This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
So Sen. Orrin Hatch supported the automatic sequestration budget cuts even though they will adversely impact Utah, the country and millions of people ("Sequestration: Hill Air Force Base's civilians may face 22 unpaid days," Tribune, Feb. 22).
Hatch is partially to blame for the national debt mess. When both he and President Ronald Reagan took office, the national debt was less than $1 trillion. Twelve years later, after the Republican administrations of Reagan and President George H.W. Bush, the national debt had quadrupled.
Hatch supported all of the tax cuts of Reagan and President George W. Bush. When Bush took office, in 2001, the national debt was $5.7 trillion; when he left office, it was almost $12 trillion.
The Republicans would like us to believe that the Democrats and President Barack Obama caused this national debt mess, but that is not the case. Now, the Republicans want to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and many other programs that help the poor and the middle class. But they say, please, don't cut military spending.
What a mess this country is in.
Duane Olsen
Bountiful