Latest Fact-checks in Retirement 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 Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees." John Ludlow stated on May 8, 2012 in a Facebook post: Says "I am happy to decline PERS so that the County can save over $68,000 over a four year term that would have been paid on my behalf." Frank Wolf stated on February 17, 2012 in a news release: "In 1950, the average American lived for 68 years and 16 workers supported one retiree. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 and three workers support one retiree." Pat Boone stated on March 12, 2012 in a television ad: "This (Independent Payment Advisory Board) board can ration care and deny certain Medicare treatments so Washington can fund more wasteful spending." Rick Scott stated on March 6, 2012 in a press conference: "Today, you can't rely on (the retirement fund for public employees), it's not funded." Gary Chiusano stated on February 26, 2012 in an interview on My9 News' “New Jersey Now”: Says pension contributions under Gov. Chris Christie would represent "75 percent of the total contribution made between the years 1995 and 2010. That's right, in 15 years, total state contribution was only $2.1 billion." Rick Santorum stated on February 29, 2012 in a campaign speech: "When my grandfather came to this country back in 1925, there were no government benefits." Steve Rothman stated on February 8, 2012 in a speech on the House floor: "The Republicans just voted last year to end Medicare." Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it." Newt Gingrich stated on January 30, 2012 in a speech in Tampa, Fla.: "Gov. Romney cut off kosher meals for Jewish senior citizens who were on Medicaid to save $5 a day." Richard Codey stated on January 16, 2012 in a radio interview: "And by the way, when I was governor, I did make the payment into the pension fund." David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund. Loretta Weinberg stated on November 21, 2011 in a column on bluejersey.com: "(Chris Christie) has not paid one dollar of state money into our pension system, and then states that the system is broke." Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years." David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58." Kathleen Connell stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing: "Sixty-percent of the state retirees...don’t get Social Security.’’ Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis. Lincoln Chafee stated on October 24, 2011 in in a hearing: "If Rhode Island does a hybrid [retirement] plan we’ll be the first state in the nation to do this.’’ Rachel Maddow stated on October 19, 2011 in a segment on The Rachel Maddow Show: "A recent Department of Labor study guessed Wall Street fees cost a worker 28 percent of the value of your plan over the span of your career." George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired." Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition stated on September 9, 2011 in a YouTube video: "In the past six years alone, changes to the pension formula … have saved over half a billion dollars." Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security. Hetty Rosenstein stated on August 31, 2011 in a press release from the Communication Workers of America: "The average state pension, including managers, is $23,000 a year; and just $14,000 for local government workers." Dennis Richardson stated on June 30, 2011 in a press briefing: Says Oregon state employees received a "catch-up" pay raise in 1981 -- just two years after they agreed not to take a raise in exchange for a retirement benefit. Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty." Stephen Lisauskas stated on July 19, 2011 in a public meeting: Thirty-seven percent of Central Falls’ retired police officers and firefighters are out on disability pensions; in most municipalities, about 5 percent of retirees collect disability pensions. NJ-CAN stated on August 9, 2011 in a petition: Says the state’s pension and health benefits reform includes "the destruction of public sector collective bargaining rights." Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population. Gina Raimondo stated on July 10, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "The average 401(k) in America of a person who's 60 years old is under $100,000." Dominick Marino stated on June 6, 2011 in a column on PolitickerNJ.com: "The firefighter and police officer pension system is not headed for bankruptcy, far from it. That’s because New Jersey first responders -- fire fighters and police officers -- have never missed making payments to the retirement system."
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
Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees." John Ludlow stated on May 8, 2012 in a Facebook post: Says "I am happy to decline PERS so that the County can save over $68,000 over a four year term that would have been paid on my behalf." Frank Wolf stated on February 17, 2012 in a news release: "In 1950, the average American lived for 68 years and 16 workers supported one retiree. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 and three workers support one retiree." Pat Boone stated on March 12, 2012 in a television ad: "This (Independent Payment Advisory Board) board can ration care and deny certain Medicare treatments so Washington can fund more wasteful spending." Rick Scott stated on March 6, 2012 in a press conference: "Today, you can't rely on (the retirement fund for public employees), it's not funded." Gary Chiusano stated on February 26, 2012 in an interview on My9 News' “New Jersey Now”: Says pension contributions under Gov. Chris Christie would represent "75 percent of the total contribution made between the years 1995 and 2010. That's right, in 15 years, total state contribution was only $2.1 billion." Rick Santorum stated on February 29, 2012 in a campaign speech: "When my grandfather came to this country back in 1925, there were no government benefits." Steve Rothman stated on February 8, 2012 in a speech on the House floor: "The Republicans just voted last year to end Medicare." Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it." Newt Gingrich stated on January 30, 2012 in a speech in Tampa, Fla.: "Gov. Romney cut off kosher meals for Jewish senior citizens who were on Medicaid to save $5 a day." Richard Codey stated on January 16, 2012 in a radio interview: "And by the way, when I was governor, I did make the payment into the pension fund." David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund. Loretta Weinberg stated on November 21, 2011 in a column on bluejersey.com: "(Chris Christie) has not paid one dollar of state money into our pension system, and then states that the system is broke." Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years." David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58." Kathleen Connell stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing: "Sixty-percent of the state retirees...don’t get Social Security.’’ Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis. Lincoln Chafee stated on October 24, 2011 in in a hearing: "If Rhode Island does a hybrid [retirement] plan we’ll be the first state in the nation to do this.’’ Rachel Maddow stated on October 19, 2011 in a segment on The Rachel Maddow Show: "A recent Department of Labor study guessed Wall Street fees cost a worker 28 percent of the value of your plan over the span of your career." George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired." Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition stated on September 9, 2011 in a YouTube video: "In the past six years alone, changes to the pension formula … have saved over half a billion dollars." Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security. Hetty Rosenstein stated on August 31, 2011 in a press release from the Communication Workers of America: "The average state pension, including managers, is $23,000 a year; and just $14,000 for local government workers." Dennis Richardson stated on June 30, 2011 in a press briefing: Says Oregon state employees received a "catch-up" pay raise in 1981 -- just two years after they agreed not to take a raise in exchange for a retirement benefit. Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty." Stephen Lisauskas stated on July 19, 2011 in a public meeting: Thirty-seven percent of Central Falls’ retired police officers and firefighters are out on disability pensions; in most municipalities, about 5 percent of retirees collect disability pensions. NJ-CAN stated on August 9, 2011 in a petition: Says the state’s pension and health benefits reform includes "the destruction of public sector collective bargaining rights." Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population. Gina Raimondo stated on July 10, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "The average 401(k) in America of a person who's 60 years old is under $100,000." Dominick Marino stated on June 6, 2011 in a column on PolitickerNJ.com: "The firefighter and police officer pension system is not headed for bankruptcy, far from it. That’s because New Jersey first responders -- fire fighters and police officers -- have never missed making payments to the retirement system."
Brendan Doherty stated on May 15, 2012 in a campaign website: "Over the past five years the federal government has paid out $601 million in retirement and disability benefits to deceased former federal employees."
John Ludlow stated on May 8, 2012 in a Facebook post: Says "I am happy to decline PERS so that the County can save over $68,000 over a four year term that would have been paid on my behalf."
Frank Wolf stated on February 17, 2012 in a news release: "In 1950, the average American lived for 68 years and 16 workers supported one retiree. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 and three workers support one retiree."
Pat Boone stated on March 12, 2012 in a television ad: "This (Independent Payment Advisory Board) board can ration care and deny certain Medicare treatments so Washington can fund more wasteful spending."
Rick Scott stated on March 6, 2012 in a press conference: "Today, you can't rely on (the retirement fund for public employees), it's not funded."
Gary Chiusano stated on February 26, 2012 in an interview on My9 News' “New Jersey Now”: Says pension contributions under Gov. Chris Christie would represent "75 percent of the total contribution made between the years 1995 and 2010. That's right, in 15 years, total state contribution was only $2.1 billion."
Rick Santorum stated on February 29, 2012 in a campaign speech: "When my grandfather came to this country back in 1925, there were no government benefits."
Steve Rothman stated on February 8, 2012 in a speech on the House floor: "The Republicans just voted last year to end Medicare."
Chain email stated on February 2, 2012 in a message via the Internet: "If you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it."
Newt Gingrich stated on January 30, 2012 in a speech in Tampa, Fla.: "Gov. Romney cut off kosher meals for Jewish senior citizens who were on Medicaid to save $5 a day."
Richard Codey stated on January 16, 2012 in a radio interview: "And by the way, when I was governor, I did make the payment into the pension fund."
David Cicilline stated on December 25, 2011 in an appearance on WPRI's Newsmakers: "I think with the exception of the last year or maybe the last two years, we were at 100 percent" when it came to contributing to the Providence pension fund.
Loretta Weinberg stated on November 21, 2011 in a column on bluejersey.com: "(Chris Christie) has not paid one dollar of state money into our pension system, and then states that the system is broke."
Philip Keefe stated on November 13, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "If they made no changes whatsoever, the [state employees pension] plan still had enough money to go forward for approximately the next 16 years."
David Mellon stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a state pension hearing: "The job [of correctional officer] lowers your life expectancy . . . Metropolitan did a study in, I believe it was 1998, and the life expectancy was 58."
Kathleen Connell stated on October 26, 2011 in a hearing: "Sixty-percent of the state retirees...don’t get Social Security.’’
Paul Valletta stated on October 27, 2011 in testimony at a General Assembly pension hearing: Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo "raised the mortality rate from 65 to 87" and "used a 1994 annuity chart" to create the pension crisis.
Lincoln Chafee stated on October 24, 2011 in in a hearing: "If Rhode Island does a hybrid [retirement] plan we’ll be the first state in the nation to do this.’’
Rachel Maddow stated on October 19, 2011 in a segment on The Rachel Maddow Show: "A recent Department of Labor study guessed Wall Street fees cost a worker 28 percent of the value of your plan over the span of your career."
George Nee stated on October 19, 2011 in a pension forum: "This is the first time in our state, and one of the first times in the country, where benefit reductions . . . has happened to people who are retired."
Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition stated on September 9, 2011 in a YouTube video: "In the past six years alone, changes to the pension formula … have saved over half a billion dollars."
Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security.
Hetty Rosenstein stated on August 31, 2011 in a press release from the Communication Workers of America: "The average state pension, including managers, is $23,000 a year; and just $14,000 for local government workers."
Dennis Richardson stated on June 30, 2011 in a press briefing: Says Oregon state employees received a "catch-up" pay raise in 1981 -- just two years after they agreed not to take a raise in exchange for a retirement benefit.
Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty."
Stephen Lisauskas stated on July 19, 2011 in a public meeting: Thirty-seven percent of Central Falls’ retired police officers and firefighters are out on disability pensions; in most municipalities, about 5 percent of retirees collect disability pensions.
NJ-CAN stated on August 9, 2011 in a petition: Says the state’s pension and health benefits reform includes "the destruction of public sector collective bargaining rights."
Robert Barber stated on July 24, 2011 in a Providence Journal commentary: Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population.
Gina Raimondo stated on July 10, 2011 in an appearance on 10 News Conference: "The average 401(k) in America of a person who's 60 years old is under $100,000."
Dominick Marino stated on June 6, 2011 in a column on PolitickerNJ.com: "The firefighter and police officer pension system is not headed for bankruptcy, far from it. That’s because New Jersey first responders -- fire fighters and police officers -- have never missed making payments to the retirement system."
