Latest Fact-Checks In Retirement

Clear
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
Previous Next