While Senator Gregg said he did not expect education policy to "radically change," the new balance of power here is likely to mean a shift in priorities.

Senator Gregg also said he wants to expand the availability of vouchers for handicapped children, a step Democrats have vowed to fight.

"I'm surprised you're not off pushing cookies with Senator Gregg," he said, eyeing her cantwise from beneath bushy eyebrows.

In an interview, Senator Gregg said he saw no reason to rush the bill when the companies had concerns.

Senator Gregg said private accounts would "offer much higher rates of return."

Senator Gregg embraces private accounts, saying they "will create a sense of ownership and control."

Senator Gregg seemed intelligent, effective, and compassionate.

"It's obvious," Senator Gregg said, "that it has no consistency with the interagency plan" to coordinate counterterrorism programs throughout the Government.

But Senator Gregg argued that the issue should, in fact, be reopened.

Senator Gregg also complained that the bill singled out one topic of protest, abortion, but ignored others, like the use of laboratory animals.