DOWNERS GROVE, IL -Tonight, Rep. Casten spoke to 6th district residents about science, facts, and truth, while his opponent took a page out of President Trump’s playbook and rattled off a series of misleading and false statements at a debate hosted by WGN.

Below is a list of the top false or misleading statements made by Jeanne Ives during tonight’s debate on WGN.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Ives’ claim: In response to a question on whether climate change is a man-made crisis – “Certainly not as much by man as you find in the solar system and you find with volcanic activity, what you find that’s happening in our oceans. Certainly not.”

Fact-check: The science is clear that climate change is caused by human activity.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association “There is substantial evidence that human activities, especially burning fossil fuels, are leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which in turn amplify the natural greenhouse effect, causing the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and land surface to increase.”

Ives’ claim: Carbon Dioxide is not a pollutant.

Fact-check Carbon Dioxide is a pollutant.

Source: Scientific American “The study reaffirms strongly that, as far as climate change goes, the gas that truly matters is carbon dioxide. Unlike its shorter-lived cousins, CO2 sticks around in the atmosphere for decades to centuries, wreaking climate havoc.”

Ives’ statement: “Sean Casten suggested a $16 trillion green energy deal.”

Fact-check: Not only did Sean Casten not propose the Green New Deal, he does not support the bill.

Source 1: HR 109 sponsors and cosponsors

Source 2: Chicago Tribune Candidate Questionnaire “I prioritized climate change but do not support the Green New Deal.”

COVID-19

Ives’ claim: “No one has definitive proof that masks work.”

Fact-check: The science is settled. Masks work.

Source:Hopkins Medicine “Face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19”

ECONOMY

Ives’ claim: “Nobody is saying anybody should be shut out of stimulus funding just because of who’s the government in a Democrat state. Nobody is saying that.”

Fact-check: President Trump has said this multiple times.

Source 1:Tweet from President Trump

Source 2: Washington Post

Ives’ claim: Sean Casten did nothing to make sure the people of Illinois got their fair share.

Fact-check: In recognition that federal funding often disadvantages high-population states like Illinois, Sean Casten has urged Congressional leadership to change the stimulus distribution model to a per-capita basis, ensuring Illinoisans get their fair share.

Source:Local funding letter spearheaded by Sean Casten

HEALTH CARE

Ives’ claim: Jeanne Ives would protect the health care of people with pre-existing conditions.

Fact-check: Jeanne Ives has previously stated her support for the health care plan proposed by the Republican Study Committee, which would weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Ives also supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and the current protections in place, which would result in a spike in premiums for those with pre-existing conditions.

Source 1: Northwest Herald“The Ives-backed plan was proposed as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, relaxing some federal protections for people with pre-existing conditions”

Source 2: Chicago Tribune Candidate Questionnaire“I absolutely do not support Medicare for All, and there should be a repeal of Obamacare.”

Source 3: State Journal-Register

Ives’ claim: Sean Casten would institute a tax to pay for Medicare for All.

Fact-check: Sean Casten does not support Medicare for All. He believes that everyone has a right to high-quality, affordable health care whether it be through the government or an individual’s employer and private insurer.

Source:Chicago Tribune Candidate Questionnaire “I do not believe that there should be a single, government provider of healthcare … I prioritized universal health care but do not support Medicare for All.”

PAT BRADY

Ives’ claim: Pat Brady is a paid consultant for the Casten for Congress campaign.

Fact-check: Pat Brady has never been paid by the Casten campaign, but he did endorse Sean Casten because “There is no room in the Republican Party for racist, bigoted, homophobic candidates like her.”

Source 1: Pat Brady is not on the Casten for Congress FEC report.

Source 2: Pat Brady endorses Sean Casten, say Ives is “On the wrong side of history”

Source 3: Twitter

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