Sen. Orrin Hatch (?-UT) has had two major issues come up in the last week where he has taken a stance that has been the opposite of mine. The first issue is his support of embryonic stem-cell research. I don't agree with Sen. Hatch on federal funding for stem-cell research, in fact I don't agree with stem-cell research on embryos at all. I may not understand all of the facts on stem-cell research but to test them on human embryos, which have the potential to grow into babies, is not right. Neither is making clones of them for testing purposes only. After the stem cells are removed, the embryo is discarded. How is this different than abortion? I believe life starts at conception. I understand that stem-cell research has the potential to save lives, to cure diseases, and to make life better for those who are suffering. But at what price? The end does not justify the means in any way with embryonic stem-cell research. How many embryos were destroyed to save those lives? I know that Senator Hatch has family connections with conditions that have been, or could, be helped by stem-cell technology.
But geez, at what price?
The second issue is the granting of a 4th House seat to Utah while at the same time granting a seat in the House to Washington DC.
Wait a minute. Don't you have to be a state to have representation? Yes, you do.
Article I, Section 2 -
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Since DC is not a state, it does not qualify to be represented by either a member of the House or a Senator. There are US territories that have non-voting representation (Guam, Puerto Rico) but this representative will be a full-voting member of the House.
And Senator Hatch approves it.
No matter that Utah would have gotten a 4th House seat anyways next year with the 2010 census (Utah missed it by 80 people in the 2000 census). Why did he push this bill? It gave the Dems another sure seat in the House while the Utah seat could be up for grabs as Utah does have a Democratic House member currently (Jim Matheson).
I don't understand Senator Hatch, he is making some uncharacteristic moves in the past year. And moving farther and farther away from his base.
Excellent points.
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