2016 AdWatch: on Budget & Economy


Maggie Hassan: Restored $1B in cuts in state spending

A web ad funded by the group Impact America Action is called "Hassan Spending Problem" and cites a noteworthy number: "Maggie Hassan has a spending problem," the narrator says. "As governor, Hassan first proposed a $1 billion spending increase." The number also appears on the group's website.

But is the claim true? Hassan's first budget proposal restored many cuts, with a $1 billion spending increase; but here's how the revenue broke down:

When politicians debate the budget, they generally talk about general fund spending, because that's the money most directly controlled by the state. Looking at that fund alone, Hassan's budget only proposed an increase of $184 million. The ad cherry-picked the most all-encompassing number--total spending, including federal grants. Our ruling: We rate the claim Half True.
Source: PolitiFact AdWatch on 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial race Jun 24, 2015

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