Latest 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 Ron Wyden stated on June 20, 2012 in in a news release : "Oregon schools receive millions of dollars per year in federal school lunch assistance and yet they are required to spend that money almost anywhere but Oregon." Jim Webb stated on May 14, 2012 in an interview.: President Obama budget request for veterans is "more than double the amount in constant dollars appropriated in 1980, when the veterans population was larger by a third." Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated on May 18, 2012 in remarks to reporters: "The Republican from Georgia [U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston], he hasn’t even been to a NASCAR race." Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees." John Boehner stated on March 28, 2012 in a video address: "The Democrat-controlled Senate, it hasn't passed a budget in more than 1,000 days." Frank Wolf stated on March 28, 2012 in a floor speech.: Says the Congressional Budget Office has estimated "every penny of the federal budget will go to interest on the debt and entitlement spending by 2025." Rob Portman stated on April 16, 2012 in a column in Politico: The Buffett Rule "will bring in less than $5 billion per year. ... Enough to pay one week’s interest on the national debt." Tom Graves stated on March 20, 2012 in a press release: "The federal government owns tens of thousands of properties that are vacant or underused." Peter DeFazio stated on April 13, 2012 in his congressional website: Says the Pentagon has never passed a financial audit. In fact, the Pentagon is exempt from a federal law that requires all federal agencies to complete annual audits. Barack Obama stated on April 3, 2012 in remarks to the Newspaper Association of America: "Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close." Lenny Curry stated on March 4, 2012 in an interview on "Political Connections": Says Barack Obama "promised he would cut the deficit in half" but didn’t. Kurt Schrader stated on February 2, 2012 in congressional website : In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget. George Allen stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate: "I was one of about a dozen (senators) who voted against the Bridge to Nowhere." Tim Kaine stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate.: The national debt increased $16,000 every second George Allen served in the U.S. Senate. Frank Lautenberg stated on October 24, 2011 in an article on NOLA.com: "Last year we spent more than $40 billion on highways. And Lord knows we need that. But that's more than we spent on Amtrak in its entire 40-year history." Alan Simpson stated on November 18, 2011 in a speech at the City Club of Cleveland: Says military expenditures for the United States are greater than the combined spending of the next 14 largest nations. Rick Santorum stated on November 29, 2011 in an op-ed in the "New Hampshire Union Leader": The balanced-budget amendment once came within one vote of passing Congress but was defeated because of the no vote from a top Senate Republican, and Rick Santorum says he "stood up and called for him to resign his chairmanship." 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." 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." 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." 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." 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]." Maureen Dowd stated on August 30, 2011 in an oped column.: Says Ron Paul insisted FEMA should be shut down. Bobby Scott stated on August 1, 2011 in a news release.: "The estimated savings of this (debt ceiling) deal only pay for half of the cost of extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts for another decade." Ron Johnson stated on July 25, 2011 in a television interview: "The federal government is spending 25 percent of our entire economy versus 100 years ago we spent only 2 percent." Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "The deficit was on track to top $1 trillion the year I took office." Rob Portman stated on July 25, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC: "Thirty-four of the last 44 (debt ceiling increases) have been for less than a year. So, this notion that short-term is somehow the exception, it's actually the rule." Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "President Reagan did it (raised the debt ceiling) 18 times. George W. Bush did it seven times."
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
Ron Wyden stated on June 20, 2012 in in a news release : "Oregon schools receive millions of dollars per year in federal school lunch assistance and yet they are required to spend that money almost anywhere but Oregon." Jim Webb stated on May 14, 2012 in an interview.: President Obama budget request for veterans is "more than double the amount in constant dollars appropriated in 1980, when the veterans population was larger by a third." Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated on May 18, 2012 in remarks to reporters: "The Republican from Georgia [U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston], he hasn’t even been to a NASCAR race." Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees." John Boehner stated on March 28, 2012 in a video address: "The Democrat-controlled Senate, it hasn't passed a budget in more than 1,000 days." Frank Wolf stated on March 28, 2012 in a floor speech.: Says the Congressional Budget Office has estimated "every penny of the federal budget will go to interest on the debt and entitlement spending by 2025." Rob Portman stated on April 16, 2012 in a column in Politico: The Buffett Rule "will bring in less than $5 billion per year. ... Enough to pay one week’s interest on the national debt." Tom Graves stated on March 20, 2012 in a press release: "The federal government owns tens of thousands of properties that are vacant or underused." Peter DeFazio stated on April 13, 2012 in his congressional website: Says the Pentagon has never passed a financial audit. In fact, the Pentagon is exempt from a federal law that requires all federal agencies to complete annual audits. Barack Obama stated on April 3, 2012 in remarks to the Newspaper Association of America: "Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close." Lenny Curry stated on March 4, 2012 in an interview on "Political Connections": Says Barack Obama "promised he would cut the deficit in half" but didn’t. Kurt Schrader stated on February 2, 2012 in congressional website : In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget. George Allen stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate: "I was one of about a dozen (senators) who voted against the Bridge to Nowhere." Tim Kaine stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate.: The national debt increased $16,000 every second George Allen served in the U.S. Senate. Frank Lautenberg stated on October 24, 2011 in an article on NOLA.com: "Last year we spent more than $40 billion on highways. And Lord knows we need that. But that's more than we spent on Amtrak in its entire 40-year history." Alan Simpson stated on November 18, 2011 in a speech at the City Club of Cleveland: Says military expenditures for the United States are greater than the combined spending of the next 14 largest nations. Rick Santorum stated on November 29, 2011 in an op-ed in the "New Hampshire Union Leader": The balanced-budget amendment once came within one vote of passing Congress but was defeated because of the no vote from a top Senate Republican, and Rick Santorum says he "stood up and called for him to resign his chairmanship." 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." 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." 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." 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." 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]." Maureen Dowd stated on August 30, 2011 in an oped column.: Says Ron Paul insisted FEMA should be shut down. Bobby Scott stated on August 1, 2011 in a news release.: "The estimated savings of this (debt ceiling) deal only pay for half of the cost of extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts for another decade." Ron Johnson stated on July 25, 2011 in a television interview: "The federal government is spending 25 percent of our entire economy versus 100 years ago we spent only 2 percent." Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "The deficit was on track to top $1 trillion the year I took office." Rob Portman stated on July 25, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC: "Thirty-four of the last 44 (debt ceiling increases) have been for less than a year. So, this notion that short-term is somehow the exception, it's actually the rule." Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "President Reagan did it (raised the debt ceiling) 18 times. George W. Bush did it seven times."
Ron Wyden stated on June 20, 2012 in in a news release : "Oregon schools receive millions of dollars per year in federal school lunch assistance and yet they are required to spend that money almost anywhere but Oregon."
Jim Webb stated on May 14, 2012 in an interview.: President Obama budget request for veterans is "more than double the amount in constant dollars appropriated in 1980, when the veterans population was larger by a third."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated on May 18, 2012 in remarks to reporters: "The Republican from Georgia [U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston], he hasn’t even been to a NASCAR race."
Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees."
John Boehner stated on March 28, 2012 in a video address: "The Democrat-controlled Senate, it hasn't passed a budget in more than 1,000 days."
Frank Wolf stated on March 28, 2012 in a floor speech.: Says the Congressional Budget Office has estimated "every penny of the federal budget will go to interest on the debt and entitlement spending by 2025."
Rob Portman stated on April 16, 2012 in a column in Politico: The Buffett Rule "will bring in less than $5 billion per year. ... Enough to pay one week’s interest on the national debt."
Tom Graves stated on March 20, 2012 in a press release: "The federal government owns tens of thousands of properties that are vacant or underused."
Peter DeFazio stated on April 13, 2012 in his congressional website: Says the Pentagon has never passed a financial audit. In fact, the Pentagon is exempt from a federal law that requires all federal agencies to complete annual audits.
Barack Obama stated on April 3, 2012 in remarks to the Newspaper Association of America: "Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close."
Lenny Curry stated on March 4, 2012 in an interview on "Political Connections": Says Barack Obama "promised he would cut the deficit in half" but didn’t.
Kurt Schrader stated on February 2, 2012 in congressional website : In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget.
George Allen stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate: "I was one of about a dozen (senators) who voted against the Bridge to Nowhere."
Tim Kaine stated on December 7, 2011 in a debate.: The national debt increased $16,000 every second George Allen served in the U.S. Senate.
Frank Lautenberg stated on October 24, 2011 in an article on NOLA.com: "Last year we spent more than $40 billion on highways. And Lord knows we need that. But that's more than we spent on Amtrak in its entire 40-year history."
Alan Simpson stated on November 18, 2011 in a speech at the City Club of Cleveland: Says military expenditures for the United States are greater than the combined spending of the next 14 largest nations.
Rick Santorum stated on November 29, 2011 in an op-ed in the "New Hampshire Union Leader": The balanced-budget amendment once came within one vote of passing Congress but was defeated because of the no vote from a top Senate Republican, and Rick Santorum says he "stood up and called for him to resign his chairmanship."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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]."
Maureen Dowd stated on August 30, 2011 in an oped column.: Says Ron Paul insisted FEMA should be shut down.
Bobby Scott stated on August 1, 2011 in a news release.: "The estimated savings of this (debt ceiling) deal only pay for half of the cost of extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts for another decade."
Ron Johnson stated on July 25, 2011 in a television interview: "The federal government is spending 25 percent of our entire economy versus 100 years ago we spent only 2 percent."
Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "The deficit was on track to top $1 trillion the year I took office."
Rob Portman stated on July 25, 2011 in an interview on MSNBC: "Thirty-four of the last 44 (debt ceiling increases) have been for less than a year. So, this notion that short-term is somehow the exception, it's actually the rule."
Barack Obama stated on July 25, 2011 in a televised address: "President Reagan did it (raised the debt ceiling) 18 times. George W. Bush did it seven times."
