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“[Becky] Quick’s math is sound, based on what’s publicly known about Carson’s plan. Carson’s 15 percent flat tax would generate a $1.1 trillion hole. By his own math, his plan would create a $1 trillion hole.” —PolitiFact, from a Nov. 4, 2015 fact check of GOP presidential contender Ben Carson Overview PolitiFact’s omissions and misrepresentations leave behind a misleading…
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“(Sen. Bernie) Sanders said, ‘In 1952, the corporate income tax accounted for 33 percent of all federal tax revenue. Today, despite record-breaking profits, corporate taxes bring in less than 9 percent.’” … we rate his claim Mostly True.” —PolitiFact, from an Aug. 28, 2014 fact check of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Overview PolitiFact concocts a “Mostly True” rating for…
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“Myth: All of President Obama’s new taxes make life impossible for small businesses.” —Democratic National Committee, Nov. 27, 2013, on the “Your Republican Uncle” website Overview Fourth in our series on claims from the Democratic National Committee’s “Your Republican Uncle” website, we look at the claim that all of Obama’s new taxes don’t make life impossible for small businesses. …
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“Myth: Democrats like President Obama have raised my taxes.” —The Democratic National Committe’s “Your Republican Uncle” website, Nov. 27, 2013 Overview Third in our series on claims from the Democratic National Committee’s “Your Republican Uncle” website, we have an oddly worded implicit claim that President Obama did not raise taxes. Obama has cut taxes and raised taxes, sometimes raising…
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“This bill reduces the deficit by $23 billion, it does not raise taxes, and it cuts spending in a smarter way.” —Rep. Paul Ryan (R, Wisc.), Dec. 11, 2013 Overview Technically, the budget deal doesn’t raise taxes. It raises government fees. The distinction makes a difference legally, but for selling the budget deal the difference is primarily semantic. The…
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus: “Across the board tax rate cuts are regressive because a 20 percent tax cut for a millionaire – even as a share of income – amounts to a far greater benefit than a 20 percent cut for a hardworking low income American.” Overview On Dec. 1, 2012 the Congressional Progressive Caucus released its guiding principles for…
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Obama campaign ad: “It’s said that ‘Character is what we do when we think no one is looking.’ Mitt Romney thought no one was looking when he attacked 47 percent of Americans. His companies shipped jobs overseas. His plan cuts millionaires’ taxes but raises yours. He’ll voucherize Medicare and make “catastrophic cuts” to education. So remember what Romney said and…
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David Axelrod: “Governor Romney, the centerpiece and really the only piece of his plan that is real is this $5 trillion tax cut, $2 trillion in extra spending for the Pentagon, no plan to pay for, it and deregulate Wall Street.“ Overview The “$5 trillion tax cut” language relies on creative math and a contested study from the…
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President Obama: “(Congressman Ryan) put forward a plan that would let Governor Romney pay less than 1 percent in taxes each year.” Overview President Obama made an accurate statement about the budget proposal vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan made in 2010. However, Ryan has since updated his tax reform proposal and it no longer would allow Romney to pay less…
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President Obama: “I haven’t raised taxes.” Overview On the CBS program “60 Minutes” aired on Sept. 23, President Obama said “I haven’t raised taxes” as part of his defense against Mitt Romney’s attacks on his economic policies. Justifying the statement appears difficult. The Facts Mr. Obama’s statement occurred during the following exchange with CBS interviewer Steve Kroft: KROFT:…
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