PolitiFact

Fact-check: U.S. Rep. Mary Miller wrong in claim White House is urging kids to use ‘chemical castration drugs’ or undergo surgeries

The BGA could find no language in either White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s statements or in the Department of Health and Human Services guidance that encourages children to take “chemical castration drugs” or undergo gender reassignment surgery.

By Analisa Trofimuk | Better Government Association

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth speaks during a news conference at Ping Tom Park in April.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Sen. Tammy Duckworth over-hypes specifics of gender pay gap study

The annual Equal Pay Day Coalition study does not separate out white women, and does not examine the same professions nor the qualifications of either gender. The U.S. senator joins a growing number of Democratic politicians who have incorrectly cited the national study of the gender pay gap to include an analysis of men and women in the same job.

By Analisa Trofimuk | Better Government Association

Gov. J.B. Pritzker at a coronavirus briefing in November.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Yes, conservatives did share false post about Pritzker’s daughter

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Republican elected officials, propaganda sites and radio hosts were sharing a story that falsely claimed a picture showed his teenage daughter violating COVID rules. The governor is correct.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at the Apostolic Faith Church during the Census Gospel Sunday Concert in September.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Illinois isn’t No. 1 in Census spending, but Pritzker’s ‘nation-leading’ claim still counts

In the past, Pritzker’s statements about Illinois’ supremacy in Census spending have at times been less ambiguous. In a Dec. 4 statement, he left little doubt he thought Illinois ranked No. 1 — a claim that has never been true.

By Deborah Wilber | Better Government Association

Jim Oberweis, left; Lauren Underwood, right.

Politics

Fact-check: No beauty in Oberweis’ milking of Underwood’s answer to ‘rioting and looting’ question

While Underwood does not directly condemn “rioting and looting” during that appearance, taken in the full context of her remarks it is a stretch to suggest her praise of “beautiful protests” extends to looting and rioting.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Flanked by supporters, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs tax legislation related to his graduated income tax proposal at the James R. Thompson Center in 2019.

Politics

Fact-check: Gauging impact of Pritzker’s tax proposal on large and small Illinois businesses proves taxing

Corporations would see an increase in their flat-rate income tax under the plan that takes effect if the amendment is approved. But only a wealthy subset of small businesses, which generally pass their profits to shareholders, would be affected — and data suggests that portion would be small.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Sen. Dick Durbin listens to a speaker during a groundbreaking a ceremony for the Pullman National Monument renovation project earlier this month.

Politics

Fact-check: Durbin’s claim about COVID-19 effect on U.S. economy vs. rest of the world off by a factor of wrong

Asked repeatedly to provide records, studies or any other support to back up the claim, Sen. Dick Durbin’s staff did not respond.

By Deborah Wilber | Better Government Association

Examples of counterfeit driver’s licenses federal agents seized at O’Hare Airport in 2011.

Politics

Fact-check: Thousands of driver’s licenses seized at O’Hare were bogus — just like Facebook post’s claim about voter fraud

Yes, nearly 20,000 fake driver’s licenses were seized at O’Hare in the first half of the year, but the Facebook post was misleading in suggesting that they are all linked to registered voters who are Democrats. There’s no hint of any connection between the confiscated fake IDs and Democrats or voter fraud.

By Madison Czopek | PolitiFact

Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill.,at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield last year.

Politics

Fact-check: Peoria Republican’s claim about U.S. Postal Service surplus belongs in the Dead Letter Office

“It’s not even breaking even on its annual expenses and its annual income,” said G. William Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Republican staff director for the Senate Budget Committee. “I don’t know how anybody could say they have a surplus.”

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association and Deborah Wilber | Better Government Association

Gov. J.B. Pritzker answers questions during a news conference in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood in July.

Politics

Fact-check: Pritzker’s claims about Illinois’ historic unemployment spike not out of line

Experts told us it was fair for Pritzker to highlight those early spikes given the unique challenges state unemployment systems faced in processing claims because of the sudden health crisis sweeping the nation.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

A Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol; A sign on a clothing in Houston in June; A gun-free zone sign at City Hall in 2015; A government official in Switzerland adjusts his face mask in June.

Politics

Fact-check: Social media post firing blanks in claim about COVID-19 masks and concealed weapons

The Facebook post comes from a blog post about an Illinois statute that prohibits carrying a firearm while wearing a face covering. But the Illinois State Police said that law does not apply to lawful concealed weapon permit holders who abide by the state’s COVID-19 mask requirements.

By Daniel Funke

Flanked by supporters, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs revenue and budget legislation at the James R. Thompson Center last year.

Politics

Fact-check: Pritzker didn’t give ‘pay raises to his politician buddies’ while public distracted by COVID-19

Illinois Rising Action, a nonprofit launched in March by America Rising Squared, is out with an ad accusing Pritzker of putting the interests of politicians above those of working families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, in May.

Politics

Fact-check: It’s state lawmaker’s claim that coronavirus was ‘man-made’ that is actually made-up

“I believe someone was in cahoots for some reason, and I think it just got a little bit out of control and spread a whole lot further than they anticipated,” Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford said. But to leading experts, the research is clear: The genetic structure of the virus shows it could not have been created in a lab — or be “man-made.”

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., talks with Gary Leming, of Ashland, Ill., during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in 2019.

Politics

Fact-check: Downstate congressman’s claim about Chicago’s share of Illinois COVID-19 cases is 100% wrong

It’s common for residents outside of the Chicago area to refer to the significantly larger and more populous northeastern region collectively as “Chicago,” according to state political experts. But they said the inaccuracy reinforces regional stereotypes.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday; Gov. Bruce Rauner, right, during a campaign event in 2018.

Politics

Fact-check: Pelosi laying all of Illinois’ fiscal mess at Rauner’s feet ignores 100 years of fellow culprits

As the state’s chief executive, Bruce Rauner played a starring role in the showdown that caused the budget crisis. But he had plenty of co-stars among Democrats, including longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Mayor Lori Lightfoot wears a mask as she attends a news conference at McCormick Place on Friday.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Testing Lightfoot’s COVID-19 claim yields mixed results

The mayor was partly right and partly wrong when she said Illinois was testing at a rate that put it behind all its neighbors as well as in the “bottom tier” nationwide.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Booze ban? No, Illinois hasn’t stopped liquor sales because of COVID-19

Claims that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is halting alcohol sales originated on a prank page that is being shared on social media.

By Better Government Association

A poll worker wears protective gloves as he checks in voters at a polling place inside Columbus Grade School

Politics

Fact-check: Postponing primary not in Pritzker’s power

Illinois was one of three states that allowed voting to continue as scheduled on March 17, even after Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed schools, barred restaurants from serving dine-in customers and prohibited mass gatherings.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Rep. Dan Lipinski, left, and challenger Rush Darwish, right, during an appearance before the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board in Januyary.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Rival’s attack on Lipinski’s immigration stance crosses a line

Rush Darwish’s claim contains some truth in citing Rep. Dan Lipinski’s vote against the DREAM Act, but it gives a misleading impression overall of the congressman’s current stance on key immigration issues.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Is California’s high top income tax rate really not making rich residents head for the hills?

The research on millionaire migration in California after the state’s top tax rate in 2012 is mixed. For instance, a Stanford report highlighted by the Vote Yes for Fairness campaign found a small number of millionaires did leave after the tax increased. However, it also notes the net migration of millionaires to the state remains positive.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Rep. Dan Lipinsk meets with the Sun-Times Editorial Board in January. File Photo.

Politics

Fact-check: Lipinski turns to Republican talking point to defend Obamacare vote

The Affordable Care Act did reduce future growth in Medicare spending to help fund Obama’s expansion of health care coverage, but it did not do so by taking existing dollars away.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, left, in 2018; President Donald Trump, right, on Wednesday. File photos.

Politics

Fact-check: Was Schakowsky right to rake Trump over the coals on carbon emissions?

Overall, emissions are indeed up from 2016 levels following a spike in 2018. After that, carbon emissions again began to decline. Experts interviewed say those incremental changes may have nothing to do with Trump policies.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Republican challenger Jeanne Ives, left, in 2018; U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, right, in September. File photos.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Ives a few months off in her claim about Casten’s call for Trump’s impeachment

Rep. Sean Casten did not announce his support for launching an impeachment inquiry until two months after Mueller’s report was made public. And, even then, he did not say he would vote yes on articles of impeachment until December.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers his State of the State address.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Pritzker’s spotlight on state unemployment on the mark — but it doesn’t shed much light

Pritzker is correct that Illinois saw a greater drop in its over-the-year unemployment rate than any of the other states he referenced. But it’s worth noting those states saw very similar changes in their unemployment rates.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

State Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, right, stands with Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Senate GOP Leader Brady misleads in latest graduated income tax jab using Oregon comparison

Oregon’s history does not fit state Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady’s narrative of politicians driving out wealthy residents with high top rates then turning to those who earn less to make up the difference.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Challenger Newman railroads the truth with jab at Lipinski over train crossings

Congressman Dan Lipinski played no part in the law’s undoing, which Marie Newman’s campaign acknowledged in response to our inquiry.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Casten partly right about federal contribution to new drugs

Speaking in favor of a plan to lower prescription drug costs and increase funding for public research, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten misstated the timeframe but correctly cited the conclusion of a study on the government’s role in creating new medications.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Ives wrongly calls Casten’s public town halls ‘invite-only’

In an attack on Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, the GOP congressional hopeful suggested Casten limits access to his public events. Jeanne Ives’ own evidence belies that claim.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Pritzker’s savings from pension fund changes don’t add up

The governor tossed out a number of $25 billion, but he didn’t provide a timeframe, nor did he reveal other key details. We decided to find out.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Pritzker’s muddled claim about Illinois’ population losses mixes metrics

Has Illinois, which is still the nation’s sixth-largest state, lost population almost every year for most of the past century? And what, exactly, does Pritzker mean by “lost population?”

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

President Donald Trump at McCormick Place on Monday.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Trump ‘dead wrong’ about the change in murders in Chicago

Trump claimed Chicago has lagged the nation in reducing murders over the last two years. The opposite is true: Chicago’s progress has contributed to and even outpaced the national decline.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Durbin mostly right in claim about link between Illinois deportations and serious crime

Durbin said that in Illinois, less than 20% of immigrants who are deported “have been charged with any serious crime.” Limited federal backs that up, but it comes with a few caveats.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association