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The Health-Care Plan at Last

Even as Hillary Rodham Clinton briefed congressional leaders on her husband's yet to be announced health-care plan, a 239-page draft document detailing the scheme was leaked to the press late last week. The plan would cost the government $700 billion over the first five years and be funded in part by $105 billion in new taxes on large corporations as well as additional taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The White House will also seek $238 billion in Medicare and Medicaid savings. On Capitol Hill, the First Lady said the Administration was open to discuss changes in the plan, but not from "a standpat, negative, naysaying opposition."

Gore vs. Inefficiency

Referring to the U.S. government as a "quill pen in the age of WordPerfect," Vice President Al Gore unveiled a plan with more than 800 recommendations on how to restructure it -- and theoretically save $108 billion over the next five years. Gore appeared on Late Show with David Letterman to soft-sell the scheme, at one point ridiculing the arthritic federal bureaucracy by strapping on safety goggles to smash a government-approved ashtray in the officially sanctioned way.

Illiterate America

A sweeping study ordered by Congress found that nearly half of all adult Americans read, write and understand arithmetic so poorly that they have difficulty performing modern life's basic tasks. The survey noted that 90 million U.S. adults don't have the language skills to write a business letter or read a bus schedule. About a quarter of those people are immigrants unfamiliar with English, but surprisingly, 6% of the low-literates work as managers.

Verdict on a Burning

Two white men were convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery for setting a black man on fire last New Year's Day in Tampa, Florida. Mark Kohut, 27, and Charles Rourk, 33, could face life in prison.

Another Murder in Miami

On the other side of Florida, a German tourist was shot and killed by robbers as he and his wife drove in from the Miami airport. Uwe-Wilhelm Rakebrand was shot in the back after he refused to stop when a van bumped his rental car from behind on the freeway. A young couple and an accomplice have been charged in the murder.

Lesbian Yes, Mother No

A county circuit judge in Virginia ruled last week that a woman's lesbianism made her an unsuitable parent. Sharon Bottoms lost custody of her two-year-old son to her mother Kay Bottoms. Kay complained that the boy called Sharon's lover "Dada."

New Surgeon General

In a 65-to-34 Senate vote, Dr. Joycelyn Elders of Arkansas was confirmed as Surgeon General. The controversial candidate endured a three-month battle in which conservatives tried to depict her as a free-sex radical out of touch with the mainstream.

Court Date for Dr. Death

Dr. Jack Kevorkian will stand trial in Michigan for helping a young man commit suicide. A district judge ruled last week that a new state law prohibiting assisted suicide had to be enforced, rejecting arguments from Kevorkian's lawyers that the law was unconstitutional. Kevorkian, meanwhile, was present at the apparent suicide of another Michigan resident -- the 18th case on his record.

National Service Go-Ahead