For Balanced Budgets and Greater Debt Limits. Really.
In 1976, Orrin Hatch made term limits a central part of his Senatorial campaign against popular Democrat Frank Moss, a three-term incumbent. Ironically in retrospect, Hatch criticized Moss’ 18-year tenure in the Senate, asking “What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.” Hatch argued that many Senators, including Moss, being in office for so long lost touch with their constituents. His hypocritical stance on term limits is a familiar part of the state’s political folklore. Hatch’s forty-year incumbency proves the point as his record clearly shows.
A quick look at the current Heritage Action Scorecard shows Hatch with a score of 33% while the five others in the Utah delegation average 80%. The power of incumbency is in name recognition and money –the latter from special interest lobbies. So we agree with Sen. Hatch on this: after 18 years he should have been called home. (Although we would suggest 12 years max for the Senate.)
Looking at the Heritage Action bills scored in the current report we see a microcosm of lobby influence and career politicians’ tendency to “go along to get along” with leadership. Please look at the Hatch’s votes on these key issues several of which were sponsored by Sen. Lee (1st term Sen. From Utah with 100% score on Heritage Action) –you’ll be surprised as would most Utahns. Take a minute to look at the bills to see where you would have voted. Click on the bill summary for more detail.
Orrin Hatch didn’t start his political career with such a big government, huge deficit voting record but, as with virtually all of our Poster Children, he drifted left to please those who could help him get reelected. Getting reelected is Job One for career politicians. Did you notice his recent vote to increase the debt limit again by over a $trillion? This from the sponsor of a Balanced Budget Amendment –17 times! Knowing it wouldn’t pass anytime soon such a position is good for bragging rights among conservatives in Utah but doesn’t upset the special interests.
FreedomWorks disputed Sen. Hatch’s claim to be “one of the greatest conservatives in the history of this country,” –as he votes for Wall Street bailouts and serial increases in the national debt; loads bills with expensive earmarks and supports an individual health care mandate.
He has even drifted on the social issues. As a Mormon one would expect he would oppose abortion as his church teaches. Did you see his current vote to continue to fund Planned Parenthood at least until December 11thduring which time they will commit about 70,000 abortions and at taxpayer expense? Hatch once would rally conservative Christians and Mormons to the Republican Party, most notably on the right to life platform which he had supported for 35 years. Tenure corrupts.
Citizens Against Government Waste and the National Taxpayer Union have ranked Sen. Hatch rather highly over his tenure and The Club for Growth did as well until recent years. Early on he was known for limited government values but later has taken an active role in expanding fedgov — he voted 16 different times to raise the debt ceiling by a grand total of $7.5 trillion. He also voted for the TARP bailout.
Tenure in the District of Corruption does indeed corrupt even those starting out with the best intentions.
Not only has Orrin Hatch refused to follow his own wisdom that Washington should be run by citizen-legislators, not career politicians, but he–as chair of the Judiciary Committee–has been a major opponent of federally legislated term limits, according to the Cato Institute.
He won’t be running again –he’s 81—let him serve as an example of why we must always watch even the best newly elected politicians and hold them to their oath of office.
Term limits are essential to returning our country to limited government. U.S. Term Limits has a new plan to force a congressional term limit amendment vote by the states. It is known as the Article 5 Process and is contained in the US Constitution.
Check it out at this one-minute video by an infamous lobbyist: Jack Abramoff
