Claim: Sen. John McCain incorrectly claimed that earmarks nearly doubled from $7.8 billion to $14.5 billion in Newt Gingrich's first two years as House speaker. Actually, the increase was about half that. Furthermore, earmarks first peaked, then declined under Gingrich. By the final year of his speakership, earmarked spending was 20 percent higher than before, not double. McCain is a longtime opponent of earmarks, which are pet projects added to annual appropriations bills at the request of members of Congress.
Fact-check: McCain's Erroneous Earmark Attack - FactCheck.org
Verdict: sen. john mccain incorrectly claimed that earmarks nearly doubled from $7.8 billion to $14.5 billion in newt gingrich's first two years as house speaker. actually, the increase was about half that. furthermore, earmarks first peaked, then declined under gingrich. by the final year of his speakership, earmarked spending was 20 percent higher than before, not double. mccain is a longtime opponent of earmarks, which are pet projects added to annual appropriations bills at the request of members of congress.
Organisation: FactCheck.org
Author: Eugene Kiely
Date published: 2012-02-01T17:16:16