PROGRESS

Democrats' focus has always been helping to turn around our economy and get Americans back to work. After years of failed Republican policies, our economy finally is growing again - investments in small business, health care, education, the middle class are laying a new foundation to create jobs right now and build a stronger economy in the long run.

Since day one, Democrats primary focus has been helping to turn around our economy and get Americans back to work. After eight years of failed Republican policies, America's economy finally is growing again. Investments in small businesses, infrastructure, and promising new industries are paying off and laying a new foundation in America, creating jobs right now and building a stronger economy in the long run.

PROGRESS is an effort to better inform voters about the effects that Democrats' investments have had in your state and community. All information below is factual and verifiable.

PROGRESS is designed to show the real effects of the steps President Obama and Democrats have taken to rebuild our economy. Behind these numbers are stories about people whose lives and communities have been positively affected by the change Democrats have made.

Progress.

Economy & Jobs

Small Business

The middle class

HEALTH care

Education

Energy

Stories of Progress

The Challenges We Inherited

Under the Bush administration, America's economy and fiscal situation suffered:

National unemployment rate skyrocketed from 5.8 percent in 2002 to 9.3 percent in 2009.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The national debt doubled to $11.8 trillion from $5.7 trillion
Source: Office of Management and Budget
The deficit exploded to $1.4 trillion from a $128 billion surplus;
Source: Office of Management and Budget

The Road Back to Recovery

The challenges that President Obama inherited were immense–two wars, record debt, a broken health care system, and an economy in crisis. For two years, Democrats have worked to rebuild our economy from the bottom up, spurring job creation, expanding access to health care, investing in small business, and expanding opportunities for education.

There is still much work to be done to recover from the worst recession in decades, but America is now moving in the right direction. Across the country, Democrats have made investments to lay a new foundation for growth and build an economy that works for all Americans.