Fact Check: South Carolina Debate

Posted on November 13, 2011

We found several exaggerations and misstatements in the latest Republican presidential candidates’ debate.

FactCheck: Health Insurance Premiums

Republicans exaggerate an increase caused by the new law. But Obama promised lower premiums.

Posted on October 24, 2011

Summary

Health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored family plans jumped a startling 9 percent from 2010 to 2011, and Republicans have blamed the federal health care law. But they exaggerate. The law — the bulk of which has yet to be implemented — has caused only about a 1 percent to 3 percent increase in premiums, according to several independent experts. The rest of the 9 percent rise is due to rising health care costs, as usual.

Factcheck: 2012 Players Guide

The 2012 campaign cycle marks the first presidential election since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations and unions to spend more freely in federal elections. The loosened campaign finance rules, coupled with an intense competition between the two major parties, have served only to embolden independent political groups that hope to influence the 2012 races.

FactChecking the Reagan Debate

Summary

The GOP candidates took some liberties when discussing jobs, Social Security, immigration, health care and other issues during the presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Library:

Fact Checking Dueling Debt Speeches

In opinion-filled statements, Obama and Boehner also went beyond the facts.

Fiscal Fact Check: Does Washington have a spending problem or an income problem?

Summary

Washington's spending has recently been higher as a percentage of the nation's economic output than at any time since World War II. But by the same measure, Washington's revenues are the lowest in more than 60 years.

Factcheck: GOP New Hampshire Debate What Seven Candidates Got Wrong -- and Right -- in a Nationally Televised Debate.

Summary

In the first New Hampshire debate among 2012 presidential hopefuls, we found a number of incorrect, misleading or shaky factual claims:

FactCheck: Is Obama to Blame for $4 Gasoline? Democrats, Republicans spin oil data in dispute over high gas prices.

Summary

Conflicting, false and misleading statements on oil production and gasoline prices have become the currency of politicians lately, as oil tops $100 per barrel and gasoline hovers near $4 per gallon. Among some of the claims that got our attention:

Factcheck: Wisconsin's Baffling Budget Battle

The truth about the budget gap, collective bargaining, teachers' salaries and test scores.

Fact Check: Budget Spin

Obama and Republicans give different -- and less-than-factual -- takes on the president's 2012 budget.

February 16, 2011

Summary

Democrats and Republicans disagree strongly about elements of President Obama’s 2012 budget, but they are alike in one respect: Both sides are misrepresenting important facts. 

FactChecking Republicans at CPAC

The opinion-filled conference included a few falsehoods.

February 14, 2011

Corrected: February 15, 2011

Summary

Republicans at the Conservative Political Action Conference this past weekend strayed at times from the facts, although for the most part, they stuck to expressing their low opinions of the current administration and its policies.

Fact Check: A Budget - Busting Law?

Republicans and Democrats both misrepresent the fiscal effect of the health care law.