In a recent Republican weekly radio address, Sen. Orrin Hatch said: "The president and his Washington allies need to stop holding America's economy hostage in order to raise taxes on those trying to lead our economic recovery" ("Hatch: Democrats want to hike your taxes," Tribune, July 28).

Oh, please. The top tax rate under President Bill Clinton was 39.6 percent (President George W. Bush lowered it to 35 percent), and America had rising incomes, 23 million new jobs and budget surpluses.

Hatch also said: "This isn't the time for political games and vilifying job creators." Seriously? The party responsible for repeatedly filibustering President Barack Obama's jobs bill is calling Democrats out for political games?

And "job creators"? You mean the corporations that get huge tax breaks and then create jobs — overseas?

Obama's plan raises taxes on 2.1 million high-income earners. A new Senate GOP tax plan released by Hatch and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., raises taxes on 10 times as many Americans. Hatch wants to end the Child Tax Credit, a tax break on college tuition and a more generous Earned Income Tax Credit, effectively raising taxes on 20 million families.

Hatch doesn't mind raising taxes — on the poor.

Susan Christensen

Salt Lake City