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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Congressional Pensions

Q: Does a United States senator receive his full pay upon retiring?
A: No. A member of Congress can’t receive more than 80 percent of his or her final salary upon retirement, and the average is much less.

The Obamas’ Chicago Home

Q: Does Obama have a real estate problem?
A: A political patron from whom he bought a strip of land is under federal indictment, but there’s no evidence Obama did anything improper.

Exaggerating Help for Troops

Clinton falsely claims guardsmen and reservists didn’t have health insurance before she went to work.

Romney on Huckabee II

Romney attacks Huckabee again with false and misleading claims.

Not Working 4 Edwards

A labor group’s ad supporting Edwards misleads about plant closings.

Presidents Who Owned Slaves

Q: Who was the last U.S. president to own slaves?
A: Zachary Taylor owned slaves while in office. U.S. Grant owned a slave he freed in 1859, long before becoming president.

Defining Enemy Combatant

Q: What is an enemy combatant?
A: “Enemy combatant” is shorthand for people who are fighting unlawfully. But no one is quite sure exactly what that means.