Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: " If Congressman Chaffetz decides to run for the U.S. Senate, he will have the full support of the Club for Growth PAC and our 55,000 members.”

Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT-3) is strongly considering challenging Utah Senator Orrin Hatch in next year’s Republican primary. Today, the Club for Growth PAC urged Congressman Chaffetz to go for it.

“Run, Jason, Run!” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Congressman Chaffetz has been a pro-growth star since entering the House, and he’s exactly the type of leader we need in the United States Senate. Senator Hatch deserves recognition for his lengthy service to our country, and his leadership on some important issues. However, Senator Hatch has frequently supported policies that have grown government, burdened our economy, and taken America in the wrong direction. Fiscal conservatives can do better. If Congressman Chaffetz decides to run for the U.S. Senate, he will have the full support of the Club for Growth PAC and our 55,000 members.”

Senator Hatch has a lower lifetime score on the Club for Growth’s Scorecard (74%) than former Utah Senator Robert Bennett (77%), who was opposed by the Club for Growth PAC in 2010.

Senator Hatch’s record includes:
• Voted YES on TARP (RCV #213, 2008)
• Voted YES to increase the debt limit at least five times (RCV #354, 2007; RCV #54, 2006; RCV #213, 2004; RCV #202, 2003; RCV #148, 2002)
• Voted YES to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (RCV #157, 2008)
• Voted YES on SCHIP (RCV #353, 2007) • Voted NO on defunding the Bridge to Nowhere (RCV #262, 2005), and supported billions of dollars in other wasteful earmark spending.
• Voted YES on the Medicare drug benefit (RCV #459, 2003)
• Voted YES on No Child Left Behind (RCV #371, 2001)

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