How does PolitiFact Georgia’s Truth-O-Meter work?
Our goal is to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution fact-check statements by local, state and national political leaders, including lobbyists and interest groups. We then rate them on the AJC Truth-O-Meter.
To fact-check the claim, reporters first contact the speaker to verify the statement. Next, the research begins. Reporters consult a variety of sources, including industry and academic experts. This research can take hours or a few days or even longer, depending on the claim. Reporters then compile the research into story form and include a recommended Truth-O-Meter ruling.
The fact check then moves on to a three-member panel of editors who debate the statement and the reporter’s recommended Truth-O-Meter ruling. The panel votes on a final ruling; majority prevails.
PolitiFact Georgia and the AJC Truth-O-Meter kept watch this week on the Syrian crisis and one Georgia lawmaker’s position on a military strike. We took a look at government snooping and your old emails. We weighed in on the Internet tax. And we tried to make sense of an anti-tax claim about Obamacare.
Abbreviated versions of our fact checks are below. Full versions can be found at: www.politifact.com/georgia/.
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Georgia Campaign for Liberty: Says U.S. Rep. Tom Price is sending letters both supporting and opposing the “small-business killing Internet Tax Mandate.”
The free market activist group included this claim against Price in a flier released last month.The flier accused Price, R-Ga., of writing letters for and against legislation that would allow states to tax some items sold online. The group cited two letters from Price, dated two days apart in July, that were sent to constituents asking about the legislation.
Our research found that the letters were nearly identical. And they are indicative of everyday correspondence from a congressman’s office to constituents concerned about pending legislation. Part of one sentence could be interpreted as suggesting Price has problems with the bill. But the organization’s conclusion about Price’s position is a stretch.
Price’s spokesman said the letters show the congressman being consistent on the issue. Price doesn’t want any changes to the tax code that would hurt the economy and has said he is unsure about his support for the bill.
We rated the GCL’s statement False.
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U.S. Rep. Tom Graves: “The government does not need a warrant to read your old emails.”
This claim about privacy rights took on greater significance with the national security leaks by former government contractor Edward Snowden. Graves, R-Ranger, made this claim in a district update recently about the existing electronic communications law.
Research found that current law, enacted in 1986, before many modern technology advances, does not include a provision protecting email over 180 days old from the government’s prying eyes. Governments must get a warrant from a judge to get emails less than 180 days old, but only need a subpoena for messages older than that.
Graves and a cadre of congressional members are working to update the privacy laws. If approved, the 180-day provision would be dropped from the law and a judicial warrant must be obtained to view any emails, no matter the age. A Senate bill is attempting to make similar updates. But in the meantime the old rules stand.
We rated Graves’ statement True.
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Grover Norquist: “CBO reports that delaying the Obamacare individual mandate will reduce the deficit by $35 billion over ten years.”
Norquist, a conservative activist, tweeted this statement earlier this month about the federal health care law, commonly called Obamacare. Norquist heads the conservative, anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, and is not a fan of the health care law.
The tweet referred to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released this month of the potential impacts on the federal budget if a pending bill were to become law. The bill includes a one-year delay of the start of the requirement that individuals secure health insurance coverage, as well as a similar delay of the tax penalties assessed for not complying with that “individual mandate.”
Norquist accurately reported the amount CBO estimated. His tweet, however, cherry-picked the CBO’s conclusions, ignoring that the bill would produce 11 million additional uninsured Americans and that the savings would amount to a one-time fiscal event. The statement was accurate but needs clarification or additional information
We rated Norquist’s claim Mostly True.
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U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson: On support for a military strike on Syria
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution followed closely the statements and positions of members of Georgia’s congressional delegation about the conflicts in Syria and the United States’ involvement.
In an Aug. 31 statement, Isakson, a Republican, stated that he supported the use of military action in Syria. A week later, in another statement, the senator said he had decided to vote against a congressional resolution authorizing military strikes.
PolitiFact Georgia checked whether Isakson’s two statements represented a flip-flop in his position.
Isakson’s initial position was before Obama’s resolution outlined his administration’s plan for what that entailed. Isakson had reservations about the proposal, and he decided to oppose the White House resolution seeking congressional authorization for military strikes.
Isakson has altered his initial hard-line position on a military strike against Syria, putting additional conditions on any such attack. He initially backed a strike without stating any reservations.
We rated Isakson’s actions a Half Flip.
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