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VTDigger’s pursuit of truth now includes a partnership with the country’s premier political fact-checking website, PolitiFact.

Just a week in, politicians in Vermont are already taking note — and thanking us for keeping them honest.

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“This kind of reporting is just one example of the importance of a free press to our democracy,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist said of a VTDigger fact-check that rated her description of Gov. Phil Scott’s handling of forced school board mergers as False.

“I appreciate when the press holds both me and Governor Scott accountable when we make mistakes, as they should. This makes us better and serves the Vermont public,” Hallquist said in a press release.

Our reporters have also vetted two other claims: one from Scott, who got a Mostly False rating for saying that Vermont had the country’s most progressive tax system, and another from Commerce Secretary Michael Schirling, who got a Half True for his statement that Vermont communities are becoming more diverse.

We’ll have at least one fact check a week from here on out, available on our website and on the PolitiFact Vermont page.

If you hear statements that call for further scrutiny, shoot us an email at [email protected] or reach us on Facebook.

PolitiFact is part of the Poynter Institute and started as part of the Tampa Bay Times. It is funded through online advertisements, content partnerships and individual donations. Readers can join their “Truth Squad” here.

VTDigger is underwritten by:

VTDigger is in charge of reporting, writing and editing all of the fact-checks that appear on both our website and the PolitiFact Vermont page. We have been schooled in the PolitiFact process, which you can see here.

We launched with a series of fact-checks on the elections, but will shift gears to the Statehouse in a few months and listen closely to what people are saying between now and then.

PolitiFact executive director Aaron Sharockman said he was giving a talk in California this week and let it slip that VTDigger was joining the network.

“I immediately see a guy off to the side smile and pump his fist,” he said. “On the opposite side of the country! So yeah, I think we have the right partner to keep politicians honest in the Green Mountain State. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.”

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