Bush's plans face uphill fight

WASHINGTON — While it was tough to conquer Iraq and Afghanistan and capture Saddam Hussein, Utah's members of Congress say President Bush may find it even harder this election year to win the tax cuts, immigration reform, protection of marriage and other proposals he pushed in his State of the Union address Tuesday.

But they, at least the Republicans, say Bush still has the right focus as he seeks re-election: talking mostly about the future and not dwelling too much on past achievements — just enough to defuse Democratic attacks on the war in Iraq.

"President Bush could have used this speech simply to tout his immensely successful record over the past three years. Instead, the president showed that his work has only begun," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah, added, "It's clear the Democrats were sitting (and not giving ovations) on key issues, and they made it clear that they are going to make it difficult. They don't want this president to go into this election with successes."

But the delegation's lone Democrat — Rep. Jim Matheson — foresees some support for Bush's job training and education proposals, even in an election year. And he said even if key Democrats question the war in Iraq, they will provide the troops all they need.

"No matter how we got there, there is a lot of support to give the troops all they need — and to see the mission through," Matheson said.

He added, "I think there is a lot of support for the math and science components of his job creation and education proposals."

But Matheson lamented that Bush did not make passing a new highway bill a priority — "because it could create a lot of good jobs in the short term and improve the infrastructure and the economy in the long haul."

Matheson said Democrats will also dissect closely Bush's economic proposals — he said he could cut the deficit in half over the next five years while still making recent tax cuts permanent.

"I don't know about that — especially because he is proposing a lot of new spending. Cutting deficits is a big deal with me," Matheson said.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, said Democrats probably would block making recent tax cuts permanent this year, "but the president could probably pass (permanent tax cuts) the next year" if re-elected with GOP majorities in Congress.