Orrin Hatch

Orrin Grant Hatch (March 22, 1934 – April 23, 2022) was an American attorney, retired politician, and composer who served as a United States Senator from Utah for 42 years (1977–2019). He was the longest-serving Republican U.S. Senator in history and the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Utah.

Hatch chaired the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions from 1981 to 1987. He also served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001 and 2003 to 2005. On January 3, 2015, after the 114th United States Congress was sworn in, Hatch became President pro tempore of the Senate. He served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 2015 to 2019. Hatch led the efforts to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He retired in January 2019 and was succeeded by the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney.

Quotes

 * If we can find some way to do this without destroying their machines, we'd be interested in hearing about that […] if that's the only way, then I'm all for destroying their machines. There's no excuse for anyone violating copyright laws.


 * I’m not aware of it. I don’t pay much attention to his tweets. I’ll say this for ya: He’s been one of the best presidents I’ve served under. And the reasoning is, he’s not afraid to make decisions. He’s not afraid to take on the big mouths around here.
 * On Donald Trump after asked about a series of anti-Muslim videos that Trump had retweeted. As quoted in ''Shaq Didn’t Call Trump the 'Best President (September 17, 2018) by Catherine Monk, '

Quotes about Hatch

 * …Senator Hatch taught us that an abusive tax system is particularly dangerous for freedom of religion or belief. Religious and spiritual movements are vulnerable, and ideologically motivated bureaucrats can do much damage to them. Tax reform and the defense of freedom of religion or belief are inseparable.
 * Marco Respinti, "Religious Liberty and Tax Reform: Remembering Senator Orrin Hatch" (2022), Bitter Winter