Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Tuesday September 3 2002 — A7 Races tor however may be the looming anniversary II Most analysts don’t see the terrorist attacks becoming a campaign issue — largely because there’s no area of disagreement between the two parties But the effect the anniversary has on the public's mood could influence the election particularly if it engenders warmer feelings toward the president Tactically it will also shorten the campaign season Although Labor Day typically marks foe point when voters begin paying attention to politics next week’s anniversary all but promises to wipe politics off the national stage leaving campaigns in a strange kind of limbo for at least a week This may make it harder for challengers to get their message across during what is usually the most critical phase of a campaign' It may also force campaigns to maintain a more positive tone for several weeks “Between Labor Day and ' 912 or 913 it’s probably dangerous for politicians to be too partisan or too negative” says Rothenberg “So it shortens foe campaign window" Continued bum A1 “Any little thing — or any unanticipated big thing — could make all the difference here” says Norman Ornstein a political analyst at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington “So we’re going fall” to have a tension-fille- d A few races hold key This year’s battle is also being waged within a relatively small number of races Despite the fact that this is a redistricting year — meaning congressional districts have all been redrawn to comply with new census data — only 40 House seats out of 43S are likely to be competitive according to the Cook Pbliti- cal Report a Washington newsletter - In 1992 the last redistricting year more than 120 seats were up for grabs The Senate is somewhat more competitive with at least 15 close races out of 34 seats up this year Most open is the field for governorships with 36 seats up this year Republicans have been bracing for losses in the - t of Sept offer no earning guarantees Lown says foe four options (a ' fifth will be added in September) offer a variety of savings plans ranging from very safe to aggressive investments “The beauty of the index fund is you buy a representative sample within the companies and you hold You’re keeping your investment costs low by buying and holding and not doing a lot of trad-- ’ Cost Continued from A I ' bringing the total number of accounts to over 23500 It is interesting that about 75 percent of the participants in Utah’s savings plan live outside the state according to the UESP “One of the really nice things for Utah residents is you get the extra tax break for contributions you make each year” Lown said “The earnings and growth are free of state income taxes plus the third tax benefit is Utah offers a state tax exemption” The 529 is simple to use and easy to manage Lown said For these reasons she advises against hiring a broker to manage this type of educational fund “The 529 stuff is pretty straightforward” she said “Avoid the middleman the broker the financial planner because it’s not very complicated and whenever you go through a middleman or a broker you’re going to be paying an extra layer of expenses or fees” Although the 529 plans ing” she said Lown says college-boun- d investors need to look beyond the recent decline in the stock market “You’ve got to get beyond the panic of the last few years There’s no guarantee of future returns but based up on past history the stocks are going to provide a high rate of return” she said “You're not going to lose everything because foe underlying funds are broadly diversified If you have any faith in American business and the American economy that's what you’re investing in” ' The state of Utah allows a person who’s contributing to one of these plans to take a tax deduction of $1410 in 2002 a limit which increases each year with the rate of inflation Lown explained If the child decides not to go to college there are provisions for transferring the funds to another sibling to be used for tuition fees room and board books and supplies “The minimum investment if you open one of these accounts is $25 a month or $300 per year" Lown said “I highly recommend the auto' matic monthly investment program where the payment is transferred from a checking account to the UESP” Even before attending to college savings plans Lown encourages parents to mind their own business “Are you on track to meet your retirement investment goals?” she asks clients and students “If not go home and work on that" Her research shows that women in particular tend to put off planning for their retirement until their children are “launched ” By neglecting their personal financial future these women are giving up a tremendous opportunity of the time-valof money Lown said “Research and statistics show a tremendous number of Americans are inadequately prepared for retirement” she said “Kids can borrow and work their way through col- lege" No one is going to give out for retirement she said but student loans are a good deal especially now because interest rates are at approximately four percent a loan For more information: To learn more about managing your money plan to attend one of Lown's upcoming sessions of Financial Planning for Women Two free sessions will be offered Wednesday Sept 1 1th at Utah State The first will be held in the Family Life Building room 318 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm The second ression that day will be held at the Family Life Center at foe bottom of Old Main Hill 493 N 500 East from 7 pm to 8:30 pm To learn more about Utah's 529 plan caljed Utah Educational Savings Plan call or go online ue to wwwuesporg To learn more about Idaho’s 529 plan called Idaho College Savings call or visit the Internet site at wwwidsavesorg states since the GOP is defending 23 seats but some Democratic incumbents have lately become vulnerable as well because of growing state budget woes For much of the year it seemed as though Sept 11 and the war on terror might play a big role in the campaign Although historically the party in the White House almost always loses seats in midterm elections Bush’s soaring popularity in the wake of the terrorist attacks seemed to be bolstering his party to an unusual extent In recent months corporate scandals and a stock market decline have shifted the nation’s focus back onto domestic issues pushing Bush’s ratings down and allowing Democrats to go on the offensive - i i Ttint of economic trouble? - Still although generic party matchups in polls currently show Democrats holding a slight lead analysts say there’s little indication that the public is blaming Republicans for the nation’s economic woes “If Democrats score points it will be on a kind of amorphous nervousness on the part of the voters” says Stuart Rothenberg a Washington political analyst “But the vot-ers are not there yet They haven’t been upset long enough to look for a scape- - goat” Any noticeable improvement in the economy or stock market by November could make it harder for Democrats to gain traction on these issues -- And a number of other factors could potentially turn vot- ers’ attention back to foreign policy — such as the escalation of debate over a war with Iraq which will likely become a major focus as Congress returns this week “Iraqcpuld become an issue” says James Zogby president of the Arab- -Ameri- can Institute in Washington who says he’s already noticed the topic cropping up in certain congressional races Because of die troop commit-ment involved “if any foreign policy issue becomes a debating point this year that’s going to be it The Sept 11 effect The most unpredictable I fac- - " t l ii fcwru£'iiiffii!i Give US Savings Bonds Get them at your bank and be sure to ask for a gift certificate dfesffi5 4 PUbtc Mnfef ct Ml V v Plip IMMfllinif W M IMIf lif Mi MW I (BGHOTWk WMfiUSwSliTwMOtnlwlwOgilMiailwniHIMLlwPiwwMfiwwTttwiwCuwIntQtomaiMCWMWL lUgwCBti VwlWUSLCyMriWpii Wnurtaami your DMatfiCwdlCrt Tin ndHnPiMOrCd AmwtenCiyiiiCdDlinriCklrinlioiMlMiicirVlMr S J i': |