Ashcroft in Action

Photos Copyright 1998, 1999  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.  All rights reserved.

 
 
Sept. 9, 1998. Sen. Ashcroft chairs a Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights subcommittee hearing on "Impeachment or Indictment: Is a Sitting President Subject to the Compulsory Criminal Process?" Ashcroft and Sen. Torricelli (D-NJ) heard conflicting views from two panels of legal scholars. 
 
 
 
Sept. 2, 1998. Sen. Ashcroft discusses his economic plan, "A New Beginning," at the Heritage Foundation. The plan, released on August 26, has five key points: (a) massive restructuring of the tax code, reducing the income tax rate to 10 percent for most taxpayers and 25 percent for those earning more than $68,400; (b) reducing the size of government (starting by establishing a commission similar to the Base Closing commission); (c) paying off the national debt over 30 years; (d) open markets and free trade; and (e) unleashing the information economy. "It's time to let the mighty eagle soar once more," Ashcroft said.
  
 
June 17, 1998.  Sen. Ashcroft speaks at a press conference, urging House-Senate conferees to adopt a budget resolution that provides at least $101 billion in tax cuts and an end to the marriage penalty tax.  "We want the full $101 billion in tax relief and we will accept no less," he declared.  In late March, Ashcroft had led a group of five Senators threatening to vote against the budget resolution because it would have increased the size of government and contained inadequate tax cuts; Senate Republican leadership agreed on April 2 that Senate budget negotiators would seek larger tax cuts and address the marriage penalty.   
 
 
 
June 12, 1998--Cedar Rapids. Sen. Ashcroft, with wife Janet standing by, delivers his basic speech on the great necessities of our time at the Iowa GOP's First in the Nation Gala.  He drew energetic applause for taking the Clinton administration to task on its China policy: "By month's end Bill Clinton will travel to communist China. There he'll offer slick words of appeasement to the world's worst-persecuted people of faith, to the world's worst proliferator of nuclear weapons and to the worst perpetrator of weapons of mass destruction, and to our worst trading partner. My friends, Republicans ought not sit silent as this president offers up toasts to tyrants who send tanks to Tiananmen Square."
 
 
June 12, 1998--Cedar Rapids. Sen. Ashcroft scooped the competition at the Iowa GOP's First in the Nation Gala by serving ice cream right outside the convention hall before and after his speech. Long lines gathered as Ashcroft and wife Janet scooped and chatted with activists.   
 
 
 
June 12, 1998--Cedar Rapids. Sen. Ashcroft, accompanied by wife Janet, spoke at the media availability prior to the Iowa GOP's First in the Nation Gala.   
 
 
 
March 30, 1998. Sen. Ashcroft, chair of the Senate subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights (Judiciary), holds a hearing on protecting the American flag.   
 
 
 
Jan. 30, 1998. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in No. Va., Sen. Ashcroft becomes one of the first Republican officials to offer a strongly worded public comment on the Lewinsky affair. In his speech Ashcroft declares, "Mr. President, if these allegations are true...you have disgraced yourself, you have disgraced this country, you have disgraced the office and you should resign." 
 
 
 
Jan. 20, 1998. Sen. Ashcroft reaffirms his opposition to President Clinton's nomination of Dr. David Satcher as surgeon general. Citing Satcher's support of partial birth abortion and of a controversial reseach project on HIV, Ashcroft says the nomination is "ill-advised" and "sends the wrong signals."  
 
  
 
Jan. 12, 1998. Sen. Ashcroft unveils a 10-point proposal to overhaul the tax system, stating that while he supports more sweeping reform proposals, "this can deliver tax relief to the middle class immediately." 
 
  
 
Oct. 23, 1997. At the Heritage Foundation, Sen. Ashcroft calls for government that encourages "America's highest and best" rather than compressing us at "our lowest and least." 
 
April 1997. In the Senate swamp in front of the Capitol, Sen. Ashcroft explains the Working Americans Wage Restoration Act, which would allow workers to deduct Social Security payroll taxes from their income taxes.