost the taxpayer $21 billion."
Mitt Romney stated on November 4, 2011 in an op-ed in USA Today: Repealing the health care law "would save $95 billion in 2016."
Michele Bachmann stated on October 28, 2011 in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Under Barack Obama's watch, we have expended $805 billion to liberate the people of Iraq and, more importantly, 4,400 American lives."
Jeb Hensarling stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing of the congressional "Supercommittee": The departments of Commerce, Education and Energy and the EPA saw their spending increase by between 130 percent and 219 percent between 2008 and 2010.
Leon Panetta stated on October 23, 2011 in congressional testimony: "After every major conflict ... what happened was that we ultimately hollowed out the force, largely by doing deep, across-the-board cuts."
Paul Ryan stated on October 9, 2011 in a television interview: Even a 100 percent tax on millionaires would only fund four months of government operations, failing to seriously address budget deficits and debt.
David Axelrod stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics: Says Republicans want to cut education by 25 percent.
Michele Bachmann stated on October 11, 2011 in Republican presidential primary debate: "Our government right now. . . (is) spending 40 percent more than what we take in."
Mitt Romney stated on October 11, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Hanover, N.H.: In the early 1960s, all levels of government were "consuming about 27 percent of the U.S. economy," a number that has risen to 37 percent today. With that trendline, "we cease at some point to be a free economy."
Bill O'Reilly stated on September 28, 2011 in an interview on "The Daily Show": Says the federal government hosted a conference and "ordered 250 muffins at 16 bucks a piece."
Save America's Postal Service stated on September 29, 2011 in a television ad: The Postal Service’s financial losses result from "a 2006 law that drains $5 billion a year from post office revenue, while the Postal Service is forced to overpay billions more into federal accounts."
Chris Christie stated on September 27, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Says President Barack Obama failed "to stand up for the bipartisan debt solutions of the Simpson-Bowles Commission."
Mark Neumann stated on September 16, 2011 in a television interview: The federal government is spending $46,000 a year per family (or group of four) and could balance its budget by dropping that to $30,000.
Rush Holt stated on September 16, 2011 in an opinion article: Says "as a share of the US economy, the government’s support for research and development (R&D) has fallen by nearly two-thirds since the 1960s."
National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on September 19, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is backing President Barack Obama’s plan to pass a $1.5 trillion tax increase.
Gary Johnson stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla.: "We're bankrupt."
Rick Perry stated on September 16, 2011 in answer to questions.: Says he did not support the October 2008 legislation to rescue Wall Street firms.
Ron Paul stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa: The U.S. military "is in 130 countries. We have 900 bases around the world."
Michele Bachmann stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "We know that President Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare."
Bob Goodlatte stated on September 3, 2011 in a speech.: Thomas Jefferson expressed "strong support" for a balanced budget amendment in 1798.
Tom Graves stated on September 1, 2011 in an article: "Two days of interest we pay to China is enough to buy one joint strike fighter [jet]."
Jon Runyan stated on September 3, 2011 in a mailer posted on bluejersey.com: The deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling will "directly link a debt ceiling increase to spending cuts for the first time ever."
