Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch | |
|---|---|
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| Senior Senator, Utah | |
| In office January 1977–Present | |
| Preceded by | Frank Moss |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2007) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | american |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Elaine Hatch |
Orrin Grant Hatch (born March 22, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a Republican United States Senator from Utah, serving since 1977.
Hatch is the second-ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he serves on the subcommittees on International Trade, Taxation and IRS Oversight, and Health Care. Hatch is also on the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Until 2004, he chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Early life, marriage, and descendants
Hatch was born to Jesse and Helen Hatch in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Jeremiah Hatch, founded what is now known as Vernal, located in eastern Utah. Hatch married Elaine Hansen of Newton, Utah and they have six children and twenty grandchildren. He and his family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Education
Hatch attended Brigham Young University and, in 1959, received a degree in History. In 1962, he received a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh Law School. As a law student, he worked as a janitor, a construction worker in the Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers Union (putting up walls over various kinds of lath), and a dormitory desk attendant.
Political career
For fourteen years after graduating, Hatch worked as an attorney at law in Pittsburgh and Utah. In 1976 in his first run for public office, he was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Democratic incumbent Frank Moss, a three-term incumbent. Among other issues, Hatch proposed creating term limits for Senators, saying that many Senators, including Moss, had lost touch with their constituents.
In 1980, Hatch spoke in favor of rolling back provisions of the Fair Housing Act. Acting on his motion in 1988, Congress eventually voted to weaken the ability of plaintiffs to prosecute cases of discriminatory treatment in housing. At the time the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments were being debated, he introduced a bill endorsed by the National Association of Realtors to severely limit who can file anti-discrimination suits and to make the proceedings a private affair.
In 2000, Hatch made a failed bid for the Republican Presidential nomination, losing to Texas Governor George W. Bush.
Hatch caused an overnight controversy on June 17, 2003 by proposing that copyright owners should be able to destroy the computer equipment and information of those suspected of copyright infringement, including file sharing. In the face of criticism, especially from technology and privacy advocates, Hatch withdrew his suggestion days later, after it was discovered that Sen. Hatch's official website was using an unlicensed JavaScript menu from United Kingdom based software developer Milonic Solutions. Milonic founder Andy Woolley stated that "We've had no contact with them. They are in breach of our licensing terms." Shortly after the publication of that story in Wired magazine, the company who runs Hatch's website contacted Milonic to start registration. [1]
One year later, he proposed the controversial INDUCE Act that attempted to make illegal all tools that could be used for copyright infringement. According to many critics, this act would effectively outlaw the internet and personal computers, giving unprecedented legal leverage to media companies.
Hatch was one of the architects and advocates of the expansion of H-1b visas and has generally been an advocate of looser immigration policy. [[2] He also proposed the somewhat controversial DREAM Act, which would grant state-subsidized higher education to illegal immigrants.
A vocal supporter of stem cell research, Hatch was one of 58 senators who signed a letter directed to President George W. Bush, requesting the relaxing of federal restrictions on stem cell research.
He has also pushed legislation which would amend Article 2, Section I of the United States Constitution, which requires all U.S presidential candidates to have been born in the United States of America and would allow for naturalized citizens to seek the presidency.
Hatch has long expressed interest in serving on the US Supreme Court and he had long been mentioned as a possible nominee after George W. Bush became president. But after the appointments of John Roberts and Samuel Alito, a potential appointment seems to be very unlikely.
2006 re-election campaign
Hatch is favored to win reelection for his 6th term in November 2006. He faces three unknown challengers in the Republican primary on June 27, 2006. [3] In November, he will face Democrat Pete Ashdown, an internet company executive, and several minor party candidates.
Musical career
Orrin Hatch sings and plays the piano, violin, and organ. Fueled by his interest in poetry, Hatch also has written many songs for other artists. Some claim that his position in the file-sharing debate is a conflict of interest, as Sen. Hatch's music is published by companies associated with the RIAA, the record industry lobbying group who has vehemently opposed file-sharing. In addition to his work as a U.S. Senator, he has made over $65,000 as a Christian music recording artist.
See also
External links
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