John Ashcroft Biography Age: 58 Born: May 9, 1942 Family: Ashcroft married his wife Janet in 1967. She is a business-law professor at Howard University; They have three children -- Jay, Andy and Martha (husband Jim and son Jimmy). Education: Graduated from Springfield's Hillcrest High School in 1960, graduated from Yale University in 1964, graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law in 1967. Public Service Career: 1973-74 Auditor for Missouri; 1975-76 Missouri Assistant Attorney General; 1976-85 - Attorney General for Missouri; 1985 - 1993 Governor for Missouri; 1994 - U.S. Senator for Missouri. Books: Co-authored two college business-law text books with Janet Ashcroft and authored Lessons from a Father to His Son about his father. Hobbies: Singing, song writing, piano-playing, fishing, tennis, hiking, dirt -biking. John Ashcroft was elected to the United States Senate in 1994, winning 60 percent of the vote and carrying every county in Missouri. Ashcroft also has served the people of Missouri as their Governor for two terms, winning reelection in 1988 by 64 percent, the largest percentage of any Missouri governor since the Civil War. As Missouri Governor, Fortune magazine rated him one of the top ten education governors. Ashcroft balanced eight consecutive budgets. Financial World and City and State magazines credited Ashcroft with making Missouri one of the best financially managed states in the country. His conservative approach to spending and government waste has continued in the Senate, where in 1998, Citizens Against Government Waste placed Ashcroft atop its annual list of “Taxpayer Heroes.” Ashcroft was the only member of the Senate to have a perfect voting record against wasteful government spending. Other awards presented to Ashcroft include the American Farm Bureau Federation’s highest national honor, The Golden Plow Award for 1999,
and the Missouri Farm Bureau’s most prestigious award, The Award for Outstanding Service to Missouri Agriculture. In the Senate, Ashcroft has taken a leadership role in building a foundation for a future of promise and prosperity. Protecting Social Security is an absolute priority for Senator Ashcroft. He wants to end the outrageous use of Social Security as a slush fund for Congress and the President. Senator Ashcroft insists that money paid into Social Security be used for promised benefits and for no other purpose. He introduced the first Social Security Lockbox proposal in the Senate to protect the retirement security of this and future generations, and successfully sought the new budget rule to help protect Social Security. If children are to have the opportunity to learn, they must have teachers and parents who are able to make the best decisions about how to use federal education resources, as well as a secure learning environment. Ashcroft supported the budget plan that calls for substantial increases in federal support for education. He also proposes to give school officials the freedom to discipline all students who endanger others. Ashcroft joined with Senator Kit Bond to form the "Show-Me Council of Educators and Parents for Local Control" to help the Senators develop sound education policies. Security from crime is especially important to Missourians. In 1992, federal agents busted only two methamphetamine labs in Missouri. In 1997, that number skyrocketed to 421, to 679 in 1998, and to a projected 900 last year -- yet another record high. Senator Ashcroft has worked closely with Missouri law officers to develop strategies, including new funding for the meth war in Missouri, more prison time on meth traffickers, and steps to ban meth manufacturers from public housing. He has held public meetings and Senate field hearings in Missouri on fighting meth, reducing juvenile crime, and safeguarding the rights of crime victims. To expand economic opportunity for working families, Ashcroft has pushed for tax relief targeted to the middle class, for an end to the $29 billion a year tax penalty on marriage, and for abolition of the estate tax ("death tax"). Standing up for the taxpayer continues the Ashcroft record as Governor, when Missouri had the second lowest tax burden in the entire nation. Ashcroft is a leader in efforts to strengthen Missouri’s farm economy and open up new markets for food and fiber from Missouri and other farm states.
Ashcroft stays in close touch with his constituents, having visited all of Missouri’s 114 counties at least three times since January 1994. Ashcroft also maintains an excellent record of voting attendance in the Senate. Through the end of 1999, he has attended 1,886 out of 1,905 roll call votes, for an attendance record of 99 percent. In the 106th Congress, Ashcroft serves on three Senate committees: Judiciary; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Foreign Relations. He is the Chairman of Subcommittees on the Constitution (Judiciary), and Consumer Affairs (Commerce). In addition to serving as Senator and Governor, Ashcroft has served as Missouri Auditor and Attorney General. He has served as Chairman of the National Governors Association, and in a number of other positions of national leadership. Prior to entering public service, Ashcroft taught business law at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. He attended public schools in Springfield, Missouri, and graduated with honors from Yale University in 1964. He met his wife, Janet, at the University of Chicago Law School where they each received law degrees in 1967, and later co-authored two college textbooks. Ashcroft enjoys the outdoors, family time, and singing and song writing. He is the baritone voice of the Singing Senators quartet with Senators Trent Lott, Larry Craig, and James Jeffords.