Latest Fact-Checks In Social Security

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Russ Feingold
Russ Feingold
stated on October 7, 2016 a debate
Social Security "was basically invented" at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; "that's where Franklin Roosevelt got the idea."
True
By Jonathan Anderson • December 16, 2016
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
stated on December 2, 2016 a radio interview.
"We adopted the modern Social Security system at a time when the average person died before they were old enough to get Social Security."
True
By Warren Fiske • December 12, 2016
María Teresa Kumar
María Teresa Kumar
stated on October 2, 2016 an interview on "Meet the Press"
"Undocumented immigrants pay $12 billion of taxes every single year." 
True
By Linda Qiu • October 2, 2016
Mark Warner
Mark Warner
stated on April 23, 2015 a news release.
An audit shows "there are 6.5 million people who have active Social Security numbers who are 112 years of age or older,"
True
By Sean Gorman • May 11, 2015
David Jolly
David Jolly
stated on February 25, 2014 a Congressional campaign debate
Says the U.S. Supreme Court found that "Social Security is not guaranteed."
True
By Joshua Gillin • February 28, 2014
Rob Portman
Rob Portman
stated on April 9, 2013 remarks at Politico breakfastt
"The Social Security disability fund is going belly up in 2016."
True
By Stephen Koff • April 15, 2013
Allen West
Allen West
stated on August 1, 2012 a radio interview
In June 2012 "we actually had more people go on Social Security Disability [85,000] ... than the 80,000 jobs that were created."
True
By Tom Mooney • August 9, 2012
E.W. Jackson
E.W. Jackson
stated on May 11, 2012 a debate.
"In Galveston, Texas, they have allowed people to privatize part of their Social Security. And people are building wealth."
True
By Nancy Madsen • June 8, 2012
Frank Wolf
Frank Wolf
stated on February 17, 2012 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."
True
By Sean Gorman • March 16, 2012
Kurt Schrader
Kurt Schrader
stated on February 2, 2012 congressional website
In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget.
True
By Charles Pope • February 3, 2012
John Boehner
John Boehner
stated on September 19, 2011 a television interview
"We have 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day."
True
By Sabrina Eaton • September 26, 2011
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
stated on September 12, 2011 the CNN-Tea Party Express debate in Tampa
"In writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that … by any measure Social Security has been a failure."
True
By Becky Bowers • September 13, 2011
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
stated on August 23, 2011 a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
"When Social Security first started, there was 16 workers for every retiree. Today there are three workers for every retiree and soon there will be only two for every retiree."
True
By Aaron Sharockman • August 24, 2011
David Stockman
David Stockman
stated on May 1, 2011 an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour'
Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt."
True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • May 4, 2011
Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
stated on April 27, 2011 a TV appearance.
"You’ve got each day 10,000 new seniors, baby boomers, becoming eligible for the entitlement programs."  
True
By Jacob Geiger • May 4, 2011
Rand Paul
Rand Paul
stated on February 14, 2011 an interview on Fox Business News
The federal government "can cut all of the non-military discretionary spending and not balance the budget."
True
By Louis Jacobson • February 17, 2011
Scott Rigell
Scott Rigell
stated on February 14, 2011 a press release.
The United states is "borrowing more than 40 cents of every dollar we spend."
True
By Jacob Geiger • February 17, 2011
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
stated on December 13, 2010 a television interview
"When Social Security was passed, there were all kinds of lawsuits," just as there have been in the legal battle over the new health care law.
True
By Louis Jacobson • December 15, 2010
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Eddie Bernice Johnson
stated on August 10, 2010 a speech on the House floor.
"In 1935, more than 50% of the elderly population lived in poverty. Today that poverty rate stands officially at 9.4%."  
True
By Lukas Pleva • August 17, 2010
Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
stated on June 30, 2010 a Facebook posting
"We spend three times more on entitlements and debt services than we do on defense."
True
By Louis Jacobson • July 9, 2010
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