Latest Mostly 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 Jack Kingston stated on November 30, 2010 in a presentation: "Sixteen [federal] programs exist to fight homelessness" and some of them are duplicative. Bobby Scott stated on November 16, 2010: Republicans "created a trillion dollar prescription drug entitlement program without paying for it." Sherrod Brown stated on November 30, 2010 in an MSNBC interview : "Understand, this is unemployment insurance. It’s not welfare, as a lot of my Republican colleagues like to suggest it is. You pay into it when you’re working. You get help when you’re not." Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on November 17, 2010 in a news release: "Because of (U.S. Sen.-elect Ron) Johnson’s leadership, Senate Republicans adopted a caucus ban on earmarks." Richard Lugar stated on November 16, 2010 in a prepared statement: "Eliminating earmarks does not reduce spending." Mark Warner stated on November 11, 2010 in n Op/Ed in The Financial Times: $65 billion "would be added to the deficit if we keep the cuts for people on the highest incomes." George W. Bush stated on November 8, 2010 in an interview on NBC's "Today Show": "My debt to GDP was the lowest or one of the lowest of modern presidents. My taxes to GDP was the lowest and my spending to GDP" was too. Tim Kaine stated on September 19, 2010 in a TV interview.: Republican plan to extend Bush tax cuts "would double deficit projections going forward for the next couple of decades." Rand Paul stated on November 7, 2010 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The interest on the debt now is going to approach in the next couple of years ... what we spend in the national defense budget." Lloyd Doggett stated on October 27, 2010 in a campaign mailer: "Donna Campbell has called for ending all federal funding for education" Dino Rossi stated on October 12, 2010 in a campaign ad: The Seattle Times called Patty Murray "a 'prolific sponsor of earmarks.' Patty even defended the 'Bridge to Nowhere.' " Jim Huffman stated on September 2, 2010 in a press release: "Twice as much (federal) money is going back to Hawaii, Virginia and Alaska than is coming home to Oregon." Barack Obama stated on September 8, 2010 in a speech in Cleveland, Ohio.: "When these same Republicans –- including Mr. Boehner –- were in charge, the number of earmarks and pet projects went up, not down." Marco Rubio stated on August 2, 2010 in a campaign video: "If we ban the practice of earmarks, we could save the American taxpayer anywhere between $15 (billion) to $20 billion dollars a year in pork-barrel spending." Barack Obama stated on July 22, 2010 in remarks at a bill signing: The president's budget "would take ... non-defense spending to its lowest level ... as a percentage of the economy since JFK." Rachel Maddow stated on July 19, 2010 in comments on her MSNBC show.: Marco Rubio's "economic proposals will add $3.5 trillion to the federal deficit." John McCain stated on May 26, 2010 in a political ad: As a Congressman, J.D. Hayworth was an avid earmarker who supported such pork as "$220,000 to renovate a Maine Blueberry farm" and "$5.8 million for a Vermont snowmobile trail." Alan Grayson stated on March 3, 2010 in an interview on CNN's Larry King Live: Reconciliation was used "for tax cuts for the rich twice under Bush." Barack Obama stated on January 29, 2010 in a Republican retreat in Baltimore: Obama came into office "with a $1.3 trillion deficit before I had passed any law. ... We came in with $8 trillion worth of debt over the next decade." Barack Obama stated on January 27, 2010 in his State of the Union speech: "At the beginning of the last decade ... America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one-year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade." Barack Obama stated on January 14, 2010 in a speech to House Democrats.: "The Washington Times ... pointed out that we had succeeded where previous administrations had failed" on spending cuts. David Axelrod stated on January 15, 2010 in an op-ed in the Washington Post.: When President Bush took office in 2001, he inherited a $236 billion budget surplus, with a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. When he ended his term, he left a $1.3 trillion deficit and a projected 10-year shortfall of $8 trillion. George LeMieux stated on January 8, 2010 in a message on Twitter: "Why is January 8th an important date in American history? This day in 1835 is the only day in our history when we have not been in debt." Cokie Roberts stated on October 4, 2009 in appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos: Forty percent of gross domestic product "is state, local, or federal money." Joe Biden stated on July 9, 2009 in a news release.: "Across the country, $174 billion of the Recovery Act have been committed in its first 130 days." Barack Obama stated on June 24, 2009 in a town hall meeting: "Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin." Barack Obama stated on March 24, 2009 in in a news conference.: His proposed budget would "cut our deficit in half by the end of my first term." Judd Gregg stated on March 25, 2009 in in a Fox News interview.: Obama's proposed budget "doubles the debt in five years, triples it in 10 years." John McCain stated on February 23, 2009 in a White House forum on fiscal responsibility.: A new presidential helicopter "is now going to cost as much as Air Force One." Rahm Emanuel stated on January 18, 2009 in a news interview: "We've added, in the last eight years, $4 trillion of debt to the nation's obligations."
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
Jack Kingston stated on November 30, 2010 in a presentation: "Sixteen [federal] programs exist to fight homelessness" and some of them are duplicative. Bobby Scott stated on November 16, 2010: Republicans "created a trillion dollar prescription drug entitlement program without paying for it." Sherrod Brown stated on November 30, 2010 in an MSNBC interview : "Understand, this is unemployment insurance. It’s not welfare, as a lot of my Republican colleagues like to suggest it is. You pay into it when you’re working. You get help when you’re not." Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on November 17, 2010 in a news release: "Because of (U.S. Sen.-elect Ron) Johnson’s leadership, Senate Republicans adopted a caucus ban on earmarks." Richard Lugar stated on November 16, 2010 in a prepared statement: "Eliminating earmarks does not reduce spending." Mark Warner stated on November 11, 2010 in n Op/Ed in The Financial Times: $65 billion "would be added to the deficit if we keep the cuts for people on the highest incomes." George W. Bush stated on November 8, 2010 in an interview on NBC's "Today Show": "My debt to GDP was the lowest or one of the lowest of modern presidents. My taxes to GDP was the lowest and my spending to GDP" was too. Tim Kaine stated on September 19, 2010 in a TV interview.: Republican plan to extend Bush tax cuts "would double deficit projections going forward for the next couple of decades." Rand Paul stated on November 7, 2010 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The interest on the debt now is going to approach in the next couple of years ... what we spend in the national defense budget." Lloyd Doggett stated on October 27, 2010 in a campaign mailer: "Donna Campbell has called for ending all federal funding for education" Dino Rossi stated on October 12, 2010 in a campaign ad: The Seattle Times called Patty Murray "a 'prolific sponsor of earmarks.' Patty even defended the 'Bridge to Nowhere.' " Jim Huffman stated on September 2, 2010 in a press release: "Twice as much (federal) money is going back to Hawaii, Virginia and Alaska than is coming home to Oregon." Barack Obama stated on September 8, 2010 in a speech in Cleveland, Ohio.: "When these same Republicans –- including Mr. Boehner –- were in charge, the number of earmarks and pet projects went up, not down." Marco Rubio stated on August 2, 2010 in a campaign video: "If we ban the practice of earmarks, we could save the American taxpayer anywhere between $15 (billion) to $20 billion dollars a year in pork-barrel spending." Barack Obama stated on July 22, 2010 in remarks at a bill signing: The president's budget "would take ... non-defense spending to its lowest level ... as a percentage of the economy since JFK." Rachel Maddow stated on July 19, 2010 in comments on her MSNBC show.: Marco Rubio's "economic proposals will add $3.5 trillion to the federal deficit." John McCain stated on May 26, 2010 in a political ad: As a Congressman, J.D. Hayworth was an avid earmarker who supported such pork as "$220,000 to renovate a Maine Blueberry farm" and "$5.8 million for a Vermont snowmobile trail." Alan Grayson stated on March 3, 2010 in an interview on CNN's Larry King Live: Reconciliation was used "for tax cuts for the rich twice under Bush." Barack Obama stated on January 29, 2010 in a Republican retreat in Baltimore: Obama came into office "with a $1.3 trillion deficit before I had passed any law. ... We came in with $8 trillion worth of debt over the next decade." Barack Obama stated on January 27, 2010 in his State of the Union speech: "At the beginning of the last decade ... America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one-year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade." Barack Obama stated on January 14, 2010 in a speech to House Democrats.: "The Washington Times ... pointed out that we had succeeded where previous administrations had failed" on spending cuts. David Axelrod stated on January 15, 2010 in an op-ed in the Washington Post.: When President Bush took office in 2001, he inherited a $236 billion budget surplus, with a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. When he ended his term, he left a $1.3 trillion deficit and a projected 10-year shortfall of $8 trillion. George LeMieux stated on January 8, 2010 in a message on Twitter: "Why is January 8th an important date in American history? This day in 1835 is the only day in our history when we have not been in debt." Cokie Roberts stated on October 4, 2009 in appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos: Forty percent of gross domestic product "is state, local, or federal money." Joe Biden stated on July 9, 2009 in a news release.: "Across the country, $174 billion of the Recovery Act have been committed in its first 130 days." Barack Obama stated on June 24, 2009 in a town hall meeting: "Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin." Barack Obama stated on March 24, 2009 in in a news conference.: His proposed budget would "cut our deficit in half by the end of my first term." Judd Gregg stated on March 25, 2009 in in a Fox News interview.: Obama's proposed budget "doubles the debt in five years, triples it in 10 years." John McCain stated on February 23, 2009 in a White House forum on fiscal responsibility.: A new presidential helicopter "is now going to cost as much as Air Force One." Rahm Emanuel stated on January 18, 2009 in a news interview: "We've added, in the last eight years, $4 trillion of debt to the nation's obligations."
Jack Kingston stated on November 30, 2010 in a presentation: "Sixteen [federal] programs exist to fight homelessness" and some of them are duplicative.
Bobby Scott stated on November 16, 2010: Republicans "created a trillion dollar prescription drug entitlement program without paying for it."
Sherrod Brown stated on November 30, 2010 in an MSNBC interview : "Understand, this is unemployment insurance. It’s not welfare, as a lot of my Republican colleagues like to suggest it is. You pay into it when you’re working. You get help when you’re not."
Republican Party of Wisconsin stated on November 17, 2010 in a news release: "Because of (U.S. Sen.-elect Ron) Johnson’s leadership, Senate Republicans adopted a caucus ban on earmarks."
Richard Lugar stated on November 16, 2010 in a prepared statement: "Eliminating earmarks does not reduce spending."
Mark Warner stated on November 11, 2010 in n Op/Ed in The Financial Times: $65 billion "would be added to the deficit if we keep the cuts for people on the highest incomes."
George W. Bush stated on November 8, 2010 in an interview on NBC's "Today Show": "My debt to GDP was the lowest or one of the lowest of modern presidents. My taxes to GDP was the lowest and my spending to GDP" was too.
Tim Kaine stated on September 19, 2010 in a TV interview.: Republican plan to extend Bush tax cuts "would double deficit projections going forward for the next couple of decades."
Rand Paul stated on November 7, 2010 in an interview on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour": "The interest on the debt now is going to approach in the next couple of years ... what we spend in the national defense budget."
Lloyd Doggett stated on October 27, 2010 in a campaign mailer: "Donna Campbell has called for ending all federal funding for education"
Dino Rossi stated on October 12, 2010 in a campaign ad: The Seattle Times called Patty Murray "a 'prolific sponsor of earmarks.' Patty even defended the 'Bridge to Nowhere.' "
Jim Huffman stated on September 2, 2010 in a press release: "Twice as much (federal) money is going back to Hawaii, Virginia and Alaska than is coming home to Oregon."
Barack Obama stated on September 8, 2010 in a speech in Cleveland, Ohio.: "When these same Republicans –- including Mr. Boehner –- were in charge, the number of earmarks and pet projects went up, not down."
Marco Rubio stated on August 2, 2010 in a campaign video: "If we ban the practice of earmarks, we could save the American taxpayer anywhere between $15 (billion) to $20 billion dollars a year in pork-barrel spending."
Barack Obama stated on July 22, 2010 in remarks at a bill signing: The president's budget "would take ... non-defense spending to its lowest level ... as a percentage of the economy since JFK."
Rachel Maddow stated on July 19, 2010 in comments on her MSNBC show.: Marco Rubio's "economic proposals will add $3.5 trillion to the federal deficit."
John McCain stated on May 26, 2010 in a political ad: As a Congressman, J.D. Hayworth was an avid earmarker who supported such pork as "$220,000 to renovate a Maine Blueberry farm" and "$5.8 million for a Vermont snowmobile trail."
Alan Grayson stated on March 3, 2010 in an interview on CNN's Larry King Live: Reconciliation was used "for tax cuts for the rich twice under Bush."
Barack Obama stated on January 29, 2010 in a Republican retreat in Baltimore: Obama came into office "with a $1.3 trillion deficit before I had passed any law. ... We came in with $8 trillion worth of debt over the next decade."
Barack Obama stated on January 27, 2010 in his State of the Union speech: "At the beginning of the last decade ... America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one-year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade."
Barack Obama stated on January 14, 2010 in a speech to House Democrats.: "The Washington Times ... pointed out that we had succeeded where previous administrations had failed" on spending cuts.
David Axelrod stated on January 15, 2010 in an op-ed in the Washington Post.: When President Bush took office in 2001, he inherited a $236 billion budget surplus, with a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. When he ended his term, he left a $1.3 trillion deficit and a projected 10-year shortfall of $8 trillion.
George LeMieux stated on January 8, 2010 in a message on Twitter: "Why is January 8th an important date in American history? This day in 1835 is the only day in our history when we have not been in debt."
Cokie Roberts stated on October 4, 2009 in appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos: Forty percent of gross domestic product "is state, local, or federal money."
Joe Biden stated on July 9, 2009 in a news release.: "Across the country, $174 billion of the Recovery Act have been committed in its first 130 days."
Barack Obama stated on June 24, 2009 in a town hall meeting: "Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin."
Barack Obama stated on March 24, 2009 in in a news conference.: His proposed budget would "cut our deficit in half by the end of my first term."
Judd Gregg stated on March 25, 2009 in in a Fox News interview.: Obama's proposed budget "doubles the debt in five years, triples it in 10 years."
John McCain stated on February 23, 2009 in a White House forum on fiscal responsibility.: A new presidential helicopter "is now going to cost as much as Air Force One."
Rahm Emanuel stated on January 18, 2009 in a news interview: "We've added, in the last eight years, $4 trillion of debt to the nation's obligations."
