Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch says an editorial published in the New York Times was a "cheap shot" intended to affect his re-election campaign.
The editorial, printed Friday, criticized the annual Utah Congressional Golf Challenge as an example of "junkets taken in the guise of helping charity."The newspaper also referred to the charity golf tournament held in Park City as "Hatch's sporting junket," and "a chance for lawmakers to enjoy an expenses-paid vacation at a luxury resort courtesy of big corporate sponsors."
"They know I'm up for election. . . . It's just clearly political," Hatch said in response.
Democrat Pat Shea, Hatch's main challenger in the upcoming election, is one of the primary promoters of the tournament.
Shea and Hatch have helped organize the event for several years, raising nearly $1 million, more than half of which goes to charities. Most corporate donations, ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 apiece, went to the Intermountain Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City, which provides room and board for families of sick children.
Hatch said another reason for the event is to "showcase" Utah before corporate decisionmakers and members of Congress in a position to help the state.
The Times referenced the golf tournament as an example of loopholes in reform legislation approved Thursday by the House. The bill would ban most lobbyist gifts to members of Congress but allow corporate-sponsored trips and events with no disclosure required.
But Hatch said, "It's absurd to think that the sole or major reason of these corporate contributors participating is to have access to these members of Congress."
The Utah Congressional Golf Challenge is the second Utah charity event to draw national media attention. Earlier this year, the television program "Inside Edition" aired a piece that reproached the annual U.S. Senators Ski Cup at Park City.