The 2008 Presidential Election is just over nine weeks away, and as we near Election Day our local party chairmen will present each candidates view on the following issues:

Economic Stimulus - Sept. 1

Education - Sept. 8

Immigration - Sept. 15

Energy - Sept. 22

Health Care - Sept. 29

Social Security - Oct. 6

Taxes - Oct. 13

Iraq - Oct. 20

Guns - Oct. 27

Blanco County Republican Party

Ann Hall, Chairmen

Today the U.S. Economy is facing a recession. Gas and food prices are high. Inflation is growing at the fastest rate since 1981; building permits are at the lowest level in 17 years. Our country badly needs economic stimulus, but what kind?

The Republican Party supports the concept of keeping the United States a Republic, as intended by the Founding Fathers, rather than a centralized solution to all problems. What will the Republican Party Presidential Candidate, John McCain, do to help the Economy? He will basically, keep the federal government small, reduce taxes, and assist small and large businesses so that Americans can find good jobs. His Jobs for America Plan, www.JohnMcCain.com includes:

• Reducing dependence on foreign oil.

• Repealing the 54 cents per gallon tax on imported sugar-based ethanol.

• Increasing energy competition and lowering gasoline

• Rolling back corn-based ethanol mandates, which are contributing to the rising cost of food.

• Helping home owners facing foreclosure to stay in their homes without using taxpayer money to bail out real estate speculators or financial markets.

• Reforming Washington to regain the trust of taxpayers by balancing the budget by 2013. This can only be done by reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

• Ending earmarks, pork-barrel spending, and waste in Congress.

• Supporting small businesses with lower energy costs, controlled health care costs, and lower tax rates.

Blanco County Democratic Party

Barbara Hudson, Chairman

When the next President takes office in January 2009 he will inherit a fragile and wounded economy. The Bush Administration has pursued reckless policies that have led to disastrous consequences for average American families.

Sen. Barack Obama has laid out a comprehensive plan to deal with the many serious economic challenges confronting our country. His goal is an America that is competitive in the global economy and ensures a thriving and growing middle class. A few of the highlights are:

• Job creation – The American economic engine that created more than 25 million jobs under Pres. Clinton has sputtered in the last 8 years, creating fewer than 5 million new jobs. Sen. Obama would create a National Infrastructure Investment program to rebuild our neglected and crumbling roads, bridges, ports and transportation systems. He supports increased R&D funding to find the next technologies. He would make the R&D tax credit permanent. He would fund job training for clean energy and renewable energy industries.

• Taxes – Sen. Obama has pledged to lower the taxes for 95% of Americans. He proposes eliminating taxes on seniors making less than $50,000 per year and would not renew the improvident tax cuts lavished on high income Americans.

• Income stagnation and inflation – Average income has stagnated and higher costs for food, gasoline, health care and other necessities have strained Americans’ budgets to the breaking point. Creation of higher paying jobs and tax relief for most Americans are solutions a Pres. Obama would work for.

• Housing crisis – Sen. Obama would crack down on predatory lending. He would offer tax break on mortgage interest to all Americans, not just to those who itemize on their tax returns. He would seek to soften the blow to homeowners and communities from foreclosures.

• Affordable education – Sen. Obama believes all Americans should be able to attend college. He would provide a tax credit of $4,000 per year to defer tuition and other costs.

Sen. Obama knows many Americans are hurting from economic stress and is committed to promoting policies that will foster job growth and put America back on the path of higher average incomes at home and greater competitiveness in the global market place.