Orrin Hatch: At the heart of US policy debates
(Baonghean.vn) - Senator Orrin Hatch, representing the US state of Utah, has just announced that he will retire from politics after his term ends at the end of this year at the age of 83.
During his more than 40 years in the US Senate, he was considered a tough but powerful figure on Capitol Hill, often at the center of controversy.
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| Senator Orrin Hatch, representing the US state of Utah. Photo: AP |
Republican hardliner
When Senator Orrin Hatch announced his retirement plans on January 2, David Axelrol - a veteran commentator for CNN who served as a senior advisor to former US President Barack Obama - was one of the first to thank Orrin Hatch for his contributions to the United States.
Although they are not close friends in personal life or at work, David Axelrol still appreciates and is grateful to Orrin Hatch for his unexpected phone call more than 7 years ago.
At that time, David Axelrod was the chief strategist in many important campaigns of former President Barack Obama, including the campaign for the ObamaCare health care bill.
The bill was met with much controversy and had difficulty finding consensus in Congress. Immediately, Mr. Obama's senior advisor became the focus of criticism in the media, being judged as incompetent.
“I read your story in the paper this morning, and I just wanted to call and tell you, never let those bad guys get you down” - Orrin Hatch's words of encouragement became the motivation for David Axelrod to overcome difficulties and also exuded Orrin Hatch's unmistakable style as a Senator.
He was willing to face his opponents and doggedly pursue his goals, even though they were not always popular with the American public.
In the heated debates between the Democrats and Republicans, Orrin Hatch is always seen on the front lines and is considered one of the most hard-line figures of the Republican Party.
At the heart of the controversy
Orrin Hatch was born in Pennsylvania and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in history in 1959 and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1962.
He practiced law for a long time in Pennsylvania and Utah before running for the Utah State Senate as a Republican in 1976.
In his first run, he defeated the veteran Senator of Utah, Frank Moss, who had served three consecutive terms. Since then, no one has been able to dislodge Orrin Hatch from this position as he was re-elected consecutively in 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006 and 2012.
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| US President Donald Trump congratulated Orrin Hatch on his “fantastic political career.” Photo: AP |
Orrin Hatch has had an amazing and remarkable career.
Over time, Orrin Hatch became one of the most prominent conservatives in the US Senate.
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee - a powerful position, Orrin Hatch has left his mark on a series of important government decisions such as supporting the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance for about 10 million children across the United States; passing the Americans with Disabilities Act - prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities; passing the Patriot Act on anti-terrorism, establishing the US Trade Promotion Agency...
But besides the programs that have received widespread support from the American public, he has also been heavily criticized for pushing through many controversial decisions such as reducing by 90% the area of two national parks Bears and Grand Staircase Escalante in Utah with monuments that have existed for thousands of years of history.
This decision has received strong reactions from environmental activists as it goes against the provisions of the constitution and legal documents on environmental protection.
Another legacy that bears the mark of Orrin Hatch is the Tax Reform Bill (GOP) that was passed by the US Congress at the end of December. This is the largest tax reform bill in the US in the past 30 years, considered the biggest victory of US President Donald Trump since taking office.
Not only was Orrin Hatch one of the key figures involved in drafting the bill, he was also a tireless campaigner to get the bill through the House and Senate, despite opinions that the tax reform bill would benefit the rich and could increase the budget deficit.
But Mr. Orrin Hatch explained that the tax bill could benefit many businesses that are considered “the roots of the economy,” and the US economy cannot be strong without strong roots.
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| The biggest tax reform bill in the US in 30 years under the Trump administration owes much to Orrin Hatch. Photo: Internet |
Despite being the center of many heated debates in American politics, with 7 terms, Orrin Hatch is still considered one of the most powerful and influential figures in American politics.
For his work, Orrin Hatch has just been named “Utah Face of 2017” by Tribune magazine. This title is a meaningful recognition before Orrin Hatch prepares to end his political career at the end of this year.
At 83, with 41 years in the Senate, it may be time for him to retire, leaving behind a political career that few can surpass.
