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JANUARY 18, 2001

The nomination hearings for John Ashcroft continued on Tuesday as Freshman Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) questioned the Attorney General nominee on his commitment to the environment, support of family planning, and his record of opposing a federal judge.

"Unfortunately, Senator Ashcroft, I am troubled with your environmental record, particularly in attempts to weaken enforcement tools that EPA has," said Cantwell. "Will we continue to see an aggressive division that enforces the current law and goes after polluters? And will we continue to see a very aggressive and vigorous enforcement of the Superfund laws that ensures that environmental clean-up is done and completed?"

Ashcroft responded that, as a "private environmentalist," he is personally committed to the environment. He also said as Attorney General and Governor for the state of Missouri, he was responsible for enforcing environmental standards.

Cantwell also asked him about the controversial roadless forest plan recently implemented by the Department of Agriculture. Although the plan has been the product of more than a year of rule-making, during which he was a Senator, Ashcroft professed ignorance on the matter. He said he would provide additional information later on the issue to Cantwell.

Cantwell continued with questions on family planning. A pro-life advocate, Ashcroft said he supports individuals' rights to use contraceptives but waned on the issue of how he might enforce equal opportunity laws requiring employers to provide them. He said he was unsure what his enforcement power would be in such an area and again deferred questions.

Finally, Cantwell asked Ashcroft why he opposed the confirmation of Margaret McCuen for a federal judgeship on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ashcroft again said he didn't remember the specifics despite voting against her and giving a speech in 1997 in which he labeled McCuen as "sinister" and implied she was a tool of the American Civil Liberties Union. McCuen was eventually confirmed after what Cantwell said was a two-year delay.

Get Cantwell/Ashcroft Exchange:
Transcript of remarks (Politics 1/18)

Get Ashcroft Hearing Transcripts:
Text: John Ashcroft's Senate Confirmation Hearing Day 1 (eMediaMillWorks 1/16)
Text: John Ashcroft's Senate Confirmation Hearing Day 2 (eMediaMillWorks 1/17)

Relevant Links:
The Senate Judiciary Committee - www.senate.gov/~judiciary

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