Evenly divided among eight Democrats and eight Republicans, the committee counts among its members Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and Democrats Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, Dianne Feinstein of California, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Charles Schumer of New York.

As the senators weighed the qualifications of Ashcroft--who previously had served as a governor of Missouri and a U.S. Senator from that state- the Republican Jewish Coaltion ran television commercials in Washington DC praising Ashcroft's record. A major contributor to that campaign was Sam Fox, a St. Louis businessman.

Among issues upon which senators sharply questioned Ashcroft was whether his long-standing philosophical opposition to abortion would interfere with him enforcing laws which aid the right of a woman to choose. Although Ashcroft said he would enforce the law, regardless of his personal opinions, a decision by President George W. Bush to prohibit the use of foreign aid money for abortions made the issue all-the-more contentious.

"I am dismayed that the President has opted to start his administration with such a divisive action," Feinstein said in a Senate floor speech. 

"The world now has more than 6 billion people. The United Nations estimates this figure could be 12 billion by the year 2050," Feinstein added. "Almost all of this growth will occur in places least able to bear up under the pressures of massive population increases. The brunt of this decision will be felt not in the United States but in developing countries lacking the resources needed to provide basic health or education services.

"If women are to be able to better their own lives and the lives of thier families, they must have access to the educational and medical resources needed to control their reproductive destinies and their health."

Gloria Steinem, president of Voters for Choice, was more blunt in her assessment: "Bush took off the mask of 'Compassionate Conservatism' today when he condemned millions of women in the world to injury and death by withdrawing U.S. Aid funds from countries whee safe and legal abortion is part of family planning." -- Donald H. Harrison