Report from the latest blogger conference call with Sen. Orrin Hatch

Ten days ago I left Moab, Utah for the long drive back to Morton Grove. So it's with symmetric pleasure that my first blogger conference call since my return was with the always engaging Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. He's able to discuss any legislative topic--today he talked mostly about the economy.

In the short term, there is not much good news. "Democrats working hand and hand with the White House," Hatch warned, "are working to implement massive job killing small business tax hikes."

How many times have you heard that small businesses are the ones that create most new jobs?

That's not all these job-creators have to endure. There is ObamaCare and its "job killing employer mandate," along with "the financial regulation bill that is going to make it tougher for small businesses to get critical credit to invest and start hiring." And small business are being strangled by the growth in government, "And the layers and layers of new bureaucracy," Hatch added, "that's just killing these guys in the small business world."

It gets worse. "The simple fact is this--On January 1 Democrats will raise taxes," Hatch declared. "The question is whose, and for how long." Barack Obama and the Democrats don't want to extend the Bush tax cuts. "By not extending critical tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003, our nation is going to face the largest tax increase in history."

What does that mean for the economy? Hatch lays it down: "According the the Congressional Budget Office our gross domestic product would take a 1.4 percent hit." The senator also referred to a Deutche Bank analysis that ending the Bush tax cuts would force the economy into a "stalling point." Hatch later called these possible tax hikes "an anti-stimulus."

Finding a job is already difficult for the unemployed. Hatch wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, which is the way I believe it should have been in the first place. But a year or two extension might have to do for now, says Hatch.

But there is some good news, sort of. The GOP will gain seats in the Senate and possibly win control of the House. Which led me to ask the Hatch a question about lame duck maneuvers the Senate might make in regards to unpopular legislation such as cap and trade the the so-called Employee Free Choice Act. Will they try something? "You can count on it, you can absolutely count on it." But a very strong performance by the Republicans could take some steam out of their drive. Hatch is not overconfident going into the fall elections. The GOP and Democratic currently have about the same amount in their treasuries, but the unions and other special interest such as trial lawyers present a formidable obstacle against a Republican rout in November. As evidence, Hatch mentioned the $10 million spent by labor in the failed effort to defeat Sen. Blanche Lincoln in June's Democratic runoff.

Hatch briefly discussed Supreme Court matters at the end of the call. He called President Bush's appointments of Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts "one of his greatest contributions." Hatch opposes President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Court.

But I'm all for the next blogger call with Senator Hatch.

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