AND THEY SAY IF WE CONTINUE TO GROW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
           GENERATE SURPLUS. IF THEY ARE WRONG, IF THE ECONOMY TAKES A
           DOWNTURN, THERE WILL BE LESS MONEY AVAILABLE. LESS MONEY FOR
           WHATEVER PURPOSES WE MIGHT CONSIDER HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE
           SENATE OR IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT
           PRESIDENT BUSH'S PROPOSED TAX CUT. HIS PROPOSAL IS $1.6
           TRILLION, WHICH REFLECTS A TEN-YEAR TAX-CUT PLAN. THERE IS ALSO

           AN ELEMENT IN THE LAW IN THE TAX LAW KNOWN AS THE ALTERNATIVE
           MINIMUM TAX TAX. ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE
           MINIMUM TAX HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT IT IS STARTING TO
           HURT AND PENALIZE A LOT OF FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES WHICH WE
           NEVER INTENDED TO PENALIZE IN ANY WAY. AND SO THIS REFORM OF
           THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX APPEARS TO BE GREED BY ALMOST
           EVERYONE THAT IS SOMETHING -- TO BE AGREED BY ALMOST EVERYONE
           THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO. AND THAT SHOULD COST UP
           ANOTHER $200 BILLION OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. IN
           ADDITION, IF YOU TAKE MONEY AND INSTEAD OF BUYING DOWN THE DEBT

           OF COUNTRY, PUT IT INTO SOMETHING LIKE A TAX CUT, IT INCREASED
           THE INTEREST COSTS THAT HAVE TO BE PAID ON THAT DEBT BY $400
           BILLION OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. SO THE NET TRUE COST OF
           THE BUSH TAX PLAN CONSIDERING THESE TWO THINGS IS $2.2
           TRILLION. RECALL EARLIER THAT I SAID THAT OUR ACTUAL SURPLUS BY
           THESE ESTIMATES WILL BE $2.6 TRILLION. AND SO JUST TO PUT IT
           INTO SOME PERSPECTIVE, LOOK AT THE TAX CUTS ASSUMING A $2.6

           TRILLION SURPLUS. IF WE PUT $2.2 TRILLION, AS PRESIDENT BUSH
           HAS RECOMMENDED, INTO TAX CUTS, LITERALLY 85% OF THE SURPLUS
           WILL BE GOING EXCLUSIVELY TO TAX CUTS. NOW, THE REMAINING $400
           BILLION, 15%, WOULD BE THERE AND COULD BE USED. BUT LOOK AT ALL
           OF THE THINGS THAT WE, FRANKLY, HAVE TO CONSIDER OUT OF THIS
           $400 BILLION OVER TEN YEARS. DEBT REDUCTION. AND I'LL GET BACK

           TO THAT IN A MOMENT WE HAVE A $5.7 TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT.
           LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS US TO MAINTAIN THAT DEBT. THE
           PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT UNDER MEDICARE. THAT'S GOING TO COST
           US SOME MONEY. SOME SUGGEST $300 BILLION OVER TEN YEARS. AND
           LOOK, WE'RE TAKING THIS SLICE OF $400 BILLION AND ALL THE
           THINGS WHICH WE WANT TO INVEST NFM THE PRESIDENT'S CALLED FOR
           MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION. I LIKE THAT IDEA. I THINK IT'S A GOOD
           THING TO DO. BUT AGAIN, IT'S COMING OUT OF THIS SLICE, THIS 15%
           SLICE. HE'S ALSO ASKED FOR MORE MONEY FOR DEFENSE. WE

           ANTICIPATE A NEED FOR AGRICULTURE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST,
           MEDICARE REFORM, SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM, AND SOME HAVE EVEN
           SUGGESTED THE CREATION OF A RAINY-DAY FUND THAT WOULD PROTECT
           OUR ECONOMY AND OUR BUDGET IN BAD TIMES. NOW, THE REASON WHY
           I'D LIKE TO REFLECT FOR A MOMENT ON THE NATIONAL DEBT IS THAT
           YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS AS THE MORTGAGE THAT WE'RE LEAVING
           OUR KIDS. WE -- I BELIEVE THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR
           CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IS TO MAKE THAT DEBT, THAT MORTGAGE
           AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT THEY ARE NOT BURDENED WITH THE

           RESPONSIBILITY AND DEBT OF OUR OBLIGATIONS IN OUR GENERATIONS.
           WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL DEBT OF $5.7 TRILLION COST US?
           LITERALLY WE COLLECT $1 BILLION A DAY IN FEDERAL TAXES FROM
           INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO PAY INTEREST ON OLD
           DEBT. THAT'S $1 BILLION A DAY THAT ISN'T BEING SPENT TO PUT A
           COMPUTER IN A CLASSROOM OR FOR MAKE AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE
           ANY STRONGER. IT'S $1 BILLION A DAY WHICH INSTEAD IS BEING
           SPENT FOR INTEREST ON OLD DEBT. MANY OF US BELIEVE THAT IF WE

           TRULY ARE AT A TIME OF SURPLUS, THIS IS THE MOMENT WE SHOULD
           SEIZE TO PAY DOWN THAT NATIONAL DEBT, BRING IT DOWN AS LOW AS
           WE CAN CONCEIVABLY BRING IT SO THAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS AND
           OUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS WON'T BE BURDENED WITH THIS DEBT AND
           RESPONSIBILITY. AND ALSO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS. AS YOU
           PAY DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT, THE COMPETITION FOR MONEY IN THE
           MARKETPLACE IS REDUCED. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T OUT THERE
           BORROWING AND SERVICING DEBT. AND, THEREFORE, INTEREST RATES
           TEND TO COME DOWN. NOW, NOT ONLY WILL WE BE TAKING THE BURDEN

           OFF OF FAMILIES WHO PAY $1 BILLION A DAY FOR INTEREST ON THE
           OLD DEBT, WE'LL ALSO BE REDUCING THE INTEREST RATES THEY PAY ON
           THEIR HOMES AND THEIR CARS AND THEIR CREDIT CARDS. SO FAMILIES
           WIN BOTH WAYS. AND ULTIMATELY, THIS IS AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER IN
           MANY RESPECTS THAN A TAX CUT. IT REDUCES THE COST OF LIVING FOR
           REAL FAMILIES FACING REAL DIFFICULTIES. LET ME SPEAK FOR A
           MOMENT ABOUT THE TAX CUT ITSELF. I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
           WAYS THAT WE CAN APPROACH THIS TAX CUT. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED

           CUTTING MARGINAL RATES. THAT IS A VERY SHORTHAND APPROACH TO A
           TAX CUT WHICH WOULD, IN FACT, BENEFIT SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST
           PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN WORKING FAMILIES AND
           MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES. AND THAT IS WHERE I HAVE SOME
           DIFFICULTY. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS
           NOW. I KNOW BECAUSE MY WIFE CALLED ME A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAID,
           "I JUST GOT THE FIRST GAS BILL FOR THE WINTER. YOU'LL NEVER
           GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?
           IT'S UP TO 400 BUCKS A MONTH IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. IT'S
           ABOUT A 40% INCREASE IN MY HOMETOWN, AND I HEAR THIS STORY ALL
           OVER ILLINOIS, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ENERGY BILLS UP 50%,

           NATURAL GAS BILLS UP 70%. I THINK IF YOU TALK ABOUT TAX CUTS,
           YOU OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES WHO ARE LITERALLY
           STRUGGLING WITH THESE DAY-TO-DAY BILLS. WHETHER IT'S THE NEED
           TO HEAT YOUR HOME OR TO PAY FOR A CHILD'S COLLEGE EDUCATION OR
           PERHAPS FOR TUITION AT A SCHOOL. SHOULDN'T WE FOCUS TAX CUTS ON
           THE WORKING FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO GET BY?
           I ALWAYS EXPRESS CONCERN ON THE SENATE FLOOR THAT WE SEEM TO
           HAVE MORE SYMPATHY FOR THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
           THAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO

           BUILD THEIR FAMILIES AND MAKE THEM STRONG. IF WE'RE GOING TO
           HAVE A TAX CUT -- AND WE SHOULD -- LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE TAX
           CUT BENEFITS THOSE FAMILIES. AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN
           THAT WE PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE DURING THIS
           DEBATE. IF AS AN OUTCOME OF THIS DEBATE WE END UP JEOPARDIZING
           SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE, THEN, FRANKLY, WE HAVE NOT MET OUR
           MORAL AND SOCIAL OBLIGATION TO THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO
           PAID INTO THESE SYSTEMS AND DEPEND ON THEM TO SURVIVE. AND SO I
           BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SURPLUS SHOULD BE

           REALISTIC NEWS. WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT SURPLUSES ARE NOT
           GUARANTEED. WE OUGHT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ANY TAX CUT THAT
           WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
           AND MEDICARE. WE SHOULD FOCUS THE TAX CUTS ON WORKING FAMILIES
           TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE BENEFICIARIES SO THAT THEY HAVE THE
           TAX CUTS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER. AND I THINK
           THAT REALLY SHOULD BE THE BOTTOM LINE IN THIS DEBATE. AS I SAID
           AT THE OUTSET, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE BELIEVE THAT
           THESE TAX CUTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD
           THING TO DO. LET'S PAY DOWN THIS NATIONAL DEBT. LET'S PROVIDE A

           TAX CUT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT NEED IT, AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
           WE PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE IN THE PROCESS. MR.
           PRESIDENT, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: I THANK THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS. THE
           CHAIR RECOGNIZES THAT MORNING BUSINESS IS CLOSED. AND UNDER THE
           PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
           AND PROCEED TO THE ASHCROFT NOMINATION, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
           REPORT.
           

           THE CLERK: NOMINATION: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. JOHN ASHCROFT OF
           MISSOURI TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM UTAH, MR. HATCH.
           

           MR. HATCH: MR. PRESIDENT, I'M PLEASED THAT THE JUDICIARY
           COMMITTEE YESTERDAY EVENING FAVORABLY REPORTED THE NOMINATION
           OF SENATOR JOHN ASHCROFT TO BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO A FAIR DEBATE
           OF SENATOR ASHCROFT'S QUALIFICATIONS, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE
           CAN MOVE TO A VOTE ON HIS CONFIRMATION THIS WEEK, HOPEFULLY
           TONIGHT. BUT IF NOT, NO LATER THAN TOMORROW. IT IS IMPORTANT
           THAT WE CONFIRM SENATOR ASHCROFT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT
           THE PRESIDENT HAS HIS FULL CABINET IN PLACE AND HE IS MOVE

           AHEAD WITH THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA. MR. PRESIDENT, JOHN ASHCROFT IS
           NO STRANGER TO THIS -- TO ANY OF US IN THIS BODY. WE'VE SERVED
           WITH HIM DURING HIS SIX YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE SENATE AND AS A
           SENATOR REPRESENTING MISSOURI. SOME HAD WORKED WITH HIM WHEN HE
           WAS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AND OTHERS HAVE WORKED
           WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE GREAT STATE OF
           MISSOURI. IN THE SENATE, HE SERVED ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
           WITH DISTINCTION. I CAN SAY THAT WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION. OVER THE
           PAST FOUR YEARS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF
           THE AISLE. AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, HE PROVED HIMSELF A

           LEADER IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, THE
           FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENCE, THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPER ROLE OF
           THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS.
           BUT, HAVING HEARD THE RELENTLESS DRUMBEAT OF ACCUSATIONS AFTER
           ACCUSATION IN RECENT WEEKS, I CAN FAIRLY SAY IN MY VIEW THAT
           THERE HAS BEEN AN UNFIELDING EFFORT TO REDEFINE THIS MAN OF
           UNLIMITED INTEGRITY. SOME HAVE TERMED THE STATEMENTS MADE BY
           JOHN ASHCROFT DURING THE NEARLY FOUR DAYS OF HEARINGS IN THE

           COMMITTEE AS -- QUOTE -- "CONFIRMATION CONVERSION." "A
           METAMORPHOSIS." ON THE CONTRARY, THE TRUE MET AMORE FAR SIS OF
           JOHN ASHCROFT IS THE MISLEEGT PICTURE PAINTED OF HIM BY NARROW
           LEFT-WING -- MISLEADING PICTURE PAINTED OF HIM BY NARROW
           LEFT-WING INTEREST GROUP. IN FACT, I WELCOMED TO THE COMMITTEE
           AND SAID, WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND I THINK
           THERE'S A LOT TO BE GATHERED OR GARNERED OUT OF THAT STATEMENT.
           AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE WELL AWARE, JOHN ASHCROFT HAS AN
           IMPRESSIVE 30-YEAR RECORD OF PUBLIC AND I'D HAVE TO SAY LOYAL

           PUBLIC SERVICE AS A STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A TWO-TERM GOVERNOR
           AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS A SENATOR FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI. I
           SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT AS MISSOURI'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE WAS
           SO WELL RESPECTED BY THE OTHER 49 ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN THIS
           COUNTRY, SO RESPECTED BY HIS PEERS THAT THEY ELECTED HIM TO
           HEAD THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN THIS
           COUNTRY. AND AGAIN AS GOVERNOR, HE WAS ELECTED BY THIS NATION'S
           GOVERNORS TO SERVE AS THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS'

           ASSOCIATION. THAT REALLY DEFINES JOHN ASHCROFT RATHER THAN SOME
           OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN AGAINST HIM IN THE
           UNITED STATES SENATE. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT
           AGAIN. OF THE 67 ATTORNEYS GENERAL WE HAVE HAD, ONLY A HANDFUL
           COME CLOSE TO EVEN HAVING SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT JOHN
           ASHCROFT BRINGS IN ASSUMING THE POSITION OF CHIEF LAW
           ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND NATION. THE
           DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OF COURSE, ENKOFRN ASSIST BROAD

           JURISDICTION -- ENCOMPASSES BROAD JURISDICTION. IT INCLUDES
           AGENCIES RANGING FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, THE
           IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, THE U.S. MARSHAL
           SERVICE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ALL OF THE UNITED
           STATES ATTORNEYS IN THE COUNTRY, TO THE BUREAU OF PRISONS. IT
           INCLUDES AMONG OTHER THINGS ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW IN AREAS
           INCLUDING ANTITRUST, TERRORISM, FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING,
           ORGANIZED CRIME, DRUGS AND IMMIGRATION, JUST TO MENTION A FEW.
           TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT AND MANAGE CRISES IN THESE IMPORTANT
           AREAS, ONE THING IS
           

           CERTAIN: WE NEED AT THE HELM A NO-NONSENSE PERSON WITH THE
           BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE OF JOHN ASHCROFT. WE NEED JOHN
           ASHCROFT, IN OTHER WORDS. THOSE CHARGED WITH ENFORCING THE LAWS
           OF THIS NATION MUST DEMONSTRATE BOTH THE PROPER UNDERSTANDING
           OF THOSE LAWS AND A DETERMINATION TO HOLD UP -- TO UPHOLD THEIR
           -- THE LAW'S LETTER AND SPIRIT. THIS IS A STANDARD THAT I HAVE
           APPLIED TO NOMINEES IN THE PAST, AND THIS IS THE STANDARD I AM
           APPLYING TO JOHN ASHCROFT. HERE TODAY. IN MY FULLHEARTED

           SUPPORT OF HIS NOMINATION TO BE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DURING JOHN ASHCROFT'S 30-YEAR CAREER
           IN PUBLIC SERVICE, HE HAS WORKED TO ESTABLISH NUMEROUS THINGS
           TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE AND FREE FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. FOR
           EXAMPLE, HE HAS, ONE, FOUGHT FOR TOUGHER SENTENCING LAWS FOR
           SERIOUS CRIMES. TWO, AUTHORED LEGISLATION TO KEEP DRUGS OUT OF
           THE HANDS OF CHILDREN. THREE, IMPROVED OUR NATION'S IMMIGRATION
           LAWS. FOUR, PROTECTED CITIZENS FROM FRAUD. FIVE, PROTECTED
           COMPETITION IN BUSINESS. SIX, SUPPORTED FUNDING INCREASES FOR

           LAW ENFORCEMENT. SEVEN, HELD THE FIRST HEARINGS EVER HELD ON
           RACIAL PROFILING. EIGHT, FOUGHT FOR VICTIMS' RIGHTS IN THE
           COURTS OF LAW AND OTHERWISE. NINE, HELPED TO ENACT THE VIOLENCE
           AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THE BIDEN-HATCH BILL THAT WE'VE REENACTED
           THIS LAST YEAR. TEN, HE SUPPORTED PROVISIONS MAKING VIOLENCE AT
           ABORTION CLINICS FINES NONDISCHARGEABLE IN BANKRUPTCY. IN OTHER
           WORDS, PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED VIOLENCE OR WERE FOUND GUILTY OF
           COMMITTING VIOLENCE AT ABORTION CLINICS AND FINED, THOSE FINES

           ARE NONDISCHARGEABLE IN BANKRUPTCY. NUMBER 11, HE AUTHORED
           ANTISTALKING LAWS. NUMBER 12, HE FOUGHT TO ALLOW WOMEN ACCUSED
           OF HOMICIDE TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING A BATTERED
           SPOUSE SYNDROME EVIDENCE IN THE COURTS OF LAW. ON THAT POINT, I
           SHOULD ADD THAT AS GOVERNOR, HE COMMUTED THE SENTENCES OF TWO
           WOMEN WHO DID NOT HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE. JUST TO MENTION ONE MORE
           -- THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO ON AND ON
           ON THIS -- NUMBER 13, HE SIGNED MISSOURI'S HATE CRIMES BILL
           INTO LAW. I'VE REALLY BEEN A LITTLE IRRITATED THAT SOME HAVE

           TRIED TO EVEN IMPLY THAT HE MIGHT BE A RACIST, BUT ALL,
           INCLUDING JUDGE RONNIE WHITE, SAID THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE
           IS A RACIST. IN FACT, HE'S NOT. HIS RECORD PROVES THAT HE'S
           NOT. AND I MIGHT ADD, HIS RECORD PROVES THAT HE IS IN THE
           MAINSTREAM OF OUR SOCIETY IN SPITE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
           HAVE BEEN THROWN AT HIM. SENATOR ASHCROFT APPEARED BEFORE THE
           JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR TWO DAYS. HE ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS
           COMPLETELY, HONESTLY AND WITH THE UTMOST HUMILITY. OVER THE
           INAUGURAL WEDNESDAY, HE RECEIVED ALMOST 400 QUESTIONS -- OR

           OVER 400 QUESTIONS. HE COMPLETELY ANSWERED THESE FOLLOW-UP
           QUESTIONS THAT THE SENATORS, BOTH ON AND OFF THE COMMITTEE,
           SENT TO HIM. HE HAS TESTIFIED AND COMMITTED BOTH ORALLY AND IN
           WRITING THAT HE WILL UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
           REGARDLESS OF HIS RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON THE POLICY WHICH WITHIN
           HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES AS A SENATOR HE MAY HAVE ADVOCATED
           CHANGING.
{END: 2001/01/31 TIME: 10-45 , Wed.  107TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}