A helicopter landing pad not only makes delivering patients to Primary Children’s Medical Center faster, it’s also convenient for dignitaries to zip in and out to make appearances.
Before heading to Park City to meet with Office of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch stopped by the medical center for a little constituent work.
“I’ve done a lot in the area of children health care,” Hatch said. In front of a standing room-only crowd in the auditorium, he discussed legislation he’s been involved with that affects children’s health.
Hatch was especially proud of the Children’s Health Insurance Program created under the Hatch-Kennedy bill to provide health insurance to disadvantaged children. Hatch discussed in length the bipartisan politics required to get the bill passed through Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1997.
“I know [Sen. Ted] Kennedy as well as anyone,” Hatch said. “I don’t agree with him on many things, but we agree on health care?I had to get the conservatives on board while Kennedy got the liberals on board.”
Observers were impressed by the cooperation. “If [we] can get together, anybody can,” Hatch joked.
Kennedy knew the bill had little chance of passing, Hatch said, but thought its defeat would show how uncompassionate the Republicans are. Hatch, too, initially had little faith in the entitlement-styled bill and realized the final legislation would have to be watered down. Behind closed doors with the finance committee, Hatch swayed other senators by playing on their guilt in supporting corporate welfare legislation.
“You can fork out the money for Corporate America but not the children of this country?” Hatch accused them. One after another, the other senators “shot out of their chairs and [spewed], ‘Hatch is right. Hatch is right?'”
Hatch credited Kennedy’s “willingness to move to the center” on the bill as an essential ingredient in its passing. Kennedy was initially upset about the changes to the bill but later became a believer.
“He’s as proud of that bill as anyone,” Hatch said. “Legislation has to start somewhere. You have to get rid of the bad [parts] and keep the good.”
Hatch also talked about research on stem-cell therapy. He thinks the often-used term “cloning” has caused confusion because it is not the intent of this type of research. The negative connotation impedes support for work that would benefit the public.
“I don’t think it should be called that; it should have another name,” Hatch said.
The conservative Republican angered many pro-lifers last summer when he urged President Bush to support research using stem cells from human embryos. The president eventually allowed limited funding for studies on existing cell lines.
“The stem-cell debate wasn’t going anywhere,” Hatch said. “I spent days and weeks praying about this and getting up to speed [on the topic].
“Did [the president] allow enough stem-cell lines? I don’t think he did, but it might be proved [in the end] that he did.”
Hatch talked briefly about other pieces of legislation. He believes there is inadequate funding for pediatric residency programs and supports a law that has increased the amount of funding. The Hatch-Leahy bill, which awaits passage in the House of Representatives, will boost spending on drug education and rehabilitation.
Hatch has also “worked closely” with sponsors of a bioterrorism bill that would increase preparedness of local hospitals and governmental departments. The bill would also make recommendations to the secretary of health and human services concerning the effects of bioterrorism on children.
Before hurrying to the rooftop landing pad, Hatch praised the medical center for their work and assured them the $300 million spent on Olympic security probably makes Salt Lake City “the safest place on Earth.”