PolitiFact | West Virginia

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PolitiFact West Virginia is a project of West Virginia University and PolitiFact to help you find the truth in West Virginia politics. Reporters and researchers from PolitiFact West Virginia examine statements by elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance.

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West Virginia University

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Mostly True

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All Fact-checks for West Virginia

stated on August 26, 2022 in a tweet

West Virginia is poised to “receive $25M for 160 orphaned well clean-up projects across the state.”

true

true

West Virginia Democratic Party

stated on August 25, 2022 in a tweet

“Carol Miller is a multi-millionaire worth over $16 million.”

true

mostly-true

Citizens Against Government Waste

stated on August 31, 2022 in a Facebook ad

“More than half of the $739 billion tax increase (in the Inflation Reduction Act) will go to wasteful Green New Deal programs like tree equity, 'clean' garbage trucks, and studying cow farts."

true

barely-true

stated on August 28, 2022 in a tweet

“WV families making less than $400K & small businesses will NOT be targeted by the IRS.”

true

mostly-true

stated on September 20, 2022 in a tweet

“Over the past 5 years, natural gas costs have gone up over 200%” in the United States.

true

half-true

West Virginia Republican Party

stated on August 23, 2022 in a tweet

“Overdoses reached an all-time high in 2021.”

true

true

West Virginia Republican Party

stated on August 23, 2022 in a tweet

“More fentanyl has crossed the border in the last two months under Biden than in 2019 under Trump.”

true

mostly-true

stated on August 29, 2022 in a tweet

“There have now been 16 straight months of OVER 150,000 illegal border crossings.”

true

mostly-true

stated on March 13, 2022 in a Facebook post

“A West Virginia inspection sticker on an Uber” proves the car was not in Ukraine.

true

false

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

stated on December 20, 2021 in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

“I represent more, or just as many or more, people than Joe Manchin does.”

true

false

stated on December 20, 2021 in a radio interview

The expanded child tax credit in the Build Back Better Act has “no means testing,” so people making $200,000 and $400,000 would get “the same as someone making” $70,000.

true

barely-true

stated on November 16, 2021 in a Senate hearing

The United States had 589 coal-fired plants 10 years ago, and “we're down to 504. … We are the only nation that has reduced our reliance (on) coal energy."

true

half-true

stated on October 27, 2021 in a tweet

“FUN FACT: West Virginia is home to zero billionaires.”

true

true

stated on September 20, 2021 in social media posts

“Violent crime rate dropped like a rock following West Virginia’s adoption of permitless carry.”

true

barely-true

stated on July 28, 2021 in an article in RealClearEnergy

“We became a net exporter of natural gas in 2017, and until recently, our exports have exceeded our imports.”

true

half-true

Shelley Moore Capito

stated on August 12, 2021 in an op-ed

“In West Virginia, a gallon of gas is nearly one dollar more than it was a year ago, and we’re paying about 30 cents more for a gallon of milk than we did at this time last year.”

true

mostly-true

Kathryn Moffett Bradford

stated on September 1, 2021 in comments at a WVU faculty meeting

“If you look at the hospitalizations at Ruby Memorial in West Virginia, and around the country, 90% to 95% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated.”

true

true

stated on August 10, 2021 in a tweet

“Overdose deaths in WV are up 45% from the prior year.”

true

true

stated on September 29, 2021 in an exchange between CNN hosts

Says Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema “are Republicans … Just look at the way they vote.”

true

barely-true

Jennifer Granholm

stated on September 8, 2021 in an interview on CNN

“West Virginia University just came out with a study that showed that there will be almost 20,000 jobs created in clean energy in West Virginia if (President Joe Biden’s) agenda is passed.”

true

half-true

Do 60 or 70% of West Virginia University students have COVID-19 immunity?

Do 60 or 70% of West Virginia University students have COVID-19 immunity?

By Emily Benson • October 12, 2021

Fact-checking a claim raised at WVU about a coronavirus study in Israel

Fact-checking a claim raised at WVU about a coronavirus study in Israel

By Louis Jacobson • September 1, 2021

As extremes shape voter ID debate, the rules keep getting stricter

As extremes shape voter ID debate, the rules keep getting stricter

By Louis Jacobson • August 9, 2021

Would a ‘talking filibuster’ get the Senate moving?

Would a ‘talking filibuster’ get the Senate moving?

By Louis Jacobson • March 9, 2021

How did West Virginia inject 108.1% of its vaccine doses?

How did West Virginia inject 108.1% of its vaccine doses?

By Louis Jacobson • February 2, 2021

How many times has Jim Justice been sued for not paying his bills?

How many times has Jim Justice been sued for not paying his bills?

By Natalie Bowman • October 29, 2020

How low is Gov. Jim Justice’s approval rating in West Virginia?

How low is Gov. Jim Justice’s approval rating in West Virginia?

By Glenn Kittle • November 8, 2019

Has state's share of WVU funding fallen from 70% to 12% since 1980?

Has state's share of WVU funding fallen from 70% to 12% since 1980?

By Katie Lehosit • October 31, 2019

Has West Virginia's economy boomed since Trump, Justice took office?

Has West Virginia's economy boomed since Trump, Justice took office?

By Darby Coughlin • October 3, 2019

How many oil and gas jobs are there in West Virginia? It's surprisingly hard to say

How many oil and gas jobs are there in West Virginia? It's surprisingly hard to say

By Stephanie Alvaro • April 5, 2019

Did Cabell County, W.Va., cut overdoses by 40 percent?

Did Cabell County, W.Va., cut overdoses by 40 percent?

By Catherine Harrington • March 19, 2019

Is there a homeless problem in Facebook's back yard, as Richard Ojeda said?

Is there a homeless problem in Facebook's back yard, as Richard Ojeda said?

By Al Bernardi • February 20, 2019

Fact-checking Jim Justice's state of the state address

Fact-checking Jim Justice's state of the state address

By Louis Jacobson • January 9, 2019

PolitiFact West Virginia's state of the state 2019

PolitiFact West Virginia's state of the state 2019

By Louis Jacobson • January 7, 2019

Fact-checking Donald Trump's rally in Huntington, W.Va.

Fact-checking Donald Trump's rally in Huntington, W.Va.

By Louis Jacobson • November 2, 2018

Was W.Va. effectively bankrupt when Jim Justice became governor?

Was W.Va. effectively bankrupt when Jim Justice became governor?

By Lizzie Perry • October 11, 2018

Fact-checking Donald Trump's rally in Wheeling, W.Va.

Fact-checking Donald Trump's rally in Wheeling, W.Va.

By Mitchell Blahut • September 29, 2018