Fact checking the sequester: a round-up

(KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)

By popular demand, here in one place is a round-up of fact checks by The Fact Checker, PolitiFact and FactCheck.Org on various sequester claims by Democrats and Republicans.

The Fact Checker and PolitiFact have rating scales while FactCheck.Org does not, so we have listed the key conclusion from the FactCheck.Org columns instead of a rating. The links will take readers to the original column.

As always, we encourage readers to point out additional claims that they would like to see checked.

Democrats

Capitol Hill janitors “just got a pay cut.”

—President Obama

Fact Checker rating: Four Pinocchios, published March 1

Capitol janitors “depend on that overtime to make ends meet.”

—White House spokesman Jay Carney

Fact Checker rating: Four Pinocchios, published March 6

“There are literally teachers now who are getting pink slips” because of sequestration.

—Education Secretary Arne Duncan

Fact Checker rating: Four Pinocchios, published Feb. 27

PolitiFact rating: Mostly False, published March 1

FactCheck.Org: “Exaggerated claims” on possible layoffs, published Feb. 26

If the sequester hits, federal prosecutors will have to “let criminals go.”

—President Obama

PolitiFact rating: Mostly False, published Feb. 22

Due to the sequester, “people are going to be unsafe. Homes are going to burn.”

—Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.)

PolitiFact rating: Mostly False, published March 1

“Federally assisted programs like Meals on Wheels would be able to serve 4 million fewer meals to seniors.”

—White House Fact Sheet

Fact Checker rating: Two Pinocchios, published March 1

“Up to 70,000 children would lose access to Head Start and early Head Start services.”

—administration statement

Fact Checker rating: Two Pinocchios, published Feb. 26

If the sequester hits, “hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose access to primary care and preventive care like flu vaccinations and cancer screenings.”

—Obama

PolitiFact rating: Half True, published Feb. 21

If Congress doesn’t avoid the sequester, “tens of thousands of parents will have to scramble to find child care for their kids.”

—Obama

PolitiFact rating: Half True, published Feb. 22

“There’s going to be a slowdown and delays in flights” as a result of the sequester.

—Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

Fact Checker rating: Verdict Pending, likely true, published Feb. 27

PolitiFact rating: Mostly true, published Feb. 27

Republicans

Democrats have “no plan” to combat the sequester

—House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)

PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire, published March 4

FactCheck.Org: “Twisted the facts,” published March 1

The federal government is earning more tax revenue now “than any other time.”

—Rep. Kevin McCarthy(R-Calif.)

PolitiFact rating: Mostly False, published Feb. 28

Democrats “support Obama’s sequester but won’t cut funding for robotic squirrels”

—National Republican Campaign Committee ads

Fact Checker rating: Three Pinocchios, published March 5

“The sequester cuts amount to two to three percent of the budget”

—various Republicans and an ad by Public Notice

FactChecker rating: Two Pinocchios, published Feb. 26

FactCheck.Org: “Misleading,” published March 5

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