Orrin Hatch on Drugs

Republican Sr Senator (UT)

Stricter sentencing; death penalty for drug traffickers

Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs.
Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
Support capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers.
Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US

Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000

Fight methamphetamine, smarter & harder

Methamphetamine is now being manufactured in clandestine laboratories all across this country by people who are determined to undermine our drug laws and turn America into one colossal methamphetamine lab. Methamphetamine differs in kind from other illegal drugs because it can be made from readily available and legal chemicals and substances. America’s history of fighting illegal drugs has been long and tiring, but now is not the time to give up it is a time to fight smarter and harder. Source: Senate Judiciary Committee statement on Methamphetamines Aug 5, 1999

Fight crime by fighting drugs and gangs

“I will continue the fight against crime, of course. And that includes efforts to get kids off drugs - because drugs and crime are connected - and better efforts to control gangs. We need to look at ways to rehabilitate youthful offenders; but equally, we need to get really tough on juveniles who commit adult crimes.” Source: Senate homepage Jul 2, 1999

More penalties & more spending on drug interdiction

[We should] focus attention where only the federal government has the ability to make a difference-drug interdiction. [Our proposed crime bill] increases the penalties for drug trafficking. It provides bonus grants to keep prisons and jails drug-free to break the link between drugs and crime. And our bill includes a faith-based drug treatment bill. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Statements” Apr 28, 1999

More juvenile jails & drug-testing, via block grants

Our bill also includes the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant to help States build juvenile detention centers, drug test juvenile offenders, establish graduated sentencing sanctions for repeat juvenile offenders, and improve juvenile record keeping. It authorizes $450 million for Block Grants and $435 million for juvenile prevention programs. The Administration’s budget eliminates the Block Grants, even though these are the only federal funds dedicated to juvenile law enforcement purposes. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Statements” Apr 28, 1999

Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses.

Vote to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. The amendment would specifically target the manufacturing or trafficking of amphetamines & methamphetamines and possession of powder cocaine, and set stronger penalties for dealing drugs Reference: Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999

Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control.

Vote to add an additional $53 million (raising the total to $213 million) to international narcotics control funding, and pay for it by taking $25 million from international operations funding and $28 million from development assistance. Reference: Bill HR 3540 ; vote number 1996-244 on Jul 25, 1996

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*Other candidates on Drugs:*		*Orrin Hatch on other issues:*
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Page last updated: 3/31/2008