Op-Ed Archive

By Melanie Bowen | Sunday, December 8, 2024

Cannon’s legacy reminds us that when women lead, families, communities and nations flourish. During his decades in public service, Sen. Hatch understood and championed that truth.

By Matt Sandgren & Devin Wiser | Monday, October 21, 2024

The eruption of protest has left many students wondering whether their voices can be heard through all the noise. As university administrators grapple with maintaining necessary order, a fundamental question remains: Can we protect free speech on campus while fostering an environment of respect?

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Sen. John Thune is not a household name in Utah. But he should be. And depending on what happens in November, Thune may soon become very well known to Utahns.

By Gordon H. Smith | Friday, May 31, 2024

The filibuster is one of the few things left in political life that encourages cooperation. It’s a critical piece of what’s made the Senate what it is — a deliberative body that actually debates and improves legislation, not just a rubber stamp for whatever Senate leaders happen to put out.

By Matt Sandgren | Friday, March 29, 2024

Those dissatisfied with rulings from the courts, especially the Supreme Court, are now targeting the judiciary itself. It’s time to push back.

By Matt Sandgren | Thursday, February 29, 2024

For over 25 years, Scott Anderson has been of Utah’s most influential and respected leaders.

By Matt Sandgren | Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Hatch-Waxman’s success cannot be denied. It gave birth to the modern generic drug industry and has saved consumers trillions of dollars since it was enacted. But no bill is perfect, and 40 years after the fact, some revisions may be in order.

By Senator Gordon H. Smith and Martin B. Gold | Monday, October 7, 2024

Bare majorities should not be deciding questions of fundamental change for our country. The goal should be to pass broadly popular legislation, not the most extreme policy that can get through with the narrowest possible vote. The filibuster requires senators to pursue the former approach, at least if they want their bills to become law.

By Senators Sheldon Whitehouse & Bill Cassidy | Thursday, August 1, 2024

America was founded by extraordinary individuals who engaged in spirited debate and then came together to build a more perfect union. That was true 248 years ago, and it is still our ideal today. Solution-oriented leaders who are willing to work across the aisle can work through differences through respectful, robust debate.

By Sens. Chris Coons (D-DL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) | Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Neither of us is calling for a go-along-to-get-along attitude that ignores the very real divisions in our country. However, we are committed to rebuilding and strengthening America. We disagree, sometimes strongly, on the best approach to do that, but we both agree that failure is not an option.

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, October 10, 2023

One of the most important laws Congress has enacted, the RFRA protects the rights of all Americans, regardless of faith.

By Bruce A. Percelay, Adam Hinds, Matt Sandgren, & Margaret Spellings | Friday, September 29, 2023

Business hates uncertainty. And there is no condition that can create more uncertainty than the deep divide in our country. Partisan politics has gone beyond Capitol Hill and has now leached into the business world. The question is, what can be done about it?

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Hatch, McConnell and Chao have all achieved tremendous success in their public service. But they always remembered where they came from and the people they were called to serve. 

By Gordon Smith | Sunday, May 14, 2023

Many people — too many people, in my view — see the legislative filibuster through a situational lens. When it leads to outcomes you like, it’s great. When it leads to outcomes you don’t like, it’s terrible. This is the wrong way to think about the legislative filibuster.

By Matt Sandgren and Benji Backer | Friday, May 5, 2023

Conservatives are not only capable of addressing environmental challenges, but are the ones best suited to do so…It’s time for conservatives to steer the conversation on climate change.

By Matt Sandgren | Thursday, March 23, 2023

There could be a genuine opportunity this year for lawmakers to make meaningful progress on police reform. Misguided calls to defund the police, reduce the size of police forces, or curtail officers’ ability to respond to threatening situations are not the answer. Instead, conversations should focus on trust, training, and accountability.

By Martin B. Gold | Thursday, February 9, 2023

In their frustration with the filibuster, critics fail to grasp its true purpose. The filibuster is not an enemy to good governance but what makes it possible in the first place. It is a bulwark against polarization, a tool for bipartisanship and the defining characteristic of the U.S. Senate as an institution.  

By Gordon H. Smith | Friday, January 27, 2023

The filibuster is more important than any short-term political agenda. And if we lose it, we lose a bulwark protecting the Senate from even greater polarization

By Matt Sandgren | Thursday, November 3, 2022

A future without a filibuster is a future without bipartisanship, compromise, and meaningful deliberation — in other words, the very things that make the Senate the Senate.

By Matt Sandgren | Monday, August 22, 2022

Sen. Hatch left a legacy of partisan values and bipartisan compromise. Now over 3,000 boxes of legislative papers are being released, documenting his time in Congress.

By Sam Lyman | Friday, June 17, 2022

Our society has yet to come to terms with an obvious fact: Nearly every social ill plaguing our communities stems from (or is severely exacerbated by) not having a father in the home.

By Bruce A. Percelay, Matt Sandgren and Jason Grumet | Monday, June 13, 2022

We need to restore sane, genuine political discussion between the two parties. And we need to break down the information siloes that keep Americans living in separate realities.

By Matt Sandgren | Monday, May 16, 2022

Suicide is the leading cause of teenage deaths in. Utah — here’s what our government is doing about it

By Melanie Bowen | Thursday, May 5, 2022

Sen. Orrin Hatch has been applauded for his political career, but his highest achievements lie in how he built relationships

By Sam Lyman | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

There was no one quite like him before, and there will never be anyone quite like him again.

By Matt Sandgren | Sunday, April 24, 2022

If every member of Congress had the wisdom, character, integrity and foresight of Orrin Hatch, our country would be stronger, more prosperous, and more united today.

By Alice Marie Johnson | Sunday, February 6, 2022

By bringing attention to an overlooked aspect of criminal justice reform—the importance of family—we can bring together both Republicans and Democrats on this critical issue. Family matters. Our policies should reflect that.

By Christopher Bates | Monday, January 24, 2022

Conservatives can and should present their own vision for criminal justice reform, a vision rooted in principles that can unite a broad range of conservative-minded individuals. One such principle is a shared understanding of the importance of the family and the essential role family impacts play in the criminal justice system.

By Christopher Bates | Friday, January 21, 2022

The partisan divide in Washington seems wider than it’s ever been. There is so much to fight about and so little to agree on. One area where there’s been at least some bipartisan success in the past is criminal justice reform. And a new approach to this complex issue could help bring momentum for lasting change.

By Sam Lyman | Friday, December 17, 2021

Sometime around 2016, we entered the Bizarro World. The two political parties have switched policies, key constituencies, and even their respective positions in culture. In the political Bizarro World, what was up is now down and what was Left is now (quite literally) Right.

By Matt Sandgren | Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Whether Washington takes a heavy-handed or a light-touch approach to crypto regulation over the next few months could make a multitrillion-dollar difference over the next few years.

By Christopher Bates | Monday, October 4, 2021

All of us have an interest in ensuring that employers are able to find workers to fill jobs and that formerly incarcerated individuals are able to find work so they can successfully reintegrate into society

By Melanie Bowen | Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Because of them, I was able to see my husband again. Because of them, I was able to watch. my daughters grow up, get married, and have children of their own.

By Christopher Bates | Friday, August 6, 2021

All too often, policymakers overlook the centrality of the family in the debate over criminal justice reform. It’s time to change that.

By Sen. Mike Lee and Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The heart of criminal justice reform is helping our communities stay as safe and secure as possible, while simultaneously protecting the God-given equal rights of all Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Procedural tool has promoted culture of compromise and better representation for all Americans

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, March 29, 2021

Passing the Civics Secures Democracy Act would help schools rediscover their original civic mission

By Orrin G. Hatch | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

First and foremost, we must work to reduce the impact of incarceration on families and communities, both during the term of actual imprisonment and beyond.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Big Tech has privatized many of our most fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. But by following this simple blueprint, we can safeguard those freedoms now and in the future and usher in a new era of prosperity and innovation.

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Fixing our nation’s mental health crisis will require outside-the-box thinking, and getting schools involved is a good place to start. By proving the efficacy of mental health education in Utah, we can make the case for this commonsense solution on a federal level as well. And by raising awareness for 988, we can provide a lifeline to thousands of Americans in need.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, September 9, 2019

Long ago, on the eve of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made a heartfelt plea to the American people: Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory … will yet swell … when again touched … by the better angels of our nature. In a nation as divided as ours, how can we answer Lincoln’s call?

By Orrin G. Hatch and Ben McAdams | Saturday, July 13, 2019

America remains polarized on many issues, but both sides agree on one thing: Our high-skilled immigration system is broken. The good news? Congress is taking important steps to fix it.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A dangerous idea is gaining traction in American politics, one that could have significant implications for religious liberty: court-packing. Since 1869, we have had only nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Sam Lyman | Friday, December 17, 2021

Sometime around 2016, we entered the Bizarro World. The two political parties have switched policies, key constituencies, and even their respective positions in culture. In the political Bizarro World, what was up is now down and what was Left is now (quite literally) Right.

By Matt Sandgren | Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Whether Washington takes a heavy-handed or a light-touch approach to crypto regulation over the next few months could make a multitrillion-dollar difference over the next few years.

By Christopher Bates | Monday, October 4, 2021

All of us have an interest in ensuring that employers are able to find workers to fill jobs and that formerly incarcerated individuals are able to find work so they can successfully reintegrate into society

By Melanie Bowen | Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Because of them, I was able to see my husband again. Because of them, I was able to watch. my daughters grow up, get married, and have children of their own.

By Christopher Bates | Friday, August 6, 2021

All too often, policymakers overlook the centrality of the family in the debate over criminal justice reform. It’s time to change that.

By Sen. Mike Lee and Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The heart of criminal justice reform is helping our communities stay as safe and secure as possible, while simultaneously protecting the God-given equal rights of all Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Procedural tool has promoted culture of compromise and better representation for all Americans

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, March 29, 2021

Passing the Civics Secures Democracy Act would help schools rediscover their original civic mission

By Orrin G. Hatch | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

First and foremost, we must work to reduce the impact of incarceration on families and communities, both during the term of actual imprisonment and beyond.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Big Tech has privatized many of our most fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. But by following this simple blueprint, we can safeguard those freedoms now and in the future and usher in a new era of prosperity and innovation.

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Fixing our nation’s mental health crisis will require outside-the-box thinking, and getting schools involved is a good place to start. By proving the efficacy of mental health education in Utah, we can make the case for this commonsense solution on a federal level as well. And by raising awareness for 988, we can provide a lifeline to thousands of Americans in need.

By Mike Sabo | Friday, November 20, 2020

Despite everything that the United States has gone through in 2020, former U.S. Senator Orrin G. Hatch says that he is “intensely optimistic about what’s ahead.” What gives him hope about America’s future? It’s that “every challenge we’ve faced—from Valley Forge to Covid-19—has only made us stronger and more resilient as a nation.”

By David Davenport | Monday, November 16, 2020

Our democracy has faced quite a stress test in 2020 and has shown vulnerabilities. In order to build greater resilience for the future, the answer is a renewed commitment to civic education, beginning with the bipartisan passage of the Educating for Democracy Act.

By Orrin G. Hatch | October 30, 2020

By restoring civic education to its proper place in our schools, we can revitalize our democracy and preserve the American experiment for future generations.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Today, we are engaged in a judicial arms race that, if left unchecked, will lead to the destruction of our democracy. For the sake of the courts and the Constitution, we can only hope that cooler heads once again prevail.

By David Davenport | Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Civics have taken a back seat in our schools to reading, math, and especially STEM. But can saving our democracy be any less important than getting good jobs in technology? That is what is at stake if we do not make a national commitment to strengthening civics education.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Tuesday, October 7, 2020

Our Founding Fathers viewed intellectual property as so fundamental to America’s future success that they expressly granted Congress the constitutional authority to protect it. Congress used this authority to safeguard, among other creations, computer–software programs. But a new court case could weaken the very IP protections that drive the digital economy forward.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, September 23, 2020

If our understanding of antitrust law is unable to accommodate business partnerships that ultimately benefit consumers, then it's not just the NFL that's in trouble — it's businesses in all industries, from broadcasting and transportation to technology and health care.

By Matt Sandgren | Monday, September 21, 2020

Set against the backdrop of China’s rise in tech, its long record of IP theft, and recent acts of cyberaggression, the significance of the TikTok controversy comes into focus. This isn’t some run-of-the-mill corporate dispute but a crucial battle in a new cold war.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, September 14, 2020

For months, Republicans and Democrats have been at loggerheads over a broad stimulus package—but a permanent switch to Daylight Saving Time would be a stimulus package all on its own. It would boost economic growth, ease the mental health crisis, reduce crime and even save lives. That’s why Congress must act now. The clock is ticking, and we can’t afford to move it back.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Sunday, July 26, 2020

Drive-by lawsuits threaten the future of a civil rights law I fought for to help bring disabled people into the economy, not to destroy businesses.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, July 27, 2020

With everyone’s liberty threatened by cancel culture, it’s time to restore freedom to academia.

By Matt Sandgren | Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Manuel Bernal—a resident physician assigned to one of Chicago’s busiest hospitals—has been working day and night to deliver lifesaving care to patients suffering from COVID-19. Manuel is just one among thousands of health care workers who has put the safety of others before his own in the fight against the coronavirus.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Friday, May 15, 2020

Over the course of our nation’s history, Native Americans have suffered a long string of injustices. Among the most egregious, however, was the federal government’s neglect during the Cold War years when hundreds of the Navajo developed severe forms of cancer and respiratory illness as a result of uranium mining and nearby nuclear testing.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Friday, April 10, 2020

This week marks the celebration of Passover, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday — holidays that, for millions of people, symbolize the promise of rebirth, redemption, and renewal after a period of significant testing and adversity. These tangible symbols of hope are needed today more than ever.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, March 4, 2020

That our nation has developed many, if not most, of the world’s modern life-giving, lifesaving medical treatments is a shiny fiber that runs through the strong fabric of the American Dream.

By Matt Sandgren | Monday, January 27, 2020

Data greases the wheels of the digital economy fueling new innovations in health care, science, transportation and technology. Its uses are manifold — and growing — to the benefit of companies and consumers alike.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Monday, September 9, 2019

Long ago, on the eve of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made a heartfelt plea to the American people: Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory … will yet swell … when again touched … by the better angels of our nature. In a nation as divided as ours, how can we answer Lincoln’s call?

By Orrin G. Hatch and Ben McAdams | Saturday, July 13, 2019

America remains polarized on many issues, but both sides agree on one thing: Our high-skilled immigration system is broken. The good news? Congress is taking important steps to fix it.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A dangerous idea is gaining traction in American politics, one that could have significant implications for religious liberty: court-packing. Since 1869, we have had only nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Tuesday, September 11, 2018

For far too many of us, tolerance seems to be a mere tool of convenience — expedient only insofar as it protects the people and principles we already agree with. Beyond that, it becomes a nuisance. That’s why, on both the left and the right, we are quick to demand tolerance but loath to extend it to others.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Friday, July 27, 2018

America’s culture war has reached a tipping point. While our politics have always been divisive, an underlying commitment to civility has usually held citizens on both sides together. As the partisan divide deepens, it becomes clear that we need to take meaningful steps toward de-escalation. Something must change before anger succumbs to violence.

By Orrin G. Hatch | Friday, May 18, 2018

I am more than the sum of my parts, and so is every American. Yet increasingly we sort each other into groups, making sweeping assumptions based on binary labels: Democrat or Republican, black or white, male or female. These labels are mere pixels in the picture of an individual’s identity; they are not the picture itself. 

By Orrin G. Hatch | Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Civility is the indispensable political norm. It is the public virtue that has greased the wheels of our democracy since its inception. Although nowhere mandated in our Constitution, civility is no less essential to the proper functioning of our government than any amendment, court ruling or act of Congress. Without it, little separates us from the cruelty and chaos of rule by force.