Democrats have a plan for real security, while the Bush Administration & Congressional Republicans have mismanaged the war in Iraq.

·         The Bush Administration’s mismanagement of the Iraq war has inflicted a heavy toll on our troops – including the 11,795 brave West Virginia men and women that have been deployed since 2001, primarily to Iraq or Afghanistan. [DOD, 7/31/06] 

·         This has put a tremendous strain on families of the state’s 4,167 National Guard and Reservists that have been deployed since September 2001 – many of whom have been called up multiple times. [DOD, 7/31/06] 

·         Nationwide, more than 2,700 soldiers have been killed and 20,300 have been wounded since March 2003. This includes 25 West Virginians dead and 147 wounded. [DoD, 9/26/06; DoD, 9/23/06]

·         Democrats will transform failed Bush Administration policies in Iraq, the Middle East and around the world; require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country; and begin the phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq in 2006.

·         Democrats will pass a New GI Bill of Rights for the 21^st Century to honor the sacrifice of West Virginia's 188,102 veterans and ensure that they receive all the benefits they have earned and deserve.

Democrats have a plan for real security, while Republicans have failed to make West Virginia's security a priority.

·         Republicans in Congress have repeatedly failed to adequately secure our ports, borders and chemical facilities and properly equip first responders in West Virginia and across the nation.

·         There are as many as 28 chemical facilities in West Virginia where a worst case release would threaten the lives of at least 10,000 people. [CRS, 6/05]

·         Democrats will implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, ensuring West Virginia's 2,880 police as well as the state’s firefighters and other first responders have the equipment and training they need.[BLS, 5/05]

Democrats have a plan for better American jobs and better pay, while the Republican economy is moving in the wrong direction for West Virginia's working families.

·         Since President Bush took office, 13,100 manufacturing jobs have been lost in West Virginia and the number of unemployed has increased 6,405 to 48,400 people. [BLS, 8/06] 

·         In West Virginia, a shocking 265,000 people are living in poverty and 46% of children live in low-income families. [CPS, 8/06; National Center for Children in Poverty, 9/06]

·         Instead of creating good paying American jobs, Republicans have provided billions in corporate tax subsidies for shipping jobs overseas and steadfastly refused to increase the minimum wage for nine years.

·         Democrats are offering middle-class tax relief to help families with the high cost of health care, energy, and education in the Bush economy, and will end tax giveaways that encourage companies to move jobs overseas.  Democrats will prohibit the Congressional pay raise until we raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour benefiting 134,000 hard-working West Virginians. [EPI, 6/06]

Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices and achieve energy independence for West Virginia families struggling with high prices at the pump, while Republicans reward profitable oil companies.

·         West Virginians are paying $2.40, on average, for a gallon of regular gasoline – 71% more than when Bush took office. [AAA, 9/06]

·         West Virginia families will spend an extra $1,045,469,002 – $1,618 per two-car family – on gas this year compared to 2001.

·         Republicans in Congress continue to push for billions in subsidies for Big Oil even as these companies report record profits. 

·         Democrats will fight price-gouging and end Big Oil tax subsidies; invest in alternative energy resources such as biofuels from the American heartland; and achieve independence from foreign oil.

Democrats will make health care more affordable, while Republicans have done nothing to help West Virginia families with rising health insurance costs.   

·         Since 2000, West Virginia workers are paying $694 more to insure their families – a 42% increase. [KFF; MEPS] 

·         Since Bush took office, the number of uninsured West Virginians has reached 322,000 – up 72,000. Yet Republicans in Congress have failed to act to lower health care costs for hard-working families. [CPS, 8/06]

·         52,117 West Virginians are currently at risk of falling into the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap – known as the “doughnut hole.” To switch to a plan without a coverage gap, seniors and people with disabilities in West Virginia would have to pay an average of $481 more per year.

·         Democrats will address health care affordability by fixing the Republican prescription drug program and making insurance more affordable for both employers and employees.

Democrats are fighting to make college more affordable, while Republicans slash federal financial aid as 97,884 West Virginia students face soaring college costs.

·         In West Virginia, the costs of attending a 4-year public college have jumped 30% since fall 2000. [Ed. Dept., 2005]

·         In 2006, West Virginia got an “F” in college affordability as the cost of attending a 4-year public college in the state increased to 31% of the average family’s paycheck. [NCPPHE, 9/06]

·         Today, the typical student borrower in West Virginia graduates from college with $17,697 in debt. [TICAS, 2004]

·         Republicans have made it harder to pay for college – cutting $12 billion out of federal student aid programs.

·         Democrats have a plan to make college more affordable for West Virginians - expanding and simplifying tax credits for college tuition; expanding Pell Grants; and cutting interest rates in half on student loans, saving the average West Virginia student $5,661 over the lifetime of their loans.

Democrats fight for fiscal responsibility, while Republican out-of-control record budget deficits put the American Dream at risk for West Virginia families.

·         President Bush and Republicans in Congress have taken a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion and turned it into record debt.

·         President Bush has borrowed a staggering $1 trillion from foreign nations – more than the previous 42 U.S. presidents combined.  

·         The net impact of Republicans’ irresponsible economic policies is a debt burden of $27,371 for a typical middle-income family of four in West Virginia. [CTJ, 6/06]

·         Democrats have a plan to reduce the federal deficit and restore tough fiscal discipline that helped spur record economic growth in the 1990s.

Democrats are fighting for retirement security, while the Republican plan to privatize Social Security puts West Virginia retirement security in jeopardy.

·         The Republican plan to privatize Social Security would cut Social Security benefits for the middle class and add trillions to the national debt.

·         If the President’s plan were in place today, 285,222 West Virginians would suffer an average $6,785 benefit cut annually. [Ways & Means Committee Democratic Staff, 9/06]

·         Democrats will ensure a dignified retirement for West Virginia workers by stopping the privatization of Social Security, expanding retirement savings tax incentives and enacting real pension reform to protect employees’ financial security from CEO mismanagement.