Is it true that the Big Three American automakers made charitable contributions after 9/11, while foreign companies, by and large, did nothing? January 1, 2009 Actually, foreign car companies gave lots of money, too, despite what an old chain e-mail claims.

Is the EPA considering a tax on cows and pigs? December 29, 2008 No. The farm lobby warned that EPA "could" push for such a tax, but EPA never proposed any such thing and says it lacks authority to impose one anyway.

Would 3 million jobs be lost if U.S. automakers go under? December 24, 2008 The 3-million-jobs figure is based on doomsday assumptions that are unlikely to materialize. Independent economists put the job loss in the hundreds of thousands if GM and Chrysler go under. Ford has said it can survive on its own for...

Did Nancy Pelosi order up a 200-seat jet for her personal use? December 21, 2008 The Democratic House speaker normally flies in a 12-seat Air Force jet, just as her Republican predecessor did. This rumor stems from a request by the House sergeant at arms, not Pelosi, for a jet large enough to reach California...

What is the percentage of total personal bankruptcies caused by health care bills? December 18, 2008 A Harvard study published in 2005 found that about half of those who filed for bankruptcy said health care expenses, illness or related job-loss led them to do so. Twenty-seven percent cited uncovered medical bills specifically, and 2 percent said...

How is President-elect Obama paying for his transition? December 16, 2008 Obama's transition is being financed with $5.3 million in public funds provided by Congress, supplemented by another $6.7 million that his team hopes to raise from individuals in donations not exceeding $5,000 each.

Do auto workers really make more than $70 per hour? December 11, 2008 No. That figure is derived from what the auto companies pay in wages, health, retirement and other benefits, and includes the cost of providing benefits to retirees.

Did Obama promise last year to ban all semi-automatic guns during his first year as president? December 8, 2008 A widely circulated e-mail quoting Obama is baseless and almost certainly fabricated. He does support reinstatement of the expired "assault weapons ban" but isn't calling for a wider ban on all semi-automatic weapons. He said repeatedly during the campaign, "I...

What's a good source for the U.S.A.'s long-term debt, annual revenues and expeditures, and long-term deficit forecasts? December 4, 2008 The Congressional Budget Office publishes data on the federal government's budget - that's revenues and expenditures, deficits and debt. The Treasury Dept. is the best source for daily debt figures.

Did Nancy Pelosi get wage breaks and tax credits for the American Samoan operations of a company in which her husband owns $17 million worth of stock? November 26, 2008 This widely e-mailed claim is false. Pelosi's husband doesn't own that stock, despite what a bogus Wikipedia entry briefly claimed. Furthermore, American Samoa never got the minimum wage exemption it sought.