STATE TO LIMIT THE DANGEROUS IMPACTS OF ROE A CASE IN WHICH A
           HANDFUL OF MEN ON THE SUPREME COURT ARBITRARILY AMENDED THE
           CONSTITUTION AND OVERTURNED THE LAWS OF 50 STATES RELATING TO
           ABORTION. SENATOR ASHCROFT'S POSITION IS CLEAR. HE BELIEVES
           THAT EXCEPT WHEN MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO SAVE A WOMAN'S LIFE,
           ABORTION SHOULD NEVER AND AVAILABLE EVEN IN CASES INVOLVING
           RAPE OR INCEST. HE SAID THROUGHOUT MY LIFE PLY PERSONAL
           CONVICTION PUBLIC RECORD IS THAT THE UNBORN CHILD IS A
           FUNDAMENTAL INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO LIE WHICH CANNOT BE INFRINGED

           AND SHOULD BE PROTECTED FULLY BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT. I RESPECT
           SENATOR ASHCROFT'S PERSONAL CONVICTIONS THEY CANNOT AND SHOULD
           NOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE TO DEPRIVE WOMEN OF THEIR
           CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO KHUGS. NEVERTHELESS SENATOR ASHCROFT
           THAT IS BEEN UNRELENTING IN EFFORTS TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE
           WHILE SERVING AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GOVERNOR HE CONSTANTLY
           SOUGHT STATE ANTI-CHOICE LEGISLATION AND WAS PRINCIPLE
           ARCHITECT OF NATIONWIDE LITIGATION STRATEGY TO PERSUADE THE
           SUPREME COURT TO RESTRICT OR OVERTURN ROE V. WADE. IN 199 IS AS

           GOVERNOR HE HAVE EVEN BOASTED TO NO STATE HAD MORE
           ABORTION-RELATED CASES THAT REACHED THE SUPREME COURT. AS
           ATTORNEY JEFRN HE HAVE WAS SO INTENT ON REFER STRICTING A
           WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE HE PERTINENTLY ARGUED THE PLANT
           PARENTHOOD OF WESTERN MISSOURI VS. ASHCROFT IN THE UNITED
           STATES SUPREME COURT. IN 1986, GOVERNOR ASHCROFT SIGNED INTO
           LAW A BILL THAT ATTEMPTED TO OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE BY DECLARING
           LIFE GIVES AT CONCEPTION. THE BILL 0 I'M POSITIONED
           RESTRICTIONS ON A WOMAN'S DONE INSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

           AFTER SIGNING THE BILL INTO LAW HE SAID IT MAKES AN IMPORTANT
           STATEMENT, MORAL PRINCIPLE AND PROVIDES A FRAME WORK TO DETER
           ABORTIONS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. IN 1989 THE BILL WAS CHALLENGED
           ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE STATE OF MISSOURI NOT
           HOME ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD THE STATUTE BUT ALSO
           SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE.
           IN ADDITION TO HIS ATTEMPTS TO RESTRICT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO
           CHOOSE, SENATOR ASHCROFT AS DORN GENERAL ALSO TOOK DIRECT AND
           IMPROPER ACTION THAT PREVENTED POOR WOMEN FROM OBTAINING DEWINE

           COLLAGE CALL AND BIRTH CONTROL SERVICES. AS ATTORNEY GENERAL HE
           ISSUED AN OPINION SAYING NURSENESS MISSOURI DID NOT HAVE THE
           AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE THAT INCLUDES
           DIAGNOSE SIGNIFICANCE AND TREATMENT OF HUMAN ILLNESS, INJURY OR
           INFIRMITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS UNDER GENTLEMEN
           RATHER THAN DIRECT PHYSICIAN GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION.
           FOLLOWING THIS OPINION, THE MISSOURI STATE FWORD OF
           REGISTRATION FOR THE HEALING ARTS THREATENED CRIMINAL
           PROSECUTION OF TWO NURSES AND FIVE DOCTORS PLOIF IN OFED IN THE
           EAST MISSOURI ACTION AGENCY WHO PROVIDED FAMILY PLANNING

           SERVICES TO LOW INCOME WOMEN. THE NURSES PROVIDED FAMILY
           PLANNING OBSTETRICS, SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC INCLUDING
           INFORMATION ON CONTRACEPTION, BREAST AND PELVIC EXAMINATIONS
           AND TESTING FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES THROUGH FUNDINGS
           OF PROGRAMS DIRECTED TO LOW INCOME POPULATIONS. THE NURSES WERE
           LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AND DOCTORS STANDING ORDERS FOR NURSES
           AND ALL SERVICES PERFORMED BY NURGSS WERE CARRIED OUT PURSUANT
           TO ORDERS OR WELL-ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS FOR NURSES AND OTHER
           PARA MEDICAL PERSONNEL. THE BOARD, HOWEVER, THREATENED TO FIND

           THE NURSES GUILTY OF THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF MEDICINE, AND
           TO FIND THE PHYSICIANS GUILTY OF AIDING AND ABETTING THEM. IN
           193, MORE THAN THREE YEARS AFTER ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT
           ISSUED THIS OPINION, THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI REJECTED THE
           OPINION FINDING THAT NOTHING IN THE STATE'S STATUTE PURPORTED
           TO LIMIT OR RESTRICT THE NURSES AND DOCTORS PRACTICES AND THE
           NURSES ACTIONS CLEARLY FELL WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE STANDARD
           GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING. ALTHOUGH THE DECISION
           ENSURED THE NURSES IN MISSOURI COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FAMILY
           PLANNING SERVICES DURING THE ALMOST THREE YEARS THAT THE CASE

           WAS PENDING, ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT LEGAL UNTENABLE OPINION
           PLACED NURSES PROVIDING THESE SERVICES INCLUDING FAMILY
           PLANNING INTO CONSIDERABLE LEGAL PERIL. SENATOR ASHCROFT
           AGGRESSIVE AND VOCAL OPPOSITION TO ROE VS. WADE TIVENED DURING
           HIS SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE. HE VOTED IN FAVOR OF
           OVERTURNING ROE VS. WADE, SPONSORED A HUMAN LIFE AMENDMENT,
           SPONSORED PARALLEL SHAVINGS. THE HUMAN LIFE WOULD PROHIBIT
           ABORTIONS EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRED TO PREVIOUS VENT THE DEGREE OF

           THE MOTHER BUT ONLY IF EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT IS MAID TO
           RESERVE THE LIFE OF THE WOMAN AND FETUS. THERE ARE NO
           EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST, NO PROTECTION FOR A WOMAN'S
           HEALTH. THE AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED STATUTE DEFINE LIFE AS
           BEGINNING AT FERTILIZATION. ITS LANGUAGE COULD ALSO BAN ANY
           TYPE OF CONTRACEPTIVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, HOWEVER, SENATOR ASHCROFT
           I PEERED TO SOUTH AMERICANS A CONFIRMATION CONVERSION. HE
           DISREGARDED HIS PAST RECORD AND UVEN YIELDING POSITION AGAINST
           REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ACCEPTS HIS NEW MOTION. HE VIEWS ROE V.

           WADE AS SETTLED LAW OF THE LAND EVIL NO LONGER WORK TO
           DISMANTLE IT BUFF ENFORCE IT. WHEN ASKED ABOUT EFFORTS TO
           OVERTURN IT, HE HAVE TOFLD THE COMMITTEE HE DID THINGS TO
           DEFIVE THE LAW BY VIR E. VIRTUE OF LAWSUITS. DID THINGS TO
           REFIVE THE LAW WHETHER I HAD AN ENACTMENT ROAM. BUTCH AS AN
           EXAMPLE OF HIS VIEW OF DEFINING AND REFER SFING THE LAW, DURING
           HIGGS 1981 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SENATE JOO DISHRY DEMEELT AS
           ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI, SENATOR ASHCROFT TESTIFIED THAT
           THE HUMAN LIFE BILL WHICH IT WOULD PROHIBIT ALL ABORTIONS WOULD

           BE CONSTITUTIONAL WITHIN THE FRAME WORK OF ROE V. WADE. IT IS
           CLEAR THAT AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, SENATOR
           ASHCROFT COULD EASILY FEEL FREE TO TREE FINE AND DEFINE ROE V.
           WADE OUT OF EXIGS CONTINUES. SENATOR ASHCROFT ALSO WANTS THE
           COMMITTEE TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAVE WON'T ASK THE SUPREME COURT
           TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE. CURRENT COURT MADE IT CLEAR IT WILL
           NOT OVERTURN ROE. IN THAT SENSE IT IS SETTLED LAUCH. WUVENS THE
           CURRENT COME POSITION CHANGES, PRESIDENT BUSH AND SENATOR
           ASHCROFT WILL FEEL TO TAKE STEPS TO OVERTURN ROE. IN AN

           INTERVIEW IN JANUARY 20, PRESIDENT BUSH SAID ROE V. WADE WON'T
           BE OVERTURNED BY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE
           NOT THE VOICE IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE. I SECONDLY, I AM GOING TO
           PUT JUDGES ON THE COURT WHO STRICTLY INTERPRET THE
           CONSTITUTION, AND THAT WILL BE THE LITMUS TEST. I HAVE ALWAYS
           SAID THAT ROW V. WAIVED WAS A JUDICIAL REACH. SENATOR ASHCROFT
           BECOMES ATTORNEY GENERAL HE WILL BE WELL POSITIONED TO
           UNDERMINE AND ELIMINATE THIS MOST BASIC RIGHT OF PRIVACY FOR
           ALL AMERICAN WOMEN. PRESIDENT BUSH AND SENATOR ASHCROFT WILL
           SELECT JUDGE AND JUSTICES PREPARED TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK TO A

           TIME WHEN WOMEN DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. WE KNOW
           SENATOR ASHCROFT IS WILLING TO GO TO THE COURTS TIME AND AGAIN
           TO CHALLENGED SETTLED LAUCH. THE STFAILT OF MISSOURI VS. THE
           NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN IS A CASE IN POINT. IN THAT
           CASE ORGANIZATIONS CALLED NOR A BOYCOTT OF MISSOURI RATIFY THE
           EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT FOR THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. SENATOR
           ASHCROFT TOLD THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THE LITIGATION BROUGHT IN
           MISSOURI BY HIS OFFICE AGAINST THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
           WOMEN WAS WELL WITHIN THE LAW. HE SAID WE FILED A LAWSUIT. THE
           BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION BECAUSE THE BOY COULD COT WAS HURTING

           THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI AND WE HAVE BELIEVED IT TO BE A
           VIOLATION OF ANTITRUST LOGS. THE LAWSUIT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
           ERA OR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES I MIGHT NOW HAVE WITH NOW. HE WENT
           ON TO SAY NOW I LITIGATE THAD MATTER THOROUGHLY AND FRANK LIVE
           OTHER STATES HAVE AVENUE TESTAMENT IT HAD. I THINK THE LAW IS
           CLEAR NOW AND HAS BEEN CLEAR IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT DECISION.
           THAT TESTIMONY WAS GROSS THINK MISLEADING. AT THE TIME HE
           BROUGHT THE NOW CASE, THE LAW WAS SETTLED. IN DIRECT OPPOSITION
           TO SENATOR ASHCROFT'S POSITION. IN RULING AGAINST ATTORNEY
           GENERAL ASHCROFT, FWOGETE THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT AND 8TH

           CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REF LIED ON THE SUPREME COURT'S
           DECISION AND EASTERN RAILROAD PRESIDENT'S CONFERENCE VS. NOR
           MOAT FREIGHT. A CASE DEAF SIDED 17 YEARS BEFORE SENATOR
           ASHCROFT BROUGHT INSTITUTE AGAINST N.O.W. THE SUPREME COURT
           SAID IN THAT CASE THE SHERMAN ACT IS A CODE THAT CONDEMNS TRADE
           RESTRAINTS NOT POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
           FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY. STILL ATTORNEY
           GENERAL ASHCROFT WAS NOT DETERRED EVEN NOVEMBER THE DISTRICT
           COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEALS HAD RULED AGAINST HIM RELYING

           UPON THE CLEAR U.S. SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT SENATOR ASHCROFT
           PERSIST HAVE HAD AND ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO RE-STREW THE
           N.O.W. CASE. THE COURT REFER FUSIONED TO HEAR THE CASE. IT IS
           DEEPLY TROUBLING THAT HAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, SENATOR ASHCROFT
           USED STATE RESOURCES TO LITIGATE A WEAK CASE THAT RESTED ON AN
           ARGUMENT REJECTED BY THE SUPREME COURT YEARS AGO. BUT AS WITH
           THE LIT DIVISION SURROUNDING THE VOLUNTARY SCHOOL DESEGREGATION
           PLAN, HE PROVED TO FIGHT APPEAL AFTER APPEAL IN A LOSING
           ILLEGITIMATE BATTLE RATHER THAN SURRENDER TO JUSTICE AND

           PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN. MR. PRESIDENT, JUST FOR MY
           MEMBERS, I HAVE PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE MORE MIVENS. I KNOW
           OTHERS WISH TO SPEAK. THEN I WILL PUT THE REST OF THE STATEMENT
           IN THE RECORD. MR. PRESIDENT, SENATOR ASHCROFT'S OPPOSITION TO
           GUN CONTROL IS INTERPRETATION OF THE SECONDS AMENDMENT AND
           ADVOCACY OF EXTREMIST GUN PROPOSAL ARE DISTURBING. OVER 30,000
           AMERICANS LOSE THEIR LIVES IN GUN VIOLENCE HE HAVE YEAR
           INCLUDING OVER 3,000 CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS. OUR NATION'S LEVEL
           OF GUN VIOLENCE IS UNPARALLELED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD. IN
           RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY GUN VIOLENCE THE MAJORITY

           OF AMERICANS SUPPORT STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS AND VICK RUSS
           ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS. CONTRARY TO THE MAJORITY
           OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, SENATOR ASHCROFT VIGOROUSLY OPPOSES
           STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS. HE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE DURING
           THE HEARING WHERE HE SEEMED TO CHANGE HIS LONG-HELD BELIEF AND
           EMPHASIZE COMMITMENT TO ENFORKS GUN LAWS AND DEFEND THEIR
           CONSTITUTIONALITY. HE TESTIFIED THAT THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL
           INHIBITION ON THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO BEAR ARMS. HE SUPPORTED
           SOME CONTROLS. HE REFERRED TO HIS A TOMORROW TO AMEND THE

           JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL TO MAKE SEX AUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS
           AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN. HE HAVE DIDN'T STAY HIS AMENDMENT WAS A
           WEAKER ONE THAN THE ONE PROPOSED BY SENATOR FEINSTEIN. HE STOT
           TO CREATE A PARENTAL EXCEPTION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED
           CHILDREN FROM OBTAINING SEMI-AUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS. HE HAVE
           ALSO TESTIFIED THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THE BRADY LAW LICENSING
           AND REGISTRATION OF GUNS, MANDATORY CHILD SAFETY LOOKS ARE ALL
           CONSTITUTIONAL. ALTHOUGH SENATOR ASHCROFT'S TESTIMONY WAS
           INTENDED TO EASE OUR CONCERN ABOUT HIS WILLINGNESS TO ENNORSE

           GUN LAWS IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE WHAT HE HAVE SAID LAST
           WEEK WITH HIS ARE THE RICK AND RECORD. CONTRARY TO TESTIMONY,
           SENATOR ASHCROFT PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE
           VIRTUALLY AN UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS UNDER THE SECOND
           AMENDMENT. IN A 1998 HEARING HE COMMENTED ON COURT DECISION
           WHICH IS NOTED THE SECOND AMENDMENT DOES NOT GUARANTEE
           INDIVIDUALS UNRESTRICTED RIGHTS TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. SENATOR
           ASHCROFT EXPRESSED HIS DISAGREEMENT WITH THE VIEW ACCEPTED BY
           EVERY FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT, THAT THE

           SECOND AMENDMENT WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT STATE REGULATED
           MILITIA BUFF DORS NOT ENTITLE INDIVIDUALS TO POSSESS OR OF
           WEAPONS FOR PARTICIPATION FROM PRIVATE MILITIAS. HE CRITICIZED
           THESE DECISIONS SAYING THAT ARLINGTON UFERLETE MAKES NO SENSE
           TO ME. AND AT THE 19988 HEARING SENATOR ASHCROFT WENT ON TO SAY
           INDEED THE SECOND AMENDMENT, LIKE THE FIRST, PROTECTS AN
           IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY THAT IN TURN PROMOTES GOOD
           GOVERNMENT. A CITIZENRY ARMED WITH THE RIGHT TO POSSESS
           FIREARMS AND SPEAK FREELY IS LESS LIKELY TO FALL VICTIM TO A

           TYRANNICAL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THAN HAS CITIZENRY THERE IS A
           JUST ARMED FROM CRITICIZED FROM CRITICIZING GOVERNMENT OR
           DEFENDING THEMSELVES. SENATOR ASHCROFT'S EXTREME VIEW OF THE
           SECOND AMENDMENT PARALLELS HIS RHETORIC COMPARING TODAY'S
           ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THE DESPOTS OF THE 18TH CENTURY. THE PRO
           GUN CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
           REPORTED THAT SENATOR ASHCROFT COMPARED TODAY'S POWER BROKERS
           AND POLICY WOVERNINGS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE EUROPEAN
           DESPOTS FROM WHOM HOUR FOUNDING FATHERS FLED. HE EXPLAINED

           INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS BECAUSE I
           AM FEAR FULL OF A GOVERNMENT THAT DOES TARGZ450B8 STHIRNGDS
           QUHO GOFT GOVERNMENT?
           ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT?
           UNFORTUNATELY, SENATOR ASHCROFT'S RHETORIC AND RECORD LEND DEE
           DESERVED CREDIT BUILT AND LEGITIMACY TO THE VIEWS HE SUPPOSED
           BY ANTI-GOVERNMENT MISSILE SHAH GROUPS IN HOUR NATION. MEMBERS
           OF THESE GROUPS BELIEVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT GIVES THEM THE

           RIGHT TO FORM PRIVATE ARMIES AS A CHECK AGAINST FEDERAL POWER.
           THESE MILITIA GROUPS POINT OUT KUFZ SAPS TS ITSELF LDS FG 24
           RXD K DEPBSD BEING EARMS AS A KHEK OUTGUNNED BY THEIR OWN
           GOVERNMENT. RUBY RIDGE AND WACO INTEREST TWO RECENT EPISODES IN
           WHICH GROUPS HOLDING THOSE VIEWS CAME INTO ARMED CONFLICT WITH
           FEDERAL LAWFUL ENFORCEMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS
           IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE LAWS AGAINST SUCH EXTREMIST
           GROUPS, YET SENATOR ASHCROFT'S PASTS RHETORIC SUPPORTED THESE
           EXTREMIST VIEWS AND CAUSED LEGITIMATE CONCERNS HIS YET ARE SO
           OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN THOUGHT AS AN ATTORNEY

           GENERAL WILL BE UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO PROS COO MILL IS THAT
           GROUPS SIDE VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL LOGS. ALTHOUGH SENATOR
           ASHCROFT TESTIFIED HE N IN THE CONSTITUTION NATIONAL OF THE
           ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THE BRADY LAW AND GUN LICENSING AND
           REGISTRATION MANDATORY CHILD KON LOCKS ON GUNS HE VOTED TO
           OPPOSE I IN THOSE AREAS. SENATOR ASHCROFT TESTIFIED HE
           SUPPORTED FUNDS FOR GUN PROSECUTION I HAVE ENGLISH ACTIVITIES,
           HOWEVER HE HAS VOTE TODAY RE-DUE GING IN OTHER VITAL AREAS OF
           GUN LAW ENFORCEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE HE VOTED AGAINST FUNDING TO
           IMPLEMENT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS UNDER THE BRADY LAW NAMED AFTER

           FORMER REAGAN PRESS SECRETARY JAMES GRADE I. INDEED SENATOR
           ASHCROFT REFERRED TO BRAID BRADY AS BRAIFB BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC
           AMERICAN, A BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC AMERICAN AS THE LEADING ENF OF
           RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS. GO PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS
           REGRET FOR MAKING SUCH AN UNJUST NEED STATEMENT, SENATOR
           ASHCROFT DECLINED. SENATOR ASHCROFT IS ALSO TIED TO THE GUN
           LOBBY AND IS ACCEPTED THE LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS. MR. PRESIDENT, I
           WOULD LIKE TO ASK CONSENT, SINCE I SEE A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES I

           WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- WHEN THERE IS A PAUSE IN THE
{END: 2001/01/31 TIME: 12-30 , Wed.  107TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}