Where the candidates stand on the issues

Bill Bradley (D) Former New Jersey senator

Taxes

Would end special-interest tax loopholes, including what he terms "corporate welfare," to bring about lower rates for individuals. In the Senate, helped pass the 1986 reform that consolidated 15 income-tax rates into two, and cut top rates from 50 percent to 28 percent.

Health Care

New health-care benefits are centerpiece of his agenda. Favors government insuring the poor; his estimated cost: $55 billion to $65 billion per year. He would also let everyone join the federal employee health plan, in which individuals choose their own insurer.

Education

(For more on the candidates' education policies, see page 15.)

Proposes $115 billion increase over 10 years in federal education spending - the largest ever. New federal funds would focus on universal preschool, teacher training, smaller class size, and after-school programs. Opposes all voucher programs.

Campaign Finance

Favors reducing the role of big money in politics. Would make free TV time available to candidates, ban unlimited donations to political parties, provide public financing in races for Congress, and require advocacy groups to disclose their spending.

Social Issues

Favors abortion rights. Supports civil rights legislation for homosexuals, including the right to serve in the military openly. Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes legislative efforts to disallow it.

Foreign Policy

Wants the United Nations and other international bodies to assume a larger role. Would encourage allies to bear more of the West's defense costs. Would give greater priority to labor, human rights, and environmental factors in world trade.

Supreme Court

Promises appointments to the US Supreme Court in the mold of liberal stalwarts such as former justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan (both supporters of abortion rights). His nominees could slow the court's shift of more authority toward the states.

Al Gore (D) Vice President

Taxes

Preferring more limited tax cuts than Republicans, he would expand tax-free educational savings accounts, raise the standard deduction to reduce the "marriage penalty," expand the earned-income tax credit, and make the tax credit for corporate R&D permanent.

Health Care

Favors a more incremental approach to reform than Bradley. Wants to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program. Also advocates adding prescription-drug benefits to Medicare. He estimates the cost of his plan to be $146 billion over 10 years.

Education

(For more on the candidates' education policies, see page 15.)

Proposes recruiting 600,000 new teachers over 10 years for poor and rural schools at cost of $1.3 billion. Favors $1 billion investment in community centers for after-school programs. Despite Senate votes for limited voucher programs, now opposes vouchers.

Campaign Finance

Would ban unregulated contributions to political parties, offer free and discounted TV and radio time to candidates, and limit contributions by individuals and political action committees. He would also expand disclosure of political expenditures by independent groups.

Social Issues

Favors abortion rights, while being "deeply committed to making abortion safe, legal, and rare." Supports civil rights for homosexuals, including the right to serve in the military openly. Opposes same-sex marriage.

Foreign Policy

Has supported American intervention in world hotspots and supports working through the UN to achieve policy goals. A consistent supporter of international trade, he has been a leader on trade pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Supreme Court

Vows not to rely on a political litmus test on abortion or other issues when selecting Supreme Court justices. Says judges should interpret the Constitution broadly as a document that can adapt to current times, including an abortion-rights perspective.

Gary Bauer (R) Former Reagan administration aide

Taxes

Favors a 16 percent flat tax, eliminating itemized deductions except for mortgage interest and charitable giving. Also advocates eliminating the marriage penalty and inheritance tax, and proposes a 20 percent cut in Social Security payroll taxes.

Health Care

Seeks a less-restrictive and more-affordable insurance system with less bureaucracy. Favors tax breaks for self-employed individuals' insurance, a tax credit for family members who provide a relative with long-term care, and tax-favored medical savings accounts.

Education

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