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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 4 January 2019

Orrin Hatch ends 4-decade Senate run as unique GOP voice

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST as a child and later made
Associated Press friends with Muhammad
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Or- Ali, didn't back down from
rin Hatch ended his tenure rhetorical battles but also
Thursday as the longest- formed friendships with po-
serving Republican senator litical opponents, particu-
in history, capping a unique larly the late Sen. Edward
career that positioned him M. Kennedy. He highlight-
as one of the most promi- ed his ability to work with
nent conservatives in the Democrats in a short-lived
United States. campaign for president in
The departure of the vocal 2000.
supporter of President Don- He joined with Kennedy on
ald Trump ushers in another the Americans with Disabili-
outsized Utah voice with a ties Act as well as the $24
very different take on the billion children's insurance
president: Mitt Romney, program. When the liberal
whose renewed criticism icon died in 2009, Hatch
of Trump is already making said they "were like fighting
waves. Romney was sworn brothers."
in to the U.S. Senate seat But Hatch strongly opposed
from which Hatch is retiring President Barack Obama's
after four decades and at signature health care law
the height of his power. In this Feb. 21, 2018, file photo, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, waves after addresses the Utah Senate and more actively courted
while Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, looks on at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt
A staunch conservative Lake City. the conservative wing of his
who wasn't afraid to cross Associated Press party after his colleague,
the aisle, Hatch teamed Sen. Bob Bennett, was oust-
with Democrats to pass Clarence Thomas against called for a return to an era set Democratic Sen. Frank ed in a tea party wave in
the Americans with Disabili- sexual harassment allega- of political civility. Moss in 1976. 2012.
ties Act and the Children's tions during confirmation Hatch, who did not agree He was a newcomer who Hatch would later use his
Health Insurance Program hearings. to an interview with The appealed to the right wing clout to help Trump push
for low-income kids. He In recent years, the 84-year- Associated Press after sev- of the Republican Party, a major GOP tax overhaul
also championed GOP is- old helped pass a federal eral requests over the last University of Utah politi- and cheer the president's
sues like abortion limits tax overhaul, pushed for month, was a fresh-faced cal science professor Tim decision to downsize the
and played a major role in Trump's divisive decision trial lawyer from the tiny Chambless said. His candi- Bears Ears and Grand Stair-
shaping the U.S. Supreme to downsize two national Utah community of Pitts- dacy got a boost from an case national monuments
Court, including defending monuments in Utah and burg when he narrowly up- endorsement by another in a win for state Republi-
conservative rising star, cans.
Ronald Reagan. The senator also made
After Hatch took office, he waves in copyright law,
quickly secured a place on helping make it a crime to
the Senate Judiciary Com- illegally download music at
mittee, where he would a time when it was consid-
serve for decades. He has ered a serious threat to the
participated in the confir- music industry. Hatch is a
mation hearings of every songwriter himself, and one
current Supreme Court jus- of his tunes went platinum
tice, including the conten- after appearing on a com-
tious ones of Thomas and pilation of Christian pop
Brett Kavanaugh. music.
The senator famously de- A member of the Mormon
fended Thomas during church, Hatch has said leg-
confirmation hearings by islation protecting religious
reading aloud from "The freedom is his greatest ac-
Exorcist" to suggest Anita complishment.
Hill lifted details of her sex- He has called for lawmak-
ual harassment allegations ers to find ways to allow
from the horror book. people to practice their
But Hatch also recom- faith while shielding the LG-
mended President Bill Clin- BTQ community from dis-
ton name Ruth Bader Gins- crimination.
burg, a liberal, to the court. In his farewell speech last
"Few senators can claim month, Hatch bemoaned
a fraction of the influence the disappearance of polit-
of Orrin Hatch on the di- ical civility and challenged
rection and makeup of his colleagues to work con-
the United States Supreme structively for the good of
Court," George Washing- the country.
ton University law professor "Things weren't always as
Jonathan Turley said in an they are now. I was here
email. when this body was at its
Hatch, who learned to box best," he said.q