Latest Half-True Fact-checks in Small Business 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 Greg Abbott stated on February 16, 2023 in the State of the State speech: "Businesses large and small have led Texas to be ranked the number one state for business every year that I’ve been governor." Tony Evers stated on July 24, 2022 in TV interview: "We are number one in the country as far as our spending (COVID-19 relief) money on businesses as it relates to the percentage of federal funds that we receive." Dale Kooyenga stated on December 13, 2019 in an email: Says minimum markup law goes beyond gas, tobacco and alcohol to make "many doorbuster deals and holiday shopping specials technically against the law." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on October 5, 2018 in a TV ad: Says that Steve Watkins "bragged to voters that he built his company from scratch, but it was all a lie." Andy Gronik stated on July 11, 2017 in an interview: Wisconsin is "dead-last in creating new businesses" for "three years in a row." Casey Cagle stated on June 22, 2017 in a meeting with small business owners: Says of Georgia, "for four years in a row, we are the No. 1 state to do business in." Don Huffines stated on February 27, 2017 in responding to a question about private school vouchers: "Sixty-two percent of all (Texas) property taxes are paid by businesses." Tim Kaine stated on October 4, 2016 in the 2016 Vice Presidential debate: "First, Donald Trump said wages are too high, and both Donald Trump and Mike Pence think we ought to eliminate the federal minimum wage." Russ Feingold stated on June 14, 2016 in in a campaign ad: Says Ron Johnson gave himself a $10 million 'sweetheart corporate payout' Russ Feingold stated on June 3, 2016 in a speech: Says Ron Johnson referred to "The Lego Movie" as an "insidious anti-business conspiracy." Ben Carson stated on October 29, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate: Among manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees, "the average cost in terms of regulations is $34,000 per employee." Marco Rubio stated on October 28, 2015 in the third Republican presidential debate: "For the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses closing than starting." Carly Fiorina stated on July 12, 2015 in comments on ABC's "This Week": "We're destroying more businesses in the United States now than are being created for the first time in our history." Pete Gallego stated on April 2, 2015 in an email blast: "Just two weeks ago, Congressman Hurd quit his post on the House Committee on Small Business saying that he was unable to find the time to serve." Republican State Leadership Committee stated on October 9, 2014 in a radio ad: "95 percent of job creators say Wisconsin is headed in the right direction." Greg Abbott stated on July 10, 2014 in an email blast: "The growth rate of women-owned businesses in Texas has nearly doubled that of the nation since President Obama has taken office." LIBRE Initiative stated on August 10, 2014 in a Facebook post: "The startup rate of Hispanic businesses is three times the national rate." Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings" Scott Walker stated on June 2, 2013 in a television interview: "Our ranking in terms of the best and worst states to do business in was 43 four years ago, and we just moved up to 17 two weeks ago." Vincent Fort stated on February 5, 2013 in a Twitter post: "What concerns me is there is only two sentences that have been written about minority business." One Wisconsin Now stated on December 3, 2012 in a news release: Says state schools superintendent candidate Don Pridemore "voted for the largest cuts to public education in our state history" and for "$2.3 billion in tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy." Sher Valenzuela stated on August 28, 2012 in a speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa: "A Gallup report recently said that nearly 50 percent of small business owners aren't hiring because of what they call ‘regulatory uncertainty.’" Mitt Romney stated on April 11, 2012 in a campaign speech: "The number of new businesses started per year has dropped by 100,000 during this president’s term." Senate Republican Conference stated on March 22, 2012 in a Web video: "Up to 80 percent of small businesses will be forced to give up their current plans due to new Obamacare regulations." Jeff Brandes stated on September 26, 2010 in a campaign video: Company may close, "all because government essentially says if they don't hire a lifeguard to watch their workers, they can't stay open." Leonidas Raptakis stated on June 23, 2010 in announcing his campaign for secretary of state: Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis wrongly takes credit for small-business program Frank Caprio stated on June 10, 2010 in speeches and on his campaign website: "If every small business in our state, on average, was able to create one new job we would cut our unemployment rate in half." Rick Perry stated on May 3, 2010 in a Web video: "Bill White used D.C. connections from his job in the Clinton administration to form a company that did business in the Middle East and defaulted on a $60 million loan." Rick Perry stated on January 14, 2010 in a Republican gubernatorial debate: "We lowered the business tax from 4 percent down to 1 percent."
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
Greg Abbott stated on February 16, 2023 in the State of the State speech: "Businesses large and small have led Texas to be ranked the number one state for business every year that I’ve been governor." Tony Evers stated on July 24, 2022 in TV interview: "We are number one in the country as far as our spending (COVID-19 relief) money on businesses as it relates to the percentage of federal funds that we receive." Dale Kooyenga stated on December 13, 2019 in an email: Says minimum markup law goes beyond gas, tobacco and alcohol to make "many doorbuster deals and holiday shopping specials technically against the law." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on October 5, 2018 in a TV ad: Says that Steve Watkins "bragged to voters that he built his company from scratch, but it was all a lie." Andy Gronik stated on July 11, 2017 in an interview: Wisconsin is "dead-last in creating new businesses" for "three years in a row." Casey Cagle stated on June 22, 2017 in a meeting with small business owners: Says of Georgia, "for four years in a row, we are the No. 1 state to do business in." Don Huffines stated on February 27, 2017 in responding to a question about private school vouchers: "Sixty-two percent of all (Texas) property taxes are paid by businesses." Tim Kaine stated on October 4, 2016 in the 2016 Vice Presidential debate: "First, Donald Trump said wages are too high, and both Donald Trump and Mike Pence think we ought to eliminate the federal minimum wage." Russ Feingold stated on June 14, 2016 in in a campaign ad: Says Ron Johnson gave himself a $10 million 'sweetheart corporate payout' Russ Feingold stated on June 3, 2016 in a speech: Says Ron Johnson referred to "The Lego Movie" as an "insidious anti-business conspiracy." Ben Carson stated on October 29, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate: Among manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees, "the average cost in terms of regulations is $34,000 per employee." Marco Rubio stated on October 28, 2015 in the third Republican presidential debate: "For the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses closing than starting." Carly Fiorina stated on July 12, 2015 in comments on ABC's "This Week": "We're destroying more businesses in the United States now than are being created for the first time in our history." Pete Gallego stated on April 2, 2015 in an email blast: "Just two weeks ago, Congressman Hurd quit his post on the House Committee on Small Business saying that he was unable to find the time to serve." Republican State Leadership Committee stated on October 9, 2014 in a radio ad: "95 percent of job creators say Wisconsin is headed in the right direction." Greg Abbott stated on July 10, 2014 in an email blast: "The growth rate of women-owned businesses in Texas has nearly doubled that of the nation since President Obama has taken office." LIBRE Initiative stated on August 10, 2014 in a Facebook post: "The startup rate of Hispanic businesses is three times the national rate." Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings" Scott Walker stated on June 2, 2013 in a television interview: "Our ranking in terms of the best and worst states to do business in was 43 four years ago, and we just moved up to 17 two weeks ago." Vincent Fort stated on February 5, 2013 in a Twitter post: "What concerns me is there is only two sentences that have been written about minority business." One Wisconsin Now stated on December 3, 2012 in a news release: Says state schools superintendent candidate Don Pridemore "voted for the largest cuts to public education in our state history" and for "$2.3 billion in tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy." Sher Valenzuela stated on August 28, 2012 in a speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa: "A Gallup report recently said that nearly 50 percent of small business owners aren't hiring because of what they call ‘regulatory uncertainty.’" Mitt Romney stated on April 11, 2012 in a campaign speech: "The number of new businesses started per year has dropped by 100,000 during this president’s term." Senate Republican Conference stated on March 22, 2012 in a Web video: "Up to 80 percent of small businesses will be forced to give up their current plans due to new Obamacare regulations." Jeff Brandes stated on September 26, 2010 in a campaign video: Company may close, "all because government essentially says if they don't hire a lifeguard to watch their workers, they can't stay open." Leonidas Raptakis stated on June 23, 2010 in announcing his campaign for secretary of state: Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis wrongly takes credit for small-business program Frank Caprio stated on June 10, 2010 in speeches and on his campaign website: "If every small business in our state, on average, was able to create one new job we would cut our unemployment rate in half." Rick Perry stated on May 3, 2010 in a Web video: "Bill White used D.C. connections from his job in the Clinton administration to form a company that did business in the Middle East and defaulted on a $60 million loan." Rick Perry stated on January 14, 2010 in a Republican gubernatorial debate: "We lowered the business tax from 4 percent down to 1 percent."
Greg Abbott stated on February 16, 2023 in the State of the State speech: "Businesses large and small have led Texas to be ranked the number one state for business every year that I’ve been governor."
Tony Evers stated on July 24, 2022 in TV interview: "We are number one in the country as far as our spending (COVID-19 relief) money on businesses as it relates to the percentage of federal funds that we receive."
Dale Kooyenga stated on December 13, 2019 in an email: Says minimum markup law goes beyond gas, tobacco and alcohol to make "many doorbuster deals and holiday shopping specials technically against the law."
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on October 5, 2018 in a TV ad: Says that Steve Watkins "bragged to voters that he built his company from scratch, but it was all a lie."
Andy Gronik stated on July 11, 2017 in an interview: Wisconsin is "dead-last in creating new businesses" for "three years in a row."
Casey Cagle stated on June 22, 2017 in a meeting with small business owners: Says of Georgia, "for four years in a row, we are the No. 1 state to do business in."
Don Huffines stated on February 27, 2017 in responding to a question about private school vouchers: "Sixty-two percent of all (Texas) property taxes are paid by businesses."
Tim Kaine stated on October 4, 2016 in the 2016 Vice Presidential debate: "First, Donald Trump said wages are too high, and both Donald Trump and Mike Pence think we ought to eliminate the federal minimum wage."
Russ Feingold stated on June 14, 2016 in in a campaign ad: Says Ron Johnson gave himself a $10 million 'sweetheart corporate payout'
Russ Feingold stated on June 3, 2016 in a speech: Says Ron Johnson referred to "The Lego Movie" as an "insidious anti-business conspiracy."
Ben Carson stated on October 29, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate: Among manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees, "the average cost in terms of regulations is $34,000 per employee."
Marco Rubio stated on October 28, 2015 in the third Republican presidential debate: "For the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses closing than starting."
Carly Fiorina stated on July 12, 2015 in comments on ABC's "This Week": "We're destroying more businesses in the United States now than are being created for the first time in our history."
Pete Gallego stated on April 2, 2015 in an email blast: "Just two weeks ago, Congressman Hurd quit his post on the House Committee on Small Business saying that he was unable to find the time to serve."
Republican State Leadership Committee stated on October 9, 2014 in a radio ad: "95 percent of job creators say Wisconsin is headed in the right direction."
Greg Abbott stated on July 10, 2014 in an email blast: "The growth rate of women-owned businesses in Texas has nearly doubled that of the nation since President Obama has taken office."
LIBRE Initiative stated on August 10, 2014 in a Facebook post: "The startup rate of Hispanic businesses is three times the national rate."
Joe Atkins stated on August 29, 2013 in an interview: "Minnesota is kicking butt relative to Wisconsin on everything from employment and job creation to school test scores, educated work force and a host of other factors and rankings"
Scott Walker stated on June 2, 2013 in a television interview: "Our ranking in terms of the best and worst states to do business in was 43 four years ago, and we just moved up to 17 two weeks ago."
Vincent Fort stated on February 5, 2013 in a Twitter post: "What concerns me is there is only two sentences that have been written about minority business."
One Wisconsin Now stated on December 3, 2012 in a news release: Says state schools superintendent candidate Don Pridemore "voted for the largest cuts to public education in our state history" and for "$2.3 billion in tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy."
Sher Valenzuela stated on August 28, 2012 in a speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa: "A Gallup report recently said that nearly 50 percent of small business owners aren't hiring because of what they call ‘regulatory uncertainty.’"
Mitt Romney stated on April 11, 2012 in a campaign speech: "The number of new businesses started per year has dropped by 100,000 during this president’s term."
Senate Republican Conference stated on March 22, 2012 in a Web video: "Up to 80 percent of small businesses will be forced to give up their current plans due to new Obamacare regulations."
Jeff Brandes stated on September 26, 2010 in a campaign video: Company may close, "all because government essentially says if they don't hire a lifeguard to watch their workers, they can't stay open."
Leonidas Raptakis stated on June 23, 2010 in announcing his campaign for secretary of state: Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis wrongly takes credit for small-business program
Frank Caprio stated on June 10, 2010 in speeches and on his campaign website: "If every small business in our state, on average, was able to create one new job we would cut our unemployment rate in half."
Rick Perry stated on May 3, 2010 in a Web video: "Bill White used D.C. connections from his job in the Clinton administration to form a company that did business in the Middle East and defaulted on a $60 million loan."
Rick Perry stated on January 14, 2010 in a Republican gubernatorial debate: "We lowered the business tax from 4 percent down to 1 percent."
