Latest False 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 Rush Holt stated on December 6, 2011 in a telephone town hall meeting: Says in 1944 "we were in debt more than twice as much as we are now." Newt Gingrich stated on December 15, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa: "I balanced the budget for four straight years, paid off $405 billion in debt." 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." 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. 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." 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." Joe Biden stated on August 30, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal "eliminates Medicare" in 10 years. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on August 10, 2011 in a news release: "Credit agency says Rep. Gibbs recklessly caused downgrade, higher interest rates." Michele Bachmann stated on August 11, 2011 in a debate in Ames, Iowa: When Standard & Poor's "dropped our credit rating, what they said is, we don't have an ability to repay our debt. ... I was proved right in my position" that the debt ceiling should not have been raised. Ron Paul stated on August 11, 2011 in in a debate in Ames, Iowa: "The country's bankrupt." Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security." Allen West stated on July 27, 2011 in an interview on CNN: "This is the first time in the history that we've had the raising of a debt limit also with spending cuts." Bill O'Reilly stated on July 26, 2011 in a comment on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor": Since 1965, the United States has spent "untold trillions" yet the poverty rate hasn’t budged. Eric Cantor stated on July 26, 2011 in a TV interview.: "Harry Reid’s plan is basically giving the president a blank check." Jim DeMint stated on June 27, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is responsible for "over $14 trillion in debt." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in press releases: U.S. Reps. John Barrow and Sanford Bishop and their fellow Democrats "went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Allen West stated on June 2, 2011 in an interview: "China owns about 29% of (the U.S.) debt." Robert Hurt stated on June 3, 2011 in an e-mail newsletter.: Non-defense discretionary spending has increased "by over 80 percent in the last two years." Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Rep. Robert Hurt voted again today to end Medicare and raise health care costs for Virginia seniors." Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined." Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated on May 29, 2011 in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation": The Medicare proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would "allow insurance companies to deny you coverage and drop you for pre-existing conditions." Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout." The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would leave the country "without Medicare." Jamie Radtke stated on May 4, 2011 in a TV interview.: George Allen "had 40,000 earmarks" while he was a senator. Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt." Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market." Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11.
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
Rush Holt stated on December 6, 2011 in a telephone town hall meeting: Says in 1944 "we were in debt more than twice as much as we are now." Newt Gingrich stated on December 15, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa: "I balanced the budget for four straight years, paid off $405 billion in debt." 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." 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. 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." 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." Joe Biden stated on August 30, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal "eliminates Medicare" in 10 years. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on August 10, 2011 in a news release: "Credit agency says Rep. Gibbs recklessly caused downgrade, higher interest rates." Michele Bachmann stated on August 11, 2011 in a debate in Ames, Iowa: When Standard & Poor's "dropped our credit rating, what they said is, we don't have an ability to repay our debt. ... I was proved right in my position" that the debt ceiling should not have been raised. Ron Paul stated on August 11, 2011 in in a debate in Ames, Iowa: "The country's bankrupt." Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security." Allen West stated on July 27, 2011 in an interview on CNN: "This is the first time in the history that we've had the raising of a debt limit also with spending cuts." Bill O'Reilly stated on July 26, 2011 in a comment on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor": Since 1965, the United States has spent "untold trillions" yet the poverty rate hasn’t budged. Eric Cantor stated on July 26, 2011 in a TV interview.: "Harry Reid’s plan is basically giving the president a blank check." Jim DeMint stated on June 27, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is responsible for "over $14 trillion in debt." National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in press releases: U.S. Reps. John Barrow and Sanford Bishop and their fellow Democrats "went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out." Allen West stated on June 2, 2011 in an interview: "China owns about 29% of (the U.S.) debt." Robert Hurt stated on June 3, 2011 in an e-mail newsletter.: Non-defense discretionary spending has increased "by over 80 percent in the last two years." Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Rep. Robert Hurt voted again today to end Medicare and raise health care costs for Virginia seniors." Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined." Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated on May 29, 2011 in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation": The Medicare proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would "allow insurance companies to deny you coverage and drop you for pre-existing conditions." Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout." The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would leave the country "without Medicare." Jamie Radtke stated on May 4, 2011 in a TV interview.: George Allen "had 40,000 earmarks" while he was a senator. Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt." Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market." Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11.
Rush Holt stated on December 6, 2011 in a telephone town hall meeting: Says in 1944 "we were in debt more than twice as much as we are now."
Newt Gingrich stated on December 15, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa: "I balanced the budget for four straight years, paid off $405 billion in debt."
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."
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.
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."
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."
Joe Biden stated on August 30, 2011 in remarks at a campaign fundraiser: Says U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal "eliminates Medicare" in 10 years.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on August 10, 2011 in a news release: "Credit agency says Rep. Gibbs recklessly caused downgrade, higher interest rates."
Michele Bachmann stated on August 11, 2011 in a debate in Ames, Iowa: When Standard & Poor's "dropped our credit rating, what they said is, we don't have an ability to repay our debt. ... I was proved right in my position" that the debt ceiling should not have been raised.
Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security."
Allen West stated on July 27, 2011 in an interview on CNN: "This is the first time in the history that we've had the raising of a debt limit also with spending cuts."
Bill O'Reilly stated on July 26, 2011 in a comment on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor": Since 1965, the United States has spent "untold trillions" yet the poverty rate hasn’t budged.
Eric Cantor stated on July 26, 2011 in a TV interview.: "Harry Reid’s plan is basically giving the president a blank check."
Jim DeMint stated on June 27, 2011 in a news release: Says U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is responsible for "over $14 trillion in debt."
National Republican Congressional Committee stated on May 18, 2011 in press releases: U.S. Reps. John Barrow and Sanford Bishop and their fellow Democrats "went on a spending spree and now their credit card is maxed out."
Robert Hurt stated on June 3, 2011 in an e-mail newsletter.: Non-defense discretionary spending has increased "by over 80 percent in the last two years."
Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year."
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on June 1, 2011 in an e-mail.: "Rep. Robert Hurt voted again today to end Medicare and raise health care costs for Virginia seniors."
Sarah Palin stated on May 31, 2011 in an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years. It's more debt under this president than all those other presidents combined."
Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated on May 29, 2011 in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation": The Medicare proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would "allow insurance companies to deny you coverage and drop you for pre-existing conditions."
Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout."
The Agenda Project stated on May 17, 2011 in an advertisement: The Paul Ryan budget proposal would leave the country "without Medicare."
Jamie Radtke stated on May 4, 2011 in a TV interview.: George Allen "had 40,000 earmarks" while he was a senator.
Newt Gingrich stated on May 11, 2011 in a presidential campaign announcement video: "For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt."
Tom Petri stated on April 29, 2011 in a constituent newsletter: Says President Barack Obama’s debt commission recommended converting Medicare "to a system where Medicare participants are given a voucher to purchase insurance in the private market."
Barack Obama stated on April 27, 2011 in a press conference: Says stories about his birth certificate drowned out media coverage of the Republican and White House budget plans the week of April 11.
