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Richmond-Times Dispatch political reporter

Wes Hester is the Main Street reporter on the Richmond Times-Dispatch political team.

Featured Statements

Scott Rigell
stated on June 23, 2011 in a newsletter.:

Under Ryan plan, "those 54 and younger would receive the same kind of healthcare options now enjoyed by members of Congress."

By Wes Hester • July 15, 2011
Bob McDonnell
stated on June 21, 2011 in Bill-signing ceremony:

"Our crime rate continues to plummet."

By Wes Hester • July 11, 2011
Republican Party of Virginia
stated on June 16, 2011 in a blog post.:

Phil Puckett "voted no on sending the EPA a message that they’ve gone too far not once, but twice."

By Wes Hester • June 24, 2011
Jim Moran
stated on May 28, 2011 in a speech.:

House Republicans required the use of Styrofoam cups in House cafeterias that are "part of Koch Industries."

By Wes Hester • June 1, 2011
Eric Cantor
stated on May 18, 2011 in a Town Hall conversation.:

"If you look at the benefits and wages of recorded federal employees, they far outstrip the market rates of the private sector."

By Wes Hester • May 31, 2011
Frank Wolf
stated on April 19, 2011 in a news release.:

The U.S. has "over $62 trillion in unfunded liabilities."

By Wes Hester • May 23, 2011
Ken Cuccinelli
stated on April 27, 2011 in a news release.:

Department of Education officials investigating Virginia Tech shootings "have not once gotten into the car and driven down to Blacksburg to talk to the police chief or the university president or to anyone else."

By Wes Hester • May 20, 2011
Randy Forbes
stated on May 5, 2011 in a statement.:

Failure to raise the debt limit does not force a U.S. default on debt payments.

By Wes Hester • May 16, 2011
Eric Cantor
stated on April 27, 2011 in an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box":

There is "a situation in this country where you're nearing 50 percent of people who don't even pay income taxes."

By Wes Hester • May 9, 2011
Terry McAuliffe
stated on May 26, 2011 in an appearance on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.:

"China now owns $1.1 trillion of our debt, our trade deficit last year with them was a quarter of a trillion dollars."

By Wes Hester • May 3, 2011

Of debt, taxes and time travel

By Wes Hester • July 5, 2011
One year later: Some truths, some half-truths

By Angie Drobnic Holan • March 24, 2011
One year later: the falsehoods continue

By Angie Drobnic Holan • March 23, 2011
Fact-checking the federal budget fight

By Angie Drobnic Holan • February 28, 2011
Top 5 falsehoods about the Bush tax cuts

By Angie Drobnic Holan • November 23, 2010