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 8,961 brave Utah 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 5,317 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 17 Utah residents dead and 163 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 Utah's 151,129 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 Utah'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 Utah and across the nation.

·         There are as many as 17 chemical facilities in Utah where a worst case release would threaten the lives of at least 10,000 people – with a disaster at one of these facilities potentially harming more than one million Utahans. [CRS, 6/05]

·         Democrats will implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, ensuring Utah's 3,790 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 Utah's working families.

·         Since President Bush took office, 4,100 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Utah and the number of unemployed has increased 2,796 to 42,500 people. [BLS, 8/06] 

·         Annual family income in Utah has dropped by $230 since 2000, even as costs are climbing. [CPS, 8/06]

·         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 180,000 hard-working Utahans. [EPI, 6/06]

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

·         Utahans are paying $2.88, on average, for a gallon of regular gasoline – 113% more than when Bush took office. [AAA, 9/06]

·         Utah families will spend an extra $1,295,464,464 – $1,637 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 Utah families with rising health insurance costs.   

·         Since 2000, Utah workers are paying $1,168 more to insure their families – a 72% increase. [KFF, 9/06; MEPS, 8/06] 

·         Since Bush took office, the number of uninsured Utahans has reached 420,000 – up 139,000. Yet Republicans in Congress have failed to act to lower health care costs for hard-working families. [CPS, 8/06]

·         49,111 Utahans 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 Utah would have to pay an average of $345 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 194,324 Utah students face soaring college costs.

·         In Utah, the costs of attending a 4-year public college have jumped 26% and the costs of attending a 4-year private college have jumped 23% since fall 2000. [Ed. Dept., 2005]

·         Today, the typical student borrower in Utah graduates from college with $11,039 in debt. [TICAS, 2004]

·         Rather than helping Utah students, 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 Utahans - expanding and simplifying tax credits for college tuition; expanding Pell Grants; and cutting interest rates in half on student loans, saving the average Utah student $3,531 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 Utah 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 $27,930 for a typical middle-income family of four in Utah. [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 Utah 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, 183,631 Utahans would suffer an average $6,818 benefit cut annually. [Ways & Means Committee Democratic Staff, 9/06]

·         Democrats will ensure a dignified retirement for Utah 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.