With fewer than 14 days until the 2004 Presidential Election, young voters appear to be sustaining interest in the election. This is attributed to initiatives such as MTV’s Choose or Lose, the New Voters Project, and Rock the Vote. Presidential candidates are reaching out to young people, expecting them to be the swing vote. But, according to The Youth Vote Coalition, the youth voter turnout rate has declined 13 percent among 18-24 year old voters from1972-2000.

The issues:

George W. Bush-Republican
CIVIL RIGHTS
Affirmative Action
Opposes racial quotas and racial preferences, believes it is unconstitutional.
Gay Issues
· Supports banning same-sex marriage.
· Supports the Defense of Marriage Act.(The act, signed by President Clinton, defines marriage as the union between man and woman only. It also stipulates that no state must accept another state’s definition of marriage.)
· Supports the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy for gays in the military.
SOCIAL ISSUES
Abortion
· Currently opposes abortion except if the women’s life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest, but in Febuary 2004 stated that if reelected he will urge legislation to take away a woman’s right to choose during the first trimester.
· Signed legislation to outlaw partial-birth abortion.
Death Penalty
Supports the death penalty.
Drug Policy
Proposes to reduce illegal drug usage by 10 percent over the next two years.
Gun Control
· Supports granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits.
· Supports implementing better enforcement of current laws.
Education
Supports private school vouchers.
Supreme Court
Prefers judges who are “strict constructionists” (literal or narrow interpretation of the U.S. Constitution).
HEALTH CARE
Drug Costs
Supports reducing drug costs for low-income patients.
Prescription Drug Benefits
Signed legislation that will make prescription drug coverage available to 40 million seniors and people with disabilities through Medicare.
Nationalized Health Care
· Favors improving current health care system over government-based system.
· Proposes giving the uninsured a chance to buy health insurance through individual savings and tax cuts
· Favors medical savings accounts so workers can have more control of their health insurance.
Health Medical Organizations (HMOs)
Would place limits on patient lawsuits against HMOs.
ENVIROMENT AND ENERGY
· Rejected the Kyoto Treaty, believes treaty could hurt the U.S. economy.
· Favors drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Preserve.
· Opposes the proposal to raise gas mileage standards for passenger vehicles.
· Supports the expansion of the Energy Star Program, a government/industry partnership to promote energy efficient product.
· Proposes to increase production of fossil and renewable energy resources on Federal and Tribal lands.
· Supports tax incentives for hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, and residential solar energy systems.
· Will provide financial incentives for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska.
· Supports nuclear power as a viable and emissions-free energy source.
· Proposes to increase ethanol and bio-diesel production by five billion gallons as transportation fuel.
· Supports double funding to reduce energy costs in low-income households.
TAXES AND SPENDING
· Believes tax cuts spur economic growth and deter recession.
· Pledges to cut the deficit in half after five years.
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
Iraq
· Opposed UN involvement in Iraq.
· Supports staying in Iraq for the long haul.
Immigration
· Favors new temporary worker program to match foreign workers with United States employers when no Americans can be found to fill the position.
Trade
· Supports NAFTA and WTO Agreements
· Supports liberalized trade.
· Proposes numerous bilateral trade deals.
· Signed a proclamation granting permanent trading relations with China.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Supports the Patriot Act.
· Created a new cabinet-level position to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts.
· Reconfigured the FBI to focus on preventive domestic foreign attacks.