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Fact-checking Hillary Clinton in Tempe

Posted at 10:31 PM, Nov 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-03 01:51:13-04

Hillary Clinton talked at length about the type of president she would be compared to Donald Trump at Arizona State University in Tempe Wednesday. 

We truth-checked a few of her claims:

3. Are undocumented workers paying more than Trump?

Clinton noted that half of undocumented workers pay federal income taxes -- and that those people pay more than the Republican businessman in taxes. 

"About half the people he wants to deport, they pay more in federal income taxes," she said.

Clinton made the same claim at a Florida rally last week. PolitiFact found that undocumented workers did pay more federal income taxes than Trump in certain years he paid income taxes -- 1975, 1976 and 1977. 

But, without Trump's current tax returns, there is no way to compare his tax burden and whether it is more or less than what undocumented workers pay now. 

So they rated Clinton's claim Half True.

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2. The national debt

The former Secretary of State claimed her tax plan, which involves taxing wealthy businesses, would not add to the nation's bill.

"We have a plan and we have a way to pay for that plan that does not add one penny to the national debt," Clinton said. 

She made this same claim during the final presidential debate in Las Vegas. 

PolitiFact found that her tax plan would generate $275 billion, but the debt is still expected to increase because of interest and spending on Medicare and social security.

So they rated Clinton's claim Half True. 

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1. Refusing the results

In her criticism of Trump, Clinton said he is the only "major party nominee" who refused to say he'd respect the results of Tuesday's election.

Clinton also made this claim on the campaign trail in New Hampshire last week.

PolitiFact found that there are examples of presidential campaigns challenging elections, such as Al Gore in 2000 when he requested a recount in Florida. 

But historians could not find a presidential candidate who refused to say they would accept the results before the election.

So they rated Clinton's claim Mostly True. 

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