Mary Mostert, Editor, Reagan's Monthly Monitor January 5, 1996
What he said: "Funds to pay for drugs, food and supplies at Veterans hospitals run out today."
The Truth: Funds run out - but not the food, drugs and supplies. States or independent suppliers are continuing to furnish food, drugs and supplies knowing they will be paid when the budget battle is over. The Veterans Administration said that the patients are "unaffected" and no one has missed a meal.
What he said: "Ten states have run out of funds they use to pay for unemployment insurance program and fifteen more will soon do so.
The Truth: In fact, not a single jobless person has missed an unemployment check according to the Labor Department. Kansas briefly closed its' unemployment offices, and then came up with state funds to keep them open and pay the bills.
What he said: "Half the Head Start programs in the country within the month."
The Truth: In fact, only 200 Head Start programs out of a total of 1400 programs will run out of money this month. That is not one half.
What he said: "The companies that provide credit cards for gasoline are starting not to honor those credit cards." (a spokeman for the Treasury Department said in a press conference.)
The Truth: Drug agents in South Florida tried to use a credit card that expired in 1995. It had nothing whatever to do with the budget battle.
What he said: "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) might be unable to recall emergency workers if an earthquake hit. Some of those employees, because they can't pay their bills, don't have phone service now."
The Truth: FEMA said that about a half dozen employees have had their phone service cut off, but their bill paying problems began long before the Budget impasse began. XXX>