Republican brawl for lite guv keeping Truth-O-Meter busy

Todd Staples says he won’t go out for drinks during critical Texas Senate floor debates, a jab at Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s actions one night in July.

For his part, Dewhurst says he’s the only state officeholder who’s a businessman.

Meantime, state Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, another Republican running for lieutenant governor, says the abortion legislation that ultimately passed into law this year was supported by a majority of Texans.

And Dan Patrick, a Houston state senator also seeking the GOP nod for lite guv, says the latest state budget cut border security and funding to fight border gangs.

Each of these claims did not rate True on the Texas Truth-O-Meter, which might get a good workout from this four-way fray leading to the March 2014 primary.

See all our fact checks related to the 2014 lieutenant governor’s race here. (Bonus: Peek at Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte’s Truth-O-Meter report card here; she has said she’s mulling a run for lite guv.)

Even better, look to the right to see the last few fact checks tied to this near-marquee race.

What else?