|
Volume 11 No 3 LCCR leads efforts to oppose the confirmation of former Senator John Ashcroft to be U.S. Attorney General
On February 2, 2001, The U.S. Senate voted 58-42 to confirm former Missouri Senator John Ashcroft as U.S. Attorney General. At a Washington, D.C. press conference on the day of the vote, LCCR Executive Director Wade Henderson expressed his disappointment at the outcome of the vote, yet noted, "It is our clear and specific intent to hold John Ashcroft to his word that he gave to the United States Senate, the word of John Ashcroft that a number of Senators relied upon in choosing to vote for the nominee. Make no mistake about it -- this Attorney General is on record!"
Inside.....
From the top
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) joined a broad-based coalition to mount a major campaign to oppose the confirmation of former Senator John Ashcroft to be Attorney General. The coalition included an array of civil and human rights, environmental, women's rights and choice, gun control, labor, and religious freedom organizations.
Voting Rights Violations in the 2000 Election
For over a month issues related to Florida balloting problems in the Presidential election transfixed the nation and the media. There were also substantial and credible allegations of disenfranchisement of minority voters in several Florida counties. These allegations assert that hundreds of African Americans, Haitian Americans and Puerto Ricans may have been denied their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote in the November 7, 2000 election.
106th Congress Voting Record
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has released its Voting Record for the 106th Congress, rating both the House and the Senate on key legislative floor votes on civil rights and social and economic justice- issues of concern to LCCR-member organizations.
Judicial Nominations
Judicial nominations and appointments were a hot button issue throughout the 106th Congress, with the Senate's record on the confirmation of female and minority judicial nominations being nothing short of unconscionable. On December 27, 2000, President Clinton made a recess appointment, naming Roger Gregory to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to fill a long-standing vacancy.
The Continuing Struggle for Federal Hate Crimes Legislation
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, renamed the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, received widespread, bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate during the 106th Congress. Unfortunately, it was stripped from the Department of Defense Authorization Bill in the conference committee.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
ESEA suffered a tumultuous journey during the 106th Congress. Controversial amendments and stalemated negotiations prevented reauthorization of ESEA this year.
Immigration Reform Update
In the 106th Congress immigration legislation covered several areas of concern to the civil rights community, including legislative efforts to remedy the excessively harsh provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA).
Low Power FM Radio
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently launched the licensing application process for a new low power FM radio service (LPFM), a noncommercial radio service consisting of low power stations that will serve very small geographic areas (less than 3.5 miles). On December 15, 2000, the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act (S.3020) passed both the House and Senate as part of the omnibus budget bills. This bill will drastically curtail low power radio, cutting it back by 80%.
  
|
