Sen. Orrin Hatch: Obama sending mixed messages

WASHINGTON — When it comes to improving the U.S. economy, President Barack Obama's proposals don't seem to be helping, according to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who attended a Senate Republicans luncheon with Obama on Tuesday.

Hatch highlighted the need to cut spending and end federal bailouts to reduce the federal budget deficit.

"Unfortunately, President Obama continues to propose record spending that threatens to bankrupt the country and mortgage not only our children's future, but also our grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's," Hatch said in a news release Tuesday, adding that he appreciates the president's willingness to meet with Republicans.

"How does the president plan on getting that under control?" Hatch asked in an interview with the Deseret News. "It threatens the nation's ability to recover."

Republicans hold 41 seats in the 100-seat Senate.

"There was no shortage of issues to discuss — deficit spending, government expansion, job creation, controlling our borders — that I would welcome working with the president to solve," Hatch said in the news release.

"He said he would be willing to meet us halfway on a number of issues," Hatch told the Deseret News.

In a statement issued by the White House, Obama called the meeting with the Senate Republican Conference a good exchange and asked for Republicans' cooperation on immigration reform and energy legislation, as well as creating jobs, making loans to small businesses and confirming Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

Hatch said he hopes Obama wants to work in a bipartisan fashion.

Obama's statement said there were continued differences on some of these issues, "but, the president believes that direct dialogue is better than posturing, and he was pleased to have the opportunity to share views with the conference."

This story was reported from Salt Lake City.

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