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Latest Fact-Checks In Retirement

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Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition
Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition
stated on September 9, 2011 a YouTube video:
"In the past six years alone, changes to the pension formula … have saved over half a billion dollars."
Mostly False
By Lynn Arditi • September 25, 2011
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
stated on September 19, 2011 on "The Rachel Maddow Show":
"Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security.
Mostly True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 19, 2011
Hetty Rosenstein
Hetty Rosenstein
stated on August 31, 2011 a press release from the Communication Workers of America:
"The average state pension, including managers, is $23,000 a year; and just $14,000 for local government workers."
Half-True
By Bill Wichert • September 18, 2011
Dennis Richardson
Dennis Richardson
stated on June 30, 2011 a press briefing:
Says Oregon state employees received a "catch-up" pay raise in 1981 -- just two years after they agreed not to take a raise in exchange for a retirement benefit.
False
By Janie Har • September 2, 2011
Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
stated on August 25, 2011 MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011:
"In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty."
Half-True
By Becky Bowers • September 1, 2011
Stephen Lisauskas
Stephen Lisauskas
stated on July 19, 2011 a public meeting:
Thirty-seven percent of Central Falls’ retired police officers and firefighters are out on disability pensions; in most municipalities, about 5 percent of retirees collect disability pensions.
False
By Lynn Arditi • August 18, 2011
NJ-CAN
NJ-CAN
stated on August 9, 2011 a petition:
Says the state’s pension and health benefits reform includes "the destruction of public sector collective bargaining rights."
Half-True
By Bill Wichert • August 15, 2011
Robert Barber
Robert Barber
stated on July 24, 2011 a Providence Journal commentary:
Statistically, law-enforcement officers die 10 years earlier than the general population.
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • August 14, 2011
Gina Raimondo
Gina Raimondo
stated on July 10, 2011 an appearance on 10 News Conference:
"The average 401(k) in America of a person who's 60 years old is under $100,000."
Mostly True
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • July 24, 2011
Dominick Marino
Dominick Marino
stated on June 6, 2011 a column on PolitickerNJ.com:
"The firefighter and police officer pension system is not headed for bankruptcy, far from it. That’s because New Jersey first responders -- fire fighters and police officers -- have never missed making payments to the retirement system." 
Half-True
By Caryn Shinske • July 22, 2011
Bob McDonnell
Bob McDonnell
stated on July 13, 2011 a TV interviews:
Virginia state employees "pay nothing" toward their pensions.
Pants on Fire!
By Sean Gorman • July 21, 2011
Shelly Moore
Shelly Moore
stated on July 8, 2011 a campaign flier:
Says state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf wants to "eliminate Medicare" as we know it.
Pants on Fire!
By Dave Umhoefer • July 14, 2011
Rick Scott
Rick Scott
stated on July 1, 2011 an e-mail to state employees:
"A recent study revealed that, across the nation, taxes would have to be increased by an average of $1,300 a year just to support the currently unsustainable public employee pension systems. In Florida, that dollar figure translates to $813 a year."
Half-True
By Becky Bowers • July 12, 2011
Herman Cain
Herman Cain
stated on June 13, 2011 a Republican presidential debate:
Says an alternative to Social Security that operates in Galveston County, Texas, has meant that participants will "retire with a whole lot more money" than under Social Security.
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • June 17, 2011
Ted Ferrioli
Ted Ferrioli
stated on April 26, 2011 an opinion column:
"The Public Employee Retirement System is making more millionaires than the Oregon state lottery."
Half-True
By Janie Har • June 16, 2011
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
stated on May 5, 2011 a debate in South Carolina:
The Medicare drug program "resulted in the program coming in 40 percent under budget. ... And the reason it was, is because the design was right." 
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • June 15, 2011
Chain email
Chain email
stated on May 16, 2011 a message via the Internet:
Members of Congress "receive full pay retirement after serving one term."
Pants on Fire!
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • May 29, 2011
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
stated on April 18, 2011 a Web ad:
"Seniors will have to find $12,500 for health care because Republicans voted to end Medicare."
Pants on Fire!
By Angie Drobnic Holan • April 20, 2011
James Cenerini
James Cenerini
stated on March 24, 2011 testimony before the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee:
When you compare our state pension system "to other systems throughout the country, our benefits are not gold-plated. They are not rich. They are actually average or below average."
Half-True
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • April 3, 2011
Rick Scott
Rick Scott
stated on February 23, 2011 comments to employees at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.:
Says Florida's pension plan faces the same long-term funding problems as Social Security.
Half-True
By Aaron Sharockman • February 25, 2011
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