ECONOMY
Romney
Wants to: lower taxes and regulation, loosen financial-industry regulations, and create a balanced budget.
Obama
Proposed: tax breaks for domestic production and penalties for outsourcing jobs.
EDUCATION
Romney
Supported No Child Left Behind and said Obama administration’s Race to the Top program made sense but still said the federal government should have less control over education.
Obama
Approved waivers to free states from No Child Left Behind and got approval for college tax credit and more Pell grants for low-income students.
ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT
Romney
Wants to accelerate drilling permits, open outer continental shelves to oil drilling, as well as Western land, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska, and claims the cause of climate change is unknown.
Obama
Increased fuel economy standards, achieved first-ever regulations on gases blamed for global warming and toxic mercury pollution, and spent money on green energy. Proposes ending subsidies to oil industry.
HEALTHCARE
Romney
Promises to repeal federal healthcare law, though it’s similar to the universal healthcare he achieved as governor of Massachusetts. Wants to expand tax-advantaged medical savings for insurance premiums and personal medical costs.
Obama
Passed healthcare law banning insurers from denying coverage with pre-existing conditions, gave tax credit for middle and low-income people, and provided access to new markets for people uninsured by their employers and states may opt out.
