Are We Safe From Congress? Senator Orrin Hatch and the Politics of Vitamins
Senatorial Snake Oil
The primary sponsor of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in Congress and chief protector of the vitamin/nutraceutical industry is Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. Utah manufactures 25% of vitamins/nutraceutricals produced in the United States. It is the relationship between Senator Hatch and his family and the nutraceutical industry that is illustrative what is wrong with politics in the post Citizens United era: Big Money.
The New York Times has reported on Senator Hatch and his family’s close ties with the vitamin/nutraceutical industry.
“Mr. Hatch has been rewarded with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, political loyalty and corporate sponsorship of his favorite causes back home.
His family and friends have benefited, too, from links to the supplement industry. His son, Scott Hatch, is a longtime industry lobbyist in Washington, as are at least five of the senator’s former aides.
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