Politicians’ misleading claims on budgetary and economic issues

The Washington Post’s Fact Checker Glenn Kessler examines recent claims made in Washington and on the campaign trail about the budget and the economy and determines which are fact and which are fiction.

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“But we also need to be honest. You can’t pass a budget in the Senate of the United States without 60 votes and you can’t get 60 votes without bipartisan support. So unless Republicans are willing to work with Democrats in the Senate, Harry Reid is not going to be able to get a budget passed. And I think he was reflecting the reality of that that could be a challenge.” — White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew

The Washington Post's Fact Checker blog gave this claim four Pinocchios, a rating that means it's a highly misleading claim. Glenn Kessler writes, "Lew is completely wrong when he claims that 60 votes are needed to 'pass a budget in the Senate.' As he well knows, a budget resolution is one of the few things that are not subject to a filibuster. In fact, that is one reason why a bill based on reconciliation instructions cannot be filibustered. You don’t even need 50 votes, just a simple majority. Here are a few of the recent close votes for the budget resolution, as listed by CRS: 48-45 (2009 budget); 51-49 (2006); 51-50 (2004); 50-48 (2001). Senate Democrats may have reasons for failing to pass a budget plan — such as wanting to avoid casting politically inconvenient votes — but a GOP filibuster is not one of them. "

Chris Usher / AP

“When you include the number of people who have quit looking for work because they're convinced the Obama administration's economy is so bad they can't find a job, it jumps up to about 12 percent. When you include the number of people who have part-time jobs who wish they had a full-time job, it's at 16 percent or 17 percent. I mean, this is an administration which has actually shrunk the workforce fairly dramatically. In the last year, it's the lowest male participation rate in the labor force since the 1940s — so right after World War II.” — Newt Gingrich

The Fact Checker writes, "The former Speaker was correct about the decline in male workforce participation, but the general trend extends well beyond Obama’s years in office. Overall, Gingrich earns one Pinocchio. His numbers were right, but he missed the mark by suggesting that his preferred metrics tell a different story about the jobs market. In the end, it’s improved no matter which way you look at it."

Jim Cole / AP

"There's a huge demand around this country for engineers. ... Where you’re seeing a lot of specialized demand is in engineering that’s related to the high-tech industries.” — President Obama

The Fact Checker gives Obama only one Pinocchio for this claim, saying, "Demand for engineers remains relatively high compared with most other professions, but it’s not what it was before the recession. ... Job prospects within the semiconductor industry look bleak heading into 2020, and the president should have known that as well. It’s one of the more important industries of the future."

Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images

“It’s good to remember that the fact that there were some folks who were willing to let this industry die. Because of folks coming together, we are now back in a place where we can compete with any car company in the world.” — President Obama

In giving this claim a two-Pinocchio rating, the Fact Checker writes, "Okay, out of 300 million Americans, maybe there were “some folks” who felt the auto industry should die. But Obama appeared to be suggesting that GOP lawmakers were willing to let the auto industry collapse. On that basis, the evidence is not very strong. The quotes we received — and others we researched — were mostly questions of tactics. As the administration’s internal debate suggests, the answers were not clear. Certainly, some top administration officials thought at least one car company should die. Obama deserves credit for making some tough calls on the auto industry, building on difficult decisions by George W. Bush and his team. A good chunk of the billions of dollars in taxpayer funds may never be recovered but both GM and Chrysler are still in business, selling cars. The dire predictions of opponents have turned out to be incorrect."

Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images

“I’ve voted toughly over the years to cut spending and to rein in entitlements. I’ve led on those things.” — Rick Santorum

The Fact Checker writes, "Santorum pushed for balanced budget amendments and showed strong support for lower taxes, earning him a certain level of fiscal conservative bona fides. But he also proved to be a prodigious spender and earmarker. ... As for entitlements, Santorum never supported an increase as broad-based as Romney’s health-care reform law, but he did vote for an expensive new prescription-drug program for Medicare recipients. Overall, Santorum’s actions haven’t always matched his rhetoric on fiscal policy. He earns two Pinocchios for characterizing himself as a budget hawk. "

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

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Business

Politicians’ misleading claims on budgetary and economic issues

The Washington Post’s Fact Checker Glenn Kessler examines recent claims made in Washington and on the campaign trail about the budget and the economy and determines which are fact and which are fiction.

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