BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : NOVEMBER 20, 2000 ISSUE
COVER STORY What the New President May Accomplish EDUCATION Congress may be asked to pass legislation that includes more testing for students and teachers, additional funds for new schoolrooms and teachers' pay. But GOP-backed school vouchers will be sent to the back of the class on Capitol Hill. HEALTH CARE A modest patients' bill of rights, which gives managed-care enrollees a limited right to challenge health insurers in court, could be a peacemaking overture in a polarized Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats could unite around the issue. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Since both major party candidates campaigned on the issue, Congress may enact a plan that gives seniors government subsidies. It would rely on a mix of traditional Medicare and private insurance. TAXES Some middle-class tax relief seems assured. Key elements: marriage-penalty and estate-tax relief and new breaks for education, health insurance, and long-term care. The price will be scaled back from Bush's $1.6 trillion. But if the economy slumps, odds for modest rate cuts improve. DEFENSE Both parties seem ready to increase Pentagon spending for military pay and readiness. But a costly new Star Wars antimissile program will have a hard time getting off the ground. TOUGH SLEDDING The new President will lack the clout to deliver Social Security reform based on private investment accounts. Also in doubt, broad-based Medicare reforms using stringent cost controls, major new trade expansion, and polarizing social issues such as strict abortion curbs and expansion of family leave. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS What's the Mandate? COVER IMAGE: What Mandate? TABLE: What the New President May Accomplish TABLE: A Divided Electorate Why the Electoral College Lives On When the Center Is a Moving Target TABLE: The New Face of Congress Commentary: The Punishing Price of Nader's Passion TABLE: Where Nader Was a Factor Status Quo Plus on Ballot Initiatives TABLE: Tinkering at the Edges INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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