Fact Check

• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Impact on the Deficit Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER from August 5, 2009 08/05/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Insurance Industry Attack on Public Option and How Members of Congress’ Health Care Is Treated the Same as All Americans Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER from August 4, 2009 08/04/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Impact on Seniors Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER from August 3, 2009 08/03/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Inaccurate Comments of Republican Leaders Health Insurance Reform – Daily Mythbuster from July 31, 2009 07/31/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Inaccurate Comments of House Republican Leader John Boehner Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER from July 30, 2009 07/30/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Impact on Seniors Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER from July 29, 2009 07/29/2009
• Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Impact on Small Business Health Insurance Reform – DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Impact on Small Business from July 28, 2009 07/28/2009
• Budget Fact Check: A Budget to Put America Back on Track The Budget Conference Report mirrors President Obama’s budget blueprint, which lays the foundation for lasting prosperity and economic growth. 04/28/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Long-Term Economic Plan for America’s Future President Obama and House Democrats are offering a budget which lays the foundation for lasting prosperity and economic growth for America’s workers and families. 04/01/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Putting America Back on Track The House budget mirrors President Obama’s budget blueprint, which lays the foundation for lasting prosperity and economic growth. 03/31/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Keeping Our Promises 03/30/2009
• Budget Fact Check: No Comparison 03/27/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Restoring Fiscal Responsibility 03/26/2009
• Budget Fact Check: A Responsible Way Forward Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget is irresponsible. In fact, both the President’s budget and the House budget, which is being marked up today, share the same priorities to move America’s middle-class families and the nation’s economy forward. The budget grows our economy, creates jobs, cuts the deficit, invests in our priorities and reduces non-defense discretionary spending. 03/25/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Responsible Spending to Grow America’s Economy Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget spends too much. In fact, the President’s budget cuts non-defense discretionary spending over 10 years – to its lowest level as a percent of the economy in nearly half a century. 03/24/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Creating Jobs & Reinvesting in America’s Economy Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget does not create jobs. In fact, President Obama’s budget invests in initiatives that will grow the economy by creating jobs, putting money in the pockets of Americans, and improving opportunities for future generations. 03/20/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Responsible Spending to Grow America’s Economy Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget spends too much. In fact, the President’s budget cuts non-defense discretionary spending over 10 years – to its lowest level as a percent of the economy in nearly half a century. 03/19/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Tax Cuts Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget will raise taxes on America’s families. In fact, the President’s budget cuts taxes for 95 percent of America’s workers and their families. 03/17/2009
• Budget Fact Check: Small Business Partisan attacks claim that President Obama’s budget will raise taxes on small businesses… In fact, the President’s budget eliminates the capital gains tax for individuals on the sale of certain small business stocks and makes the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit permanent. These proposals will spur investment and innovation to help small businesses – the job-creating engines of our economy –succeed. 03/16/2009
• Setting the Record Straight: House Republican Plan Meant 2.2 Million Fewer Jobs, More of Bush’s Failed Approach This week, House Republicans are FOR the President’s tax cuts and investments in their hometown economies—one week after they were unanimously AGAINST them. Republican members are hearing from constituents who want the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama this week. 02/20/2009
• Recovery Act: Next Steps A summary of the five primary ways that federal agencies will be allocating the funding provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, once it is signed into law. Current estimates are that three-fourths of the spending and tax cuts will occur within 18 months of enactment. 02/13/2009
• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Vs. House Republican Alternative The urgency is clear. The choice is clear. The House will vote this week on a plan to create and save 3.5 million American jobs, jumpstart our economy, and transform it for success in the 21st century. 02/12/2009
• Republicans Split on Recovery Plan – Those in Washington Oppose, Many on Front Lines Support Despite the worsening economic crisis, the Republican leadership in Congress has chosen to ignore the needs of America’s families, workers and small businesses and oppose economic recovery legislation designed to save or create 3 to 4 million jobs and help speed relief and reinvestment. 02/10/2009
• Setting the Record Straight on Republican Economic Recovery Myths Myth: Republicans claim their bill creates 6.2 million jobs. Facts: The House Republican bill creates only 1.3 million jobs, while the House-passed bill/Obama plan creates 3.7 million jobs. But don’t take our word for it. 02/10/2009
• ‘No’ from GOP Isn’t An Option for Americans There is no time to delay. The American people need action on the economy now. Despite the worsening economic crisis, Republican leaders in Congress keep saying ‘No’ to legislation designed to help speed relief to America’s families, workers and small businesses. 02/09/2009
• Critics Continue to Push Misleading Information About Economic Recovery Plan Rather than offer new, workable ideas to find a bipartisan solution, Republican critics continue to spread misleading information about the Economic Recovery plan offering instead only the same failed policies that led to this recession. Despite these partisan attacks, a new Gallup poll shows support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has remained steady. 02/06/2009
• Economic Recovery Plan Must Not Be Weakened With Failed Bush-Era Theories Last week, the House passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, working from priorities shared with President Barack Obama. This week, the Senate is set to finish action on this measure so that a final economic recovery package can go to the President next week for his signature. 02/05/2009
• New Poll: 75 Percent of Americans Support Economic Recovery Legislation In a new Gallup poll released today, 75 percent of those surveyed support economic recovery legislation. But in the face of this escalating crisis, Americans understand there is no quick fix to our economic troubles. A strong majority – 64 percent – say President Obama’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act will make the economy better though major results will take longer than one year. 02/03/2009
• The GOP Energy Plan: ‘None of the Above’ Americans know it is time for an oil change — the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act passed by the House yesterday will lower costs for consumers, invest in clean, renewable energy resources, expand our domestic energy supply, and promote greater energy efficiency and conservation. 09/17/2008
• Eight Years of Bush-McCain Economic Policy – Minimal Regulation & Lax Oversight of Wall Street Sen. John McCain has a history of looking the other way when financial institutions play fast and loose with rules designed to protect investors and taxpayers. Under the leadership of President Bush, Senator McCain and the Republican Congress, Wall Street gamed the system and American families and businesses paid the price. 09/15/2008
• New Investigative Reports Show Government’s Ethical and Management Failures in Dealing with Big Oil – Costing American Taxpayers Billions This week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Interior Department’s Inspector General completed a series of investigative reports highlighting the significant ethical, legal and management failures at the agency charged with managing our nation’s public resources and underscoring the high cost to American taxpayers of the government’s mismanagement in doing business with Big Oil. 09/12/2008
• Bush Administration Is Foot-Dragging in Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations Law One of the key achievements of the New Direction Congress has been the enactment of a sweeping bill to enact the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Today, the Chairmen of the Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs issued a report entitled “Wasted Lessons of 9/11: How The Bush Administration Ignored the Law and Squandered Its Opportunities to Make Our Country Safer.” 09/09/2008
• Setting the Record Straight on Republican False Claims on Energy Republicans falsely claim that drilling in protected areas will provide immediate relief to America’s consumers. The Republican plan to drill on protected lands will result in only a 2 cents savings more than 10 years from now. 08/06/2008
• Setting the Record Straight on Bush: The Facts About the Bush/GOP ‘Drill Only’ Policy 07/30/2008
• The GOP Energy Plan: ‘None of the Above’ The New Direction Congress led by Democrats has offered real solutions to bring down energy costs, promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency, and promote oil production right here in America. 07/29/2008
• Setting the Record Straight: How Republican Leadership Has Voted On Key Energy Legislation 07/25/2008
• The GOP Energy Plan: ‘All Too Familiar’ Eight months after the Democratic-led New Direction Congress led the enactment of a landmark new energy policy for our country, House Republicans are now releasing an energy plan that largely rehashes failed ideas on domestic drilling or proposes ideas that they have repeatedly blocked in the past. 07/23/2008
• Setting the Record Straight: How Republicans Visiting Arctic National Wildlife Refuge This Weekend Voted On Key Energy Legislation 07/19/2008
• Iraq’s Leaders Call for a Timetable for Responsible Redeployment of U.S. Troops President Bush and Senator John McCain Rebuff Iraq’s Government, Forget What They’ve Said in the Past. 07/10/2008
• New Direction Congress Telling Big Oil: ‘Use It or Lose It’ Democrats will not give away more federal land to Big Oil while they sit idle on 68 million acres of leased lands. 06/26/2008
• Big Oil Sitting on 68 Million Acres of Land – Refusing to Develop and Drill Why would President Bush, John McCain and the Republicans give them even more? 06/25/2008
• Rhetoric vs. Reality: White House Spinning Its Wheels on President’s ‘Drill & Veto’ Energy Policies Comments on Friday from White House Spokesman Tony Fratto about the President’s offshore drilling proposal further underscored the policy is nothing but political rhetoric. The Bush ‘drill and veto’ plan was literally written by the oil industry and crafted to serve Big Oil rather than the interests of American families and businesses. 06/21/2008
• President Bush Continues Call For Failed Energy Policies of the Past The President’s proposal today is another page from the Administration’s energy policy that was literally written by the oil industry: give away more public resources to the very same oil companies that are raking in record profits and sitting on 68 million acres of federal lands they’ve already leased. 06/18/2008
• Big Oil Spends Millions on Advertising Campaign to Rehab Image, Leaving 68 Million Acres of Leased Federal Land Undeveloped President Bush, Sen. John McCain and their Republican allies continue to push failed “drill and veto” energy policies of the past even as Big Oil chooses to spend money on rehabbing its image instead of taking steps to help the American consumer. According to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal, Big Oil is spending millions on advertising to deflect consumer anger over high gas prices, rather than investing in clean renewable energy or developing and drilling in the 68 million federal acres onshore and offshore they already lease. 06/17/2008
• Republican Leadership Is Wrong to Stand in the Way of Extending Unemployment Benefits Last week, Congress took action to strengthen our economy and give assistance to millions of jobless American workers by passing the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act to extend unemployment benefits to those who have exhausted their regular benefits. This bill will provide crucial assistance to an estimated 3.8 million Americans – at a time when unemployment saw the highest monthly spike in 22 years – and provide needed stimulus to our struggling economy. 06/16/2008
• Vice President Cheney Admits Claim China is Drilling off the Coast of Florida is False Last night, Vice President Dick Cheney’s office admitted that his assertion before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that China is drilling “60 miles of the coast of Florida” was wrong and that, in fact, there is no Chinese deepwater drilling in that area. 06/13/2008
• Drilling Down on Republican Rhetoric on Gas Prices The Republican answer to our gas crisis is only “drill more.” They say Congress needs to act to open up more land to the oil companies. But that’s really a solution in search of a problem. 06/12/2008
• Republicans Have Lost Touch Over Six Years On two critical votes this week, more than 70 percent of House Republicans sided with President Bush – and against unemployment benefits for 3.8 million Americans struggling to find work. 06/12/2008
• Republicans Use Scare Tactics to Promote Failed “Drill & Veto” Energy Policies of the Past The GOP’s Claims that China is drilling for oil off Florida’s coast have proven false. 06/12/2008
• New Direction Congress – Responsible Energy Policies for America’s Families & Businesses As summer and peak driving season approach, hardworking Americans are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing gas prices – now averaging $3.99 per gallon across the country. The New Direction Congress is committed to bringing real relief to those feeling the pinch from high gas and diesel prices and ensuring the needs of families and businesses are put before the interests of Big Oil companies. 06/09/2008
• Where is the Republican leadership on record gas prices? The New Direction Congress has passed several pieces of legislation to promote American energy independence, prevent the manipulation of oil prices, punish those who cheat consumers, and promote the development and use of renewable fuels. See how the Republican leadership voted on these crucial pieces of legislation. 05/21/2008
• Past War Supplemental Bills Have Included Domestic Priorities President Bush and his Republican allies are misleading the American people about the supplemental bill to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that will be voted on by the House today. 05/15/2008
• An Effective Tool to Lower Energy Prices for America’s Families Democrats & Republicans Agree on Temporary Suspension of Oil Purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve 05/12/2008
• Efforts by Republicans to Rebrand Conference will not Change the Facts GOP Continues to Stand with President Bush on Key Issues 05/12/2008
• Experts Agree: Comprehensive Housing Crisis Legislation Is Needed for American Economic Recovery Recent remarks from leading economists make it clear that the FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act that the House will consider today as part of a comprehensive housing package has all of the right elements to address our housing crisis and help avert a deeper decline in the overall economy. 05/07/2008
• Putting Big Oil Before the Needs of the American People The price of oil surged to a new high this afternoon – reaching more than $120 per barrel – just days after the big five oil companies reported a staggering $36.9 billion in profits for the first three months of 2008. 05/05/2008
• Republican Double Standard on Gas Prices U.S. Military Paying $3.23 a Gallon in Iraq – Iraqis pay $1.36; Where’s the GOP Outrage? 05/02/2008
• Setting the Record Straight on the President’s Energy Policies In a press conference yesterday, President Bush reiterated his unyielding support for more of the same failed Republican energy policies that have brought record high gas prices to consumers and businesses and record profits to Big Oil. 04/30/2008
• Correcting the Record on FISA Fact Checking the Statement by Department of Justice & Office of Director of National Intelligence 02/25/2008
• The Truth About the Debate Over the FISA Law The Bush Administration is Misleading the American People About Our National Security in Effort to Strong-Arm Congress for Telecom Immunity. 02/19/2008
• Editorials & National Security Experts on FISA The refusal by President Bush and House Republicans to support an extension of last summer’s Protect America Act for 21 days so that a House/Senate conference on a FISA modernization bill could be completed does not mean that surveillance activities will cease. 02/14/2008
• The War in Iraq – Nearly Five Years Later Despite Strain on U.S. Forces President Bush Pledges to Spend Billions More, Stay Decades Longer 02/06/2008
• The State of the Economy – Squeezing Hard-Working American Families House Passes Bipartisan Plan to Send ‘Recovery Rebates’ to Millions of Americans 01/30/2008
• Bush Economic Policies Failing America’s Families Working Americans Struggling to Make Ends Meet – Families Need a New Direction 01/07/2008
• Major Legislative Priorities of the New Direction Congress Signed Into Law Democrats in Congress have made progress this year despite reckless opposition from the President and Republicans in Congress. 12/14/2007
• Iraq Update: Longer Tours of Duty Taking Toll on our Troops U.S. Army’s 15 Month-Long Combat Tours to Continue Through 2008 12/05/2007
• Iraq Update: More than 1.6 Million American Troops have been Deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan since September 2001 – Where is the Political Reconciliation? In January, the President announced the so-called troop “surge” to give Iraq’s government the “breathing space” to achieve political reconciliation. Eleven months later, Iraqi politicians have failed by every measure to make the necessary political progress. 12/04/2007
• Fact Check: The President’s Remarks Today Democrats want to work with the President, yet he continues to engage in the same tired rhetoric that does not serve the best interests of the American people. 12/03/2007
• Reality Check: Where is the Political Reconciliation in Iraq? Our Troops Sacrifice While Bush Administration Refuses to Place Real Pressure on Iraqi Government In January, the President announced the so-called troop “surge” to give Iraq’s government the “breathing space” to achieve political reconciliation. Eleven months later, Iraqi politicians have failed by every measure to make the necessary political progress. 11/30/2007
• Reality Check: Democratic Congress Stands with our Soldiers President Bush and Republicans Blocking $50 Billion Passed By House to Fund Our Troops and Bring Them Home 11/29/2007
• Reality Check: President Bush’s Iraq War & the U.S. Military Readiness Crisis Today at the Pentagon, President Bush spoke of the need to modernize our military but failed to mention it is his misplaced priorities and failed policies in Iraq have led to a military readiness crisis that the United States has not experienced since the end of the Vietnam War more than thirty years ago. 11/29/2007
• The Economy in Eyes of Real America Is the Bush Administration Doing Anything to Address the Real Struggle Hardworking American Families Face to Make Ends Meet? 11/29/2007
• Fact Sheet: Looking Back at the President’s ‘surge’ Iraqi Government Still Failing to Take Responsibility for Their Country, American People Still Want U.S. Troops Home 11/28/2007
• The Facts about the President’s Veto of Labor-HHS Bill: Supports Spending $10 Billion Each Month on War Without End in Iraq, But Vetoes America ’s Priorities – Calls Them “Excessive” On Tuesday, President Bush vetoed the Labor-Health-Education Appropriations bill – a bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill that addresses the needs and priorities of the American people – calling these investments in domestic initiatives dedicated to helping families “excessive.” 11/15/2007