"Education reform is not really a matter ofdollars and cents," he says. "We spend per capitamore on Boston students than on any other town inthe Commonwealth."

Nor does Bachrach advocate school choice, aproposal already endorsed by Barrett, Rooseveltand Weld that would allow parents to choose whatschool their children can attend.

Because many children have parents who will nottake care in choosing their schools, Bachrachsays, school choice will particularly hurtchildren in unstable families or who live in areaswith schools of poorer quality.

"School choice is the death knell for urbaneducation in America," he says. "School choice isnot good public policy."

Bachrach supports increasing innovation in theeducation system. He says he favors charterschools which would "offer creative ideas...andsensitivity to different issues" facing differentschools.

Welfare Reform

Bachrach also takes a different stance onwelfare reform. He condemns Roosevelt and Weld fortheir proposals which would reduce welfarebenefits for mothers who have children while theyare unemployed.

"[The policies of Roosevelt and Weld] areultimately victimizing the child for the sins ofthe mother," Bachrach says.

Bachrach says he would create a "job bank" towhich companies could turn as they enteredbusiness.

"Just as companies go to the bank to getcapital, we can be their capital," he says.

Bachrach says he also plans to strengthen daycare and job training programs.

The candidate faults the Weld government forits short-sighted policies concerning welfarereform and other social issues.

"We do everything halfway...There may bestart-up costs, but in the final analysis, therewill be a reduction of costs later on," Bachrachsays. "It costs less to provide subsidized[employment] slots than to provide welfare."

Weld Scandal

In recent weeks, Bachrach's campaign has beendogged with allegations that he "encouraged" and"facilitated" contributions from members of hislaw firm to the Weld campaign committee in 1991,according to reports in the Boston Globe.