Media rush to fact-check Rubio on welders vs. philosophers

By Becket Adams, Becket Adams

Published December 20, 2015

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Sen. Marco Rubio's claim Tuesday evening that welders make more money than philosophers has sparked a flurry of fact-checks and counter-fact-checks from reporters and commentators on both sides.

"Here's the best way to raise wages: Make America the best place in the world to start a business or expand an existing business, tax reform and regulatory reform, bring our debt under control, fully utilize our energy resources so we can reinvigorate manufacturing, repeal and replace [the Affordable Care Act], and make higher education faster and easier to access, especially vocational training," the Florida senator and 2016 presidential candidate said during the fourth televised GOP primary debate.

"For the life of me, I don't know why we have stigmatized vocational education. Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers," he added.