The NTU Foundation has released the first of several studies on U.S. Senate races around the country, which found that roughly $24.9 billion separates the platforms of Democrat Tom Udall and Republican Steve Pearce.

Among the findings:

• U.S. Rep. Udall (NM-3) has offered 19 proposals that would impact federal spending -- seven of which would increase annual outlays and 12 of which have unknown fiscal effects -- for a net annual spending hike of $25.3 billion. None of his platform items would decrease federal spending.
  
• U.S. Rep. Pearce (NM-2) has offered eight budget-related items -- two of which would increase annual federal expenditures and four of which have unknown costs -- for a net annual spending hike of $345 million. Two of his platform items have no effect on spending, and none of them would decrease it.
  
• Among Udall's largest proposals are an expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program, which would boost federal outlays by $7.5 billion each year, and health care for veterans, which would increase annual spending by $7 billion.
  
• Pearce's biggest agenda item involves the creation of defense-related jobs at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which would cost $300 million a year. Among his proposals with no fiscal effects are plans for oil exploration and alternative energy and tax deductions for those who purchase private insurance.
  

2008 Senate Candidate Studies:

• Steve Pearce
  
• Tom Udall
  

Read NTUF's press release.