MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) White (29th), Canon, Hamilton, Chaney, King, Johnson (19th), Ross, Kirby, Michel, Robertson, Scoper, Moffatt, Harvey, Smith, Lee, Cuevas, Gollott, Hewes, Nunnelee, Mettetal, Chamberlin, Minor, Carmichael, Burton, Hyde-Smith, Dickerson, Thames, Harden, White (5th), Little, Stogner, Huggins, Farris, Browning

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S APPOINTMENT AND SENATE CONFIRMATION OF SENATOR JOHN D. ASHCROFT (R-MO.) AS UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHEREAS, Missouri's junior Senator, former Attorney General, and former two-term Governor, John Ashcroft, is President George W. Bush's choice for United States Attorney General; and

WHEREAS, as the country's top prosecutor, the Attorney General wields broad powers as head of a 100,000-employee Justice Department encompassing the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the network of U.S. attorney's offices nationwide; and

WHEREAS, born in Chicago in 1942, Ashcroft grew up in Springfield, Missouri, the son of a prominent minister and educator who played a key role in making the Assemblies of God one of the nation's largest Protestant denominations; he graduated from Hillcrest High School in Springfield; he earned an honors degree from Yale University in 1964, and a law degree in 1967 from the University of Chicago School of Law; a practicing attorney, Ashcroft was a professor at Southwest Missouri State University from 1968-1973, Assistant Attorney General of Missouri from 1975-1976 and Attorney General from 1976-1984; he served as Missouri Governor from 1984-1992, was elected to the United States Senate in 1994 and was narrowly defeated by Governor Mel Carnahan; and

WHEREAS, Ashcroft has publicly stated: "You have my word that I will administer the Department of Justice with integrity, I will advise your administration with integrity and I will enforce the laws with integrity"; and

WHEREAS, he has recorded and toured as a gospel singer and hews to his faith's dictates against drinking, smoking and dancing; during his Senate tenure, Ashcroft was a baritone member of a barbershop quartet, the Singing Senators, along with Republican colleague Trent Lott from Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he and his wife Janet live in Springfield, Missouri, and they have three children: Martha, John and Andrew; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the professional and civic achievements and the appointment of an individual with high integrity and character who is going to enforce the law and believes deeply in the Constitution:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend President Bush's appointment and the United States Senate's confirmation of Senator John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) as U.S. Attorney General and wish him continued success as he pursues this new challenge.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to John Ashcroft and his family and be forwarded to members of Mississippi's congressional delegation, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.