Republican delegates spanked two of their own officeholders Saturday in the GOP state convention, telling U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and state Rep. Gerry Adair they want no part of their "unconstitutional" and "intrusive" legislative proposals.
The convention's vote against Hatch's CHILD Act led the senior senator to "lovingly" and with "great respect" lecture delegates in a half-hour response that articulately told them he didn't care what they said - he was going to help poor, sick kids anyway. Hatch has teamed with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to introduce a bill that would raise the federal cigarette tax by 43 cents a pack and funnel $20 billion over five years into health insurance for poor children. An estimated $10 billion from the program would go to federal deficit reduction.It was the first time any old-timers could remember that state GOP delegates voted directly against a major piece of legislation proposed by one of their sitting officeholders.
Many of the delegates seemed itching for a fight. They amended the convention's rules to make sure all seven of the resolutions submitted got a fair hearing. That put the convention an hour behind schedule as delegates debated and voted in favor of resolutions that oppose the CHILD Act (it even asks Congress to defeat Hatch's bill) and direct GOP Gov. Mike Leavitt and the Republican-controlled Legislature not to impose a mandatory "smart-card" driver's license on Utahns.
Adair, R-Roy, was even jeered by some delegates as he tried to defend his smart-card bill, which was defeated in the 1997 Legislature. Utah House Speaker Mel Brown, who conducted the resolution part of the convention held in the Salt Palace, had to ask delegates to give Adair a chance to speak above the hooting.
A smart card would contain a computer chip that would allow the user to place all kinds of information on the card, such as health information and even long-distance dialing capabilities. Longtime Weber County Republican Alex Hurtado said Republicans appreciate Adair, but they're tired of government making them use new technology and then turning around and using the technology against citizens.
Hatch, who was last on the convention's agenda, took much more than his allotted time to address the 600-plus delegates who, an hour earlier, had voted to send a letter to Congress asking that Hatch's child health insurance/cigarette tax hike legislation be killed.
The anti-CHILD Act vote "hurts my feelings, but it won't change my mind," Hatch told reporters soon after a voice vote approved the resolution offered by former state GOP Rep. Donna Dahl. While not referring by name to Hatch's bill, the resolution still called it unconstitutional and said Congress has no business setting up any health-care laws. In the resolution debate, Utah Eagle Forum president Gayle Ruzicka said: "This (bill) is not a Republican position. This is a Democrat's bill, and we oppose it."
Hatch told the delegates, "I love every one of you. And I respect your opinions." But then he went on to lecture them about constitutional law."Some of you don't think I know about the Constitution. But I deal with it every day in the Judiciary Committee (which he chairs) and know more about it than anyone except maybe the U.S. Supreme Court." He read a letter by two University of Utah law professors, whom he called constitutional experts.
They said his bill was constitutional. "They obviously read the bill. I doubt many people in this (convention hall) have" read the bill, Hatch said.
Hatch said he was raised poor. "I've gone hungry. I've gone without" health insurance. He said one man outside the convention hall told him that some principles are so important that to uphold them perhaps an ill child has to die. "That's not my feeling. When people can't help themselves, but want to, government does have a role in helping them," said Hatch.
Hatch ended his speech by quoting scriptures. "I don't mean to preach to you. But scripture has a place" in this debate. Quoting the Bible, Hatch pointed out the religious responsibility to help people in need.
He said if the delegates believed that their resolution would stop him from doing what he believed was right, well, they shouldn't think so little of him. "If I did (what was asked and abandoned his bill), I wouldn't think much of myself."
Some delegates gave Hatch a standing ovation. But a number sat still in their seats and didn't even applaud his speech. One woman just angrily shook her head after Hatch finished, while others quickly got up and left the hall.
Sen. Bob Bennett, Gov. Mike Leavitt and Reps. Jim Hansen, Merrill Cook and Chris Cannon also addressed the convention, most criticizing President Clinton for establishing the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah a year ago.
Besides passing resolutions opposing Hatch's bill and Adair's smart card, delegates also passed a resolution calling for a vote of citizens before a light-rail system is built in Salt Lake County. But the Utah Transit Authority has already let contracts on light rail's construction, and it is unlikely the mass-transit system will be halted.
As expected, former Utah House Speaker Rob Bishop was elected state Republican Party chairman. He ran unopposed. "It's not so easy running unopposed," Bishop joked with the delegates. "Imagine how bad I'd feel if I lost."
Outgoing chairman Frank Suitter said the party has $53,000 in the bank, the largest surplus the state party has ever had following an election year.
The state party raised and spent nearly $1 million in 1996 in sweeping most races in the state, he said.