0
0
The longest-serving senator in the history of Utah is dead.
Orrin Hatch, who gave 42 years of public service, passed away at the age of 88.
He is survived by his wife and six children.
Getting It Done
One of my biggest problems with today’s lawmakers is that they are too busy making headlines and generating likes and clicks than they are in legislating and representing We the People.
Love him or hate him, at least Hatch got things done.
During his time in office, Hatch either sponsored or co-sponsored more than 750 bills that would eventually be signed into law.
Considering we have people that have now been in office for more than a decade that are still not in double digits, that is pretty astonishing.
The Hatch Foundation touched on this in breaking the news that Hatch had died.
The Foundation stated, “Upon his retirement, Senator Hatch held the distinction of having passed more legislation into law than any other Senator alive.
“Beyond the sheer volume of his legislative successes, Hatch authored or coauthored many of the most consequential laws of the past half century, including: the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which helps protect the free exercise of religion for all Americans; the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act (also known as Hatch-Waxman), which created the modern generic drug industry; the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (or SCHIP), which provides health care for uninsured children from low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid; and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.”
A. Scott Anderson, the chairman of the Foundation, added, “A man of wisdom, kindness, character, and compassion, Orrin G. Hatch was everything a United States Senator should be.
“He exemplified a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of comity and compromise, and he embodied those principles better than anyone.
“In a nation divided, Orrin Hatch helped show us a better way by forging meaningful friendships on both sides of the aisle.”
Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Hatch Foundation stated, “Senator Orrin G. Hatch personified the American Dream.
“Born the son of a carpenter and plaster lather, he overcame the poverty of his youth to become a United States Senator.
“With the hardships of his upbringing always fresh in his mind, he made it his life’s mission to expand freedom and opportunity for others – and the results speak for themselves.
“From tax and trade to religious liberty and healthcare, few legislators have had a greater impact on American life than Orrin Hatch.
“He was a profoundly positive influence in the lives of those he served, whether they were the constituents he helped over four decades of casework, the hundreds of interns he sponsored in both Utah and DC, or the robust network of Hatch staffers who carry on his legacy to this day. Senator Hatch touched the hearts of countless individuals, and I know I speak for all of them when I say he will be dearly missed.”
Rest in peace, Senator Hatch.
