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Show A-14 The Park Record Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, December 15-18, 2018 Hatch bids Senate farewell, mourns ‘friendship’ on floor Seven-term Utah legislator to step down next month BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – Outgoing U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah bemoaned the disappearance of political civility, kinship and cross-party collaboration during a farewell speech Wednesday where he called the Senate a legislative body in “crisis.” Hatch, 84, will step down next month as the longest-serving Republican senator in history after serving 42 years. After helping pass a sweeping overhaul of the tax code and persuading President Donald Trump to downsize two sprawling national monuments in Utah, Hatch announced in January he wouldn’t seek an eighth term. Speaking on the Senate floor in Washington, Hatch said he felt sadness about the state of the U.S. Senate and longingly remembered when lawmakers from both political parties “worked constructively” together for the “good of the country.’ He called for greater unity. “The Senate I’ve described is not some fairly tale, but the reality we once knew,” said Hatch, who joined the Senate in 1977. “Things weren’t always as they are now. I was here when this body was at its best.” He added: “Our challenge is to rise above the din and di- visiveness of today’s politics. It is to tune out the noise and tune into reason. It is to choose a patience over impulse, and fact over feeling.” Hatch has long been a staunch conservative, but worked across the aisle with the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. He also authored landmark bipartisan legislation, increasing access to generic-drugs. “Teddy and I were a case study in contradictions. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat; I was a resolute Republican,” Hatch said. “But by choosing friendship over party loyalty, we were able to pass some of the most significant bipartisan achievements of modern times. ... Nine years after Teddy’s passing, it’s worth asking: Could a relationship like this even exist in today’s Senate? Or are we too busy attacking each other to even consider friendship with the other side?” Hatch has also clashed with opponents in recent years. During a tax-cut debate with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio last year, Hatch said he was tired of the Democrat’s “bull crap.” Earlier this year, Hatch used an expletive during a speech to describe supporters of former President Barack Obama’s health care law, though he later apologized. Hatch also became an ally of President Trump, who has repeatedly fought with Democrats. Hatch used his role as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee to get a major rewrite of the U.S. tax codes to the president’s desk while Trump helped Hatch downsize the monuments and get a Utah man freed from a Venezuelan prison. The theme of Hatch’s speech dovetails with the goal of using a future library and think tank named after him in Utah to lead a movement toward bipartisanship and civility in politics. Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who won the election to fill Hatch’s seat, highlighted Hatch’s call for “mutual respect, pluralism, dignity, comity and unity” in a Tweet where he said Hatch’s call for greatness is “characteristic of this man of vision.” Hatch said of all the legislation he worked on, he’s most proud of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed by Congress in 1993 to protect people whose religious observances come in conflict with government laws or agency rules. He called on the Senate to find ways to protect people’s right to practice their faith while also shielding LGBTQ people from discrimination. “We must honor the rights both of believers and LGBTQ individuals,” Hatch said. “We must, in short, find a path forward that promotes fairness for all.” After his speech, Senate colleagues took turns giving quick tributes to Hatch. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah called him “a towering political figure” who made “an indelible mark on our state, on the United States Senate and on this nation.” very much and we are devastated that we will not have one last phone call, one last vacation, one last Christmas, one last family party, one last anything with her, not even a goodbye,” said cousin Tracy Maxfield, reading a statement. “It is despicable that Kevin Billings has the privilege to have one last anything.” Billings, 64, killed Robinson, 52, on Aug. 9 in West Valley City, authorities say. Billings torched her truck and started a fire on his neighbor’s deck that spread to their home and destroyed it, killing six dogs and two cats, police say. Afterward, Billings said Robinson “got what she deserved,” according to police jail documents. Billings used a walker as he came into court, sporting a white beard. He didn’t talk during the hearing. Numerous members of his family sat in the courtroom, but they declined comment after the hearing. Billings has not yet pleaded to charges that include arson and aggravated murder, which could bring the death penalty. His attorney, Nick Falcone, asked Skanchy to set bail at $500,000 so that Billings could deal with his health issues at home and see his close-knit Mormon family that includes seven children and 11 grandchildren. He noted that this is Billings’ first time in jail and said he wouldn’t be a flight risk because of his ailing health. Court records show Billings had a history of code enforcement charges dating back decades. After several months of prodding by the city, he pleaded guilty in 1992 to misdemeanor weed-control and bulky waste-accumulation charges and agreed to clean up his house. Five years later, a judge signed an order allowing the city to clean up waste they said was obstructing the view of the street. Robinson was an unarmed, civilian worker who typically dealt with complaints about unkempt yards or abandoned cars, West Valley City officials said. Code enforcement officers are trained to leave and call police if people get hostile. Falcone said outside court that his client feels remorse about what happened. “He has been very upset about these events that have occurred,” Falcone said. Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Chou Chou Collins countered that Billings’ health problems didn’t stop him from shooting Robinson from close range or carefully planning the events. “This woman was just doing her job,” Collins said. “And her family never gets to see her again.” In explaining his decision, Skanchy said he was concerned that Billings could hurt himself and was struck by his abhorrent actions on Aug. 9. Man accused of killing city worker to stay in jail Judge concerned suspect could harm himself BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah man accused of fatally shooting a city code enforcement officer after what he considered years of harassment over laws requiring cleanup of trash and weeds outside his home will stay behind bars after a judge on Tuesday refused to lift a no-bail order. Judge Randall Skanchy made his ruling during a hearing in Salt Lake City where a representative for victim Jill Robinson’s family implored him to keep Kevin Wayne Billings locked up so he can’t hurt anyone else or himself. “We all love Jill so very, CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE CrossPoint Presbyterian Crosspoint Presbyterian Church Church 5:00 PM 4:30 PM Christian Center Park City DoubleTree Hotel (The of Yarrow) 1283 Deer Valley Drive Park Avenue Advent at Crosspoint will culminate in a night of singing and Advent at Crosspoint will culminate in a night of singing, worship and celebrationat at on Christmas Eve. This Christmas Eve celebration 4:305:00 PM PM on Christmas Eve. 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