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By Paul Carter
Senator Hatch Teams with Senator Clinton to Help Youth
WASHINGTON, DC -- Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah has sought
out, and received, the support of Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton, the junior Senator from New York.
This Tuesday, May 8th, the two Senators will act as co-sponsors of a
gala, $1,000 per plate fund raising event on behalf of the U.S. Dream
Academy. The charity is headed by the Reverend Wintley Phipps and is
a faith-based organization which benefits children with a parent in
prison. The Tuesday night event is named "Power of a Dream" and will
be presented by the two Senators, gospel singer CeCe Winans, and
others. It will be held at the J.W. Marriott in Washington D.C.
According to Reverend Phipps, over two-thirds of juveniles caught up
in the criminal justice system have a parent or other family member
who has served time in prison. Teaching these young people values and
providing mentors or visible role models for them is critical to the
effort of reducing juvenile crime.
Referring to the Reverend Phipps, who is a friend of both Hatch and
Clinton, Senator Hatch said, "He's helping these kids fight off the
ravages of crime and drugs. If we can get this up and running even
more, we can bring down crime dramatically in this country. A lot of
these kids turn to crime because they don't have anything better."
When Senator Hatch asked, "How can I help you?" of the Reverend
Phipps, the Reverend replied, "Well, we would like to expand our
programs but we don't have enough money."
And that set in motion the Utah Senator, a member of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who has since championed the cause
of the organization headed by the Seventh-Day Adventist Reverend
Phipps.
Senator Hatch has since raised $1.6 million for the U.S. Dream
Academy, asking for support in the way of funding grants from the
Justice Department, Health and Human Services and the Department of
Labor, among other contributors. The Labor Department alone provided
a grant of $645,000.
And now, Senator Hatch has called on Senator Hillary Clinton to
become involved in supporting the cause, with the co-sponsorship of
"Power of a Dream."
"She was delighted to help," states Senator Hatch. Replying to
questions about the seemingly unusual combination of political
objectives that the two Senators represent, Hatch continues, "I was a
little tired of the way she was being treated by some of the press
and some of my colleagues and I just wanted to extend a hand of
friendship. I don't agree with her philosophy, but when she's right
I'll support her -- and she supports me."
Source:
Hatch Forms Yet Another Odd Alliance on the Hill -- With HRC
Salt Lake Tribune 5May01 T2
By Greg Burton: Salt Lake Tribune
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