Blog Entries for Orrin Hatch

Stop These Tax Hikes

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in USA Today. -Staff

On Jan. 1, Democrats will raise taxes -- the question is whose and for how long. By not extending critical tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003, our nation would face the largest tax increase in history.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would take a 1.4% hit -- potentially enough to trigger another recession, the last thing out-of-work Americans need.

We need [...]

The Case Against Confirmation

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the National Review. -Staff

Elena Kagan's record shows her to be an inappropriate choice for the Supreme Court.

After studying Elena Kagan's record, actively participating in her hearing, and listening to the views of folks in Utah and across the country, I do not believe that she meets the standards we should require of federal judges -- especially Supreme Court justices.

The first important standard is experience. [...]

Drug Tests For Public Assistance Would Fight Addictions

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Deseret News. -Staff

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the June 18 My View ("Hatch's drug-testing proposal has flaws" by Kurt Manwaring) criticizing my amendment that would require passage of a drug test for all new applicants for welfare and unemployment insurance. Although I agree with the author's assessment that "Hatch is right on the money when he says that federal dollars should not be used to support substance abus [...]

Time To Tackle Cyber Attacks

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Time To Tackle Cyber Attacks

The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Kirsten Gillibrand in Forbes. -Staff

It happens thousands of times each day. Cybercriminals steal Social Security numbers, credit card information or bank account balances, creating havoc for individuals' personal finances and credit ratings.

As the most targeted nation in the world, with losses from online fraud in the billions, the U.S. has experienced large-scale malicious cyber intrusio [...]

Extended R&D Tax Credit Means New Jobs

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Steve Ballmer in the Salt Lake Tribune. -Staff

The impact of the Greek economic crisis on U.S. markets shows that the global economy continues to face challenges. Despite some recent positive economic signs, too many Americans who are willing and able to work still can't find jobs. Without new jobs, any recovery will be fragile at best.

While there is no easy path forward, two things are certain. First, American innovation will [...]

Financial Regulation Bill Will Hurt Main Street

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune. -Staff

The U.S. Congress should be forced to take the same oath that doctors take to "first do no harm." Because more often than not, under the guise of "fixing" a problem, Washington makes things much, much worse for hard-working middle-class families and small businesses.

That's precisely the problem with the financial regulation bill that's before the Senate right now. Instead of strengthening our finan [...]

Federalism Must Not Be Abandoned

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Gary Herbert in the Deseret News. -Staff

The price of liberty, President Andrew Jackson said as he left office in 1837, is eternal vigilance by the people. As Americans, we must always protect the fundamental ingredients of liberty, such as intrinsic limits on government powers and a careful division of those powers between the federal and state governments.

We are at a crucial crossroads in our country. All across this great [...]

Base Expansion On Science

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the St. George Spectrum. -Staff

I appreciate the sentiments my friend Ed Kociela expressed in his column ("Orrin, please change your mind on new RECA bill," April 24) on New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall's proposal to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

As many who are close to people impacted by radiation exposure, I am passionate about ensuring that the victims who were exposed to radiation from nuclear weapons test [...]

Directing The Fate Of Our Tax System

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in Politico. -Staff

Another tax day has come and gone. But the threat of a tax system even worse than the awful one we have is still hanging over our heads.

Unless Congress acts by the end of this year, tax increases of unprecedented size for all Americans are due to kick in Jan. 1, sending jolts throughout our still teetering economy.

These job-killing tax increases include ending the 10 percent tax bracket, which benefits [...]

Pick A Nominee Who Unites Americans

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in AOL News. -Staff

When President Barack Obama chooses his second Supreme Court nominee, the Senate must determine the kind of justice that nominee would be. The debate about judicial nominees, after all, is really a debate about judicial power and the role federal judges are supposed to play in our system of government.

One side in that debate wants judges who will rule the way they want on the issues they care about. The politic [...]

Future Tax Days Will Only Get Worse

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Provo Daily Herald. -Staff

On this Tax Day, we know the Tax Man Cometh and over the next few years, boy will he be coming with a vengeance. Because the only way liberals can support European levels of spending is with European levels of taxes. Instead of talking about serious spending cuts to confront our sky-high budget deficits, they are talking about more and more taxes.

If I were handing out a fiscal report card, I'd giv [...]

Forcing Americans To Buy What They Don't Want

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed with Ed Meese and Steven Calabresi in the Chicago Tribune. -Staff

Parents across America tell their kids that what matters is how you play the game, not whether you win or lose. Ordinary Americans know that the ends do not justify the means, that playing by the rules is more important than simply getting your way. We would be much better off if America's political leaders were more like America's parents.

Most Americans reject the [...]

Don't Let The Facts Get In The Way

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the National Review. -Staff

Faced with plummeting public support, the White House is engaged in a scorched-earth PR campaign to justify its failure to listen to the majority of the American people who oppose this $2.5 trillion health-care bill. They've even started attacking my opposition to the unconstitutional federal individual mandate citing legislation that was introduced as an alternative to Hillarycare back in the 1990s.

[...]

BCS Distributes Revenue Inequitably, Hurting Utah's Schools

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Deseret News. -Staff

Few organizations have been met with more public scorn and condemnation over the past several years than the Bowl Championship Series. In fact, I think it could be said that, on most days, even Congress has higher approval ratings.

Most of this criticism has been warranted. Indeed, on the most basic level, the BCS robs college football fans throughout the country of a true, undisputed national championsh [...]

Opening Markets Is Likely To Lead To Employment Rise

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in The Hill. -Staff

Even as we slowly recover from one of the worst recessions in recent memory, our nation's unemployment rate stands at around 10 percent, with some economists saying some of these lost jobs will never come back. The question is, How do we respond as a nation -- how do we generate new jobs to replace those that are lost forever? I believe that a strong, job-creating trade agenda -- opening markets around the globe to U.S. [...]

Don't Be Fooled - Senate Health Bill Includes Taxpayer Funding Of Abortion

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed on FoxNews.com. -Staff

In a mad rush to pass a health care reform plan leading House Democrats now intend to take up the Senate-passed version of the bill, arguing that the Senate language prohibits federal funding of abortion. Besides that fact that this simply not true, it also demonstrates the lengths the president and his allies will take to pass this bill against the will of the American people.

For almost 35 years, the law of [...]

Reconciliation On Health Care Would Be An Assault To The Democratic Process

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Washington Post. -Staff

America's Founders gave us a system of governance designed to limit government power and maximize liberty. The legislative branch is different from the executive, and the Senate is different from the House. No single branch has all the power. That can be frustrating for those with ambitious agendas, but everyone benefits by respecting those checks and balances even as we fight over policies.

While [...]

Creating National Monuments Without Utahns' Input, Consent An Abuse Of Power

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Ogden Standard-Examiner and the Provo Daily Herald. -Staff

Here we go again.

Fourteen years ago, President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument without Utahns' input or consent. Now we have the Obama administration poised to do the same thing.

Just last week an Obama administration memo was leaked that outlines two Utah areas for the president to consider for monument designation [...]

Americans Deserve Affordable Care

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the Deseret News. -Staff

Health care reform is a critical national issue that must transcend political labels and parties. It should be guided by the voices of the American people, who expect Congress to work together to solve this challenge in an open, bipartisan and fiscally prudent manner. If we take a realistic approach, we can achieve responsible health care reform that enjoys support on both sides of the aisle.

America [...]

Start From Scratch

orrinhatchforsenate+hatch@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The following originally appeared as an op-ed in USA Today. -Staff

Obama's big-government proposal attempts to do too much, too fast.

Americans want health care reform that reduces costs and provides affordable access. But they also worry about preserving quality, improving a struggling economy and reducing the nation's unsustainable debt. Amid this uncertainty, we should be careful not to do too much too fast, risking mistakes of lasting consequence.

The pre [...]