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Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) stressed Friday he has no intentions of following down the path of his Utah colleague, Sen. Bob Bennett (R). During an appearance on Bloomberg's "Political Capital With Al Hunt" set to air this weekend, Hatch, who's up for reelection in 2012, talked down the prospect of losing to a conservative primary challenger the way Bennett did earlier this year. “I like Bob Bennett. I felt like he was a great senator. But I'm no Bob Bennett," Hatch said of his colleague, who lost at a state party convention to Mike Lee, the new GOP candidate for...

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) — who has been noted as a potential Tea Party target for 2012 — credited former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (R) for her endorsement record Wednesday, saying that as a result the GOP is "coming through" in spite of its internal struggles. "There's a lot of antagonism right now between both [Senate] Democrats and Republicans," he said in an interview on the Fox Business Network. "And sometimes between Democrats and Democrats, and occasionally we have a little fight in the Republican party as well." "But Sarah Palin has helped us all. She's endorsed a lot of...

Breaking ranks with fellow Republicans who have widely criticized President Obama’s First Amendment defense of the proposed Islamic center near ground zero, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch weighed in Monday: HATCH: Let’s be honest about it, in the First Amendment, religious freedom, religious expression, that really express matters to the Constitution. So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so. The only question is are they being insensitive to those who suffered the loss of loved ones? We know there are Muslims killed on...

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has come out strongly in support of the controversial Islamic center proposed for construction in New York, even as his party appears to be using opposition to the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" as a campaign issue. In an interview over the weekend with Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Hatch noted that "there's a huge . . . lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it." "I'd be the first to stand up for their...

Here is video of Sen. Orrin Hatch saying “there is no way” President Obama will get an Immigration Bill through Congress before the end of the year. Hatch says Obama knows that, and is just “pandering” for Hispanic votes by trying to make it look like he is pushing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Hatch said Obama has done none of the needed groundwork to really get something done.

PULSE EXCLUSIVE: NEW SENATE REPEAL BILLS – Orrin Hatch will introduce legislation today to repeal "the unconstitutional individual mandate and the job-killing employer mandate, the most egregious elements of this devastating health law," the Utah Republican says in a statement provided to Pulse. Hatch's repeal effort will be the first in the Senate since shortly after the bill became law in March, when David Vitter and Jim DeMint tried. But no one is expecting Harry Reid to have a sudden change of heart and allow such a bill to come up for a vote.

People seeking unemployment benefits or welfare would have to first pass a drug test under a proposal Sen. Orrin Hatch will try to add to legislation extending the social safety net during this time of economic turmoil. Hatch, R-Utah, said his idea would help battle drug addiction and could reduce the nation's debt. He will try to get the Senate to include his amendment to a $140 billion bill extending tax breaks and social programs this week. "This amendment is a way to help people get off of drugs to become productive and healthy members of society, while ensuring that...

Here is video of Sen. Orrin Hatch talking to Don Imus, where Hatch said “many people believe the President (Obama) is responsible for the destruction of our country.” The out-of-control spending Obama has engaged in since becoming President has pushed the nation to the brink. Hatch cited the fact that “18% of all wages” in America are now paid out by the Federal Government. The Utah Senator pointed out that Obama “is creating jobs – but they’re all Government jobs.”

Here is video of GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah being asked if he is concerned about his ability to get re-elected in 2012 in light of Sen. Bob Bennett's rejection by Utah Republicans in their recent nominating convention. Hatch said he is "not concerned," and then reminded everyone, "I'm not Sen. Bennett. I'm a tough guy and people know it." Hatch said he believes the citizens of Utah will want someone with experience in Washington to serve them.

The guy's a boob and an idiot...

Here is video of GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch telling Neil Cavuto that "you can be liberal and be a great Justice" - referring to the Supreme Court. Hatch was saying he wants to hold judgment on Obama Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Hatch told Cavuto we know that President Obama is not going to nominate a moderate or a conservative. He said he considers retiring liberal Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens "a very fine Justice," even though he often disagreed with him.

Hoping to protect its top-secret operations by decentralizing its massive computer hubs, the National Security Agency will build a 1-million-square-foot data center at Utah's Camp Williams. The years-in-the-making project, which may cost billions over time, got a $181 million start last week when President Obama signed a war spending bill in which Congress agreed to pay for primary construction, power access and security infrastructure. The enormous building, which will have a footprint about three times the size of the Utah State Capitol building, will be constructed on a 200-acre site near the Utah National Guard facility's runway. Congressional records show...

This is a significant development. It’s one thing for Mike Mullen and Colin Powell to go on the record favoring the repeal of the military’s don’t ask don’t tell policy, it’s another for Republicans with the responsibility of voting on the policy talking about their openness to repeal. And now, appearing on Andrea Mitchell’s show, Orrin Hatch signaled his willingness to repeal the policy, although he’s clearly hedging his bets. Here’s a rough transcript of what Hatch had to say: Hatch: I think people are very concerned. I believe there are very outstanding, patriotic gay people who serve in the...

Hatch: "In the process our country is put at risk because of these dumb decisions...It's that liberal mentality in this country that we have to do it differently from everybody else" (Video)

Sen. Orrin Hatch said Wednesday that President Barack Obama was out of line to use his State of the Union speech to criticize the Supreme Court while six of its members sat nearby. "Taking on the Supreme Court like he did, I thought it was kind of rude," said Hatch, a Utah Republican and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "It's one thing to say that he differed with the court but another thing to demagogue the issue while the court is sitting there out of respect for his position." Obama called on Congress to "correct" the court's decision...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Orrin Hatch is urging President Barack Obama to invite Boise State University to the White House along with Bowl Championship Series winner Alabama, arguing both undefeated football teams deserve the honor. The Utah Republican made the request in a letter to Obama Thursday. Hatch says that because there is no playoff, fans are left to speculate whether more than one team deserves to be called the best in college football. Last fall, the senator urged Obama to ask the Justice Department to investigate whether the BCS violated antitrust laws. He has yet to receive a response.

President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage. The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional. Legally speaking, this legislation creates a target-rich environment. We will focus on three of its more glaring constitutional defects.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) spoke from the Senate floor again today on the constitutionality of the Democrat health care reform bill, saying it is not only bad policy for this country, but undermines the basis of our democracy – the Constitution. This speech follows on the heels of a speech he gave yesterday to the renowned Heritage Foundation on this same important subject. The Senator urged his colleagues to not assume the Constitution allows Congress to do whatever it wants to do; and equally as important ignore the Constitution question altogether. “The Constitution empowers Congress to do many things for...

Here is video of Glenn Beck talking with Sen. Orrin Hatch about whether members of Congress are forgetting their oath to support and defend the Constitution...(Video)