Orrin Hatch in The Associated Press

On Health Care: Reform Medicare by medical experts; more tax incentives

Medicare reform should be led by experts in that area, not politicians, Hatch said. Hatch would guarantee current benefits would not be cut for current enrollees and those nearly eligible for Medicare. Hatch’s proposal includes increased access to long-term care, established standards for long-term care insurance policies & increased tax incentives for purchasing policies. He also proposes an income tax check off so donors can give money to the NIH for research on certain illnesses. Source: Associated Press Oct 16, 1999

On Government Reform: Soft money gets out the vote; against banning it

Hatch said that the current campaign finance reform would starve the GOP of money for elections. Soft money is “the money we use to get out the vote,” Hatch said. “It would be the unilateral disarmament of the Republican Party.” He claimed the bill would allow traditionally liberal interests to send unlimited sums of money to the Democratic Party. In fact, the McCain-Feingold bill would ban union, corporate & individual “soft money” donations to political parties, as well as “independent expenditures.” Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press Oct 4, 1999

On Government Reform: Soft money is free speech; daily disclosure is better

Hatch also argued that the McCain-Feingold bill would restrict “legitimate” First Amendment rights. At the same time, Hatch asked his listeners to envision a president “who really doesn’t owe anybody anything,” because he hasn’t been influenced by campaign donors. The Utah senator said he would support efforts to limit the influence of political donations by requiring daily disclosure of all such contributions on the Internet. Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press Oct 4, 1999

On Jobs: Ethanol subsidies OK, but no federal gasohol requirements

Sen. Orrin Hatch said he supports ethanol subsidies in agricultural states, but maintained requiring the corn-based gasoline blend at the pump needs to be a state issue. “We need to use these agricultural products in every way we can,” Hatch said. Critics argue that the tax subsidy benefits only a few large producers. The subsidy remains popular in farm states because ethanol creates new markets for corn and can help support corn prices at a time when commodity prices are at historic low levels. Source: Ken Thomas, Associated Press, in Washington Post Sep 18, 1999

On Jobs: Alternative fuels important to our energy security

[Regarding ethanol subsidies], Hatch said, “Some day it might come down to where we’re going to need this ethanol development to save our country.” Hatch said he’s learned the importance of developing gasoline alternatives during the gas shortages of the mid-1970s. “We have to develop as many alternate sources of gasoline as we possibly can,” Hatch said. “This country runs on energy and we have to always have to be at the forefront of developing good energy, [via R&D or via] natural resources.” Source: Ken Thomas, Associated Press, in Washington Post Sep 18, 1999

On Crime: 10-20-Life plan: harsh penalties for gun use

Hatch described what he calls the “Hatch 10-20-life” plan, which says anyone who commits a felony while in possession of a gun should be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Someone who fires a gun while committing a felony would get 20 years, and someone who harms or kills someone would get life in prison. Source: Holly Ramer, Associated Press Aug 16, 1999

On Civil Rights: Gays support Democrats, but no intolerance

Hatch says when he told fellow Republicans at their state convention two months ago that they should be proud of their party because “we don’t have the gays and lesbians with us,” he didn’t intend the comment to sound prejudicial. The Utah lawmaker was just pointing out that “gays and lesbians, by and large, are very intelligent, highly educated, high-earning people, who support mainly Democrats.” Hatch said he resents any implication that he is intolerant. Source: Associated Press Aug 13, 1999

On Civil Rights: Homosexuality is contrary to the Bible, but no intolerance

“You can sum it up in one sentence: Orrin Hatch is tolerant of all people and he doesn’t try to tell people how to live unless they ask him,” said Hatch. While Hatch said he is tolerant of all people, he does believe that homosexuality is contrary to the Bible. “It’s a religious belief to me that homosexuality flies in the face of biblical teachings,” he said, noting he can’t determine “whether it’s a genetic predisposition or whether it is a choice.” Source: Associated Press Aug 13, 1999

On Gun Control: Trigger locks, gun show restrictions, import restrictions

Hatch was the author of the juvenile crime bill passed by the US Senate in May. Among other things, it would require trigger locks on all new handguns and impose tougher restrictions on sales at gun shows. The measure also would ban import of high-capacity ammunition clips and any juvenile convicted of a felony would be denied the right to purchase a gun for life. Source: Associated Press Aug 13, 1999

On Tax Reform: Simplify the “IRS monster”

Hatch advocates reforming the nation’s tax laws and shrinking the Internal Revenue Service, calling the agency a “monster” that needs to be simplified. Hatch has advocated increasing the cigarette tax to provide more money for children’s health insurance Source: Associated Press Aug 13, 1999

On Abortion: No litmus tests: no one issue should define appointments

Hatch, a sharply conservative foe of abortion who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday he’d impose no “litmus tests” on his judicial nominations if he wins the White House. “I don’t think any self-respecting Republican candidate should bind himself or herself to any litmus test issues. Anybody who says they’re going to deprive a loyal, dignified, decent Republican or Democrat from serving their country because of any one issue is wrong.” Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press Jul 25, 1999

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press. Click here for other excerpts by Orrin Hatch. Click here for a profile of Orrin Hatch.
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