A plan for federally funded national exams designed to raise standards disturbs many educators and state officials, who resent heavy-handed involvement by Washington in local affairs. Proposed tax incentives aimed at boosting college enrollment are likely to be opposed, too. Also, boosting federal aid might prompt financially strapped colleges to hike tuitions. Clinton favors big increases for the Head Start program and charter schools with loose governing rules. That would cover half the 10 million uninsured kids and millions of people without jobs.
States fear being stuck with higher costs.
Republicans call structural changes inadequate. As for welfare, expect heated debate on Clinton's plan to restore food stamp aid and benefits to immigrants that were lost in last year's welfare reform. Diplomacy and defense. As executions increase, so do charges that the death penalty is meted out unfairly. Critics say racial factors and poor lawyering can be as decisive as a murder's seriousness.