Highlights of the candidates' fiscal plans

• Eliminate the alternative minimum tax ($60 billion)

• Cut the corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent ($100 billion)

• Double the personal exemption for dependents to $7,000 from $3,500 ($65 billion)

• Expand military ($15 billion)

• Cut baseline spending that began as earmarks ($60 billion) and new earmarks from 2007-8 ($35 billion)

• Pause increases in discretionary spending for one year ($15 billion)

• Close corporate tax loopholes ($30 billion)

• Generate economic growth ($20 billion)

• Cut "wasteful" programs ($65 billion)

• Require everyone to get health insurance, with help from subsidies ($110 billion)

• Develop alternative sources of energy ($15 billion)

• Match savings in government retirement accounts ($20 billion to $25 billion)

• Universal preschool ($5 billion at first; $10 billion when fully implemented)

• Allow some Bush tax cuts to expire ($54 billion)

• Reduce Medicare and Medicaid spending ($56 billion)

• Close oil company tax loopholes, auction permits to emit greenhouse gases ($15 billion)

• Freeze estate tax at 2009 level ($20 billion to $25 billion)

• Cut the number of government contractors ($10 billion to $18 billion)

• Require that all children have health insurance; aims for universal coverage (up to $65 billion)

• Develop alternative sources of energy ($15 billion)

• Double foreign aid ($25 billion)

• Expand access to early education; increase education spending ($18 billion)

• Tax savings, including allowing some of the Bush tax cuts to expire, closing corporate tax loopholes and ending oil and gas industry tax breaks (about $90 billion)

• Use savings from ending Iraq war

• Auction permits to emit greenhouse gases

• Cut "wasteful" programs

NEW YORK TIMES