Utah Democratic Party

A president for every Utahn 

Sen. Barack Obama reflects the sentiment of Utahns who overwhelmingly voted "YES" last year to strengthening our neighborhood schools and "NO" to vouchers.

The difference between the two presumptive presidential nominees on public education is stark. A vote for Obama is a vote to invest in public schools. A vote for Republican John McCain is a vote to undermine our schools by diverting resources to subsidize private schools and paving the way for the eventual privatization of the entire system.

Last year, Utah decisively rejected what would have been the nation's most comprehensive voucher program, an idea McCain has consistently supported. In 1999, he proposed an amendment to authorize $1.8 billion a year for three years to establish a pilot school voucher program. Then in 2001 he pushed vouchers as an amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act.

On the other hand, Obama believes in strengthening our public schools as a way to provide the path to global opportunity, high-quality employment and strong local communities. He proposes a multi-faceted approach that includes revamping No Child Left Behind, investing in early childhood education, recruiting and rewarding teachers, making science and math education a national priority, helping at-risk children succeed in school, enlisting parents and communities to support teaching and learning, and committing to fiscal responsibility.

Affordable college
A vote for Obama is a vote for making college affordable for everyone. Students in Utah, who have been saddled with a 60 percent increase in tuition over the past 10 years and burdened with debt in the thousands, would get relief under an Obama administration. Among several proposals is a new American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans.

Homeownership
As bankruptcies (Utah is No. 1 in the nation) and foreclosures in Utah soar, a vote for Obama is a vote to strengthen Utah families trying to hold on to their homes in tough economic times.

Rural heritage
Utah has a rich rural heritage, but all too often economic policies have exclusively benefited Utahns living along the Wasatch Front. Obama will support rural entrepreneurship and spur job growth by establishing a small business and micro-enterprise initiative for rural America. Obama believes development of a renewable energy economy will create thousands of good jobs in rural communities.

Water challenges
Obama understands that Utah and the American West face serious water issues. He would create a national plan to help communities reduce water use and increase conservation. Obama's policies would encourage communities to develop voluntary water banks, wastewater treatment, and other market-based measures. He would work to remove institutional barriers to increase cooperation among federal, state, tribal, and private organizations involved in water policy.
 
Nuclear waste
A vote for McCain is a vote to open up Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the country's nuclear waste. Trucks and trains filled with the radioactive garbage would cut through the heart of Utah. Obama opposes storing nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain. There are significant questions related to safety. Obama believes the federal government should abandon the Yucca Mountain project and redirect spending to alternatives, such as creating regional storage repositories and improving safety and security of spent fuel at plant sites around the country.

Comprehensive immigration reform, not divisive rhetoric

During last summer's immigration debate, Obama pushed Congress to find common ground and introduced amendments that would have prioritized keeping families together, a humane approach similar to the one advocated by prominent religious leaders in Utah. Obama believes we should not punish undocumented children brought here illegally by their parents. Ultimately, solving this crisis will require comprehensive immigration reform, controlling our borders, reducing incentives for undocumented immigrants to enter the country, and establishing a mandatory electronic system that enables employers to verify the legal status of the people they hire.