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Bill Orton

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Bill Orton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byHoward Nielson
Succeeded byChris Cannon
Personal details
Born(1948-09-22)September 22, 1948
North Ogden, Utah, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2009(2009-04-18) (aged 60)
Juab County, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBrigham Young University, Utah (BA, JD)

William Orton (September 22, 1948 – April 18, 2009) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah from 1991 to 1997.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in North Ogden, Utah, Orton was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Brigham Young University, from which he earned his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor. Orton was hired in 1966, at age 16, by the Internal Revenue Service, and continued his employment there throughout high school, college and law school. While in law school, Orton also served as president of his law school fraternity and was a founder and charter member of the American Inns of Court, a law school organization with chapters throughout the country.[1] In 1979, he set up a private law practice.

Politics

In 1990, Orton ran for the open 3rd District seat, his first bid for public office. He defeated Republican Karl Snow by 22 points, a major upset considering that the 3rd, then as now, was reckoned as strongly Republican. He was re-elected in 1992 and 1994. While in the House, Orton served at various times on the Banking, Budget, Small Business, and Foreign Affairs Committees. Orton was also a founder and member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of United States Congressional Representatives from the Democratic Party who identify themselves as moderates and conservatives.[2]

Orton was one of the few bright spots for the Democrats when the Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections. In a year when many districts far less Republican than Orton's reverted to form (including the Salt Lake City-based 2nd District, traditionally the most Democratic district in the state), Orton won by just over 19 points. The 1994 election left Orton as the only Democrat representing Utah at the federal level.

In the spring of 1996, as he was preparing for his re-election that year, Orton was injured in an accident. As he was walking down a tunnel to make a House vote, he was struck from behind by a federal employee who was running behind him.[3]

In 1996, Orton was narrowly defeated by Republican businessman Chris Cannon during his bid for a fourth term. He left Congress as his third term expired in January 1997, and no Democrat would be elected to Congress from Utah again until Jim Matheson's victory in 2000. The Democrats have not seriously contested the 3rd District since then; indeed, no Democrat has crossed the 40 percent mark since Orton's defeat, proving just how Republican this district was. Utah and national political pundits blame Orton's loss on the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument without local input.[4][5] [6]

After politics

Following his departure from Congress, Orton resumed the practice of law and was a member of the legal counsel of the plaintiff in Idaho Potato Growers v. Rubin, a case Clinton v. City of New York in which the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was ruled unconstitutional. While serving in congress, Orton argued on the floor of the US House of Representatives that, as a "budget hawk", he was in favor of the President having the line item veto. However, the version that the Republican-controlled Congress brought up for a vote was written in an unconstitutional manner. The Supreme Court confirmed Orton's assertions. Congressional historians believe Orton to be the only person in the history of the United States to argue and vote against a piece of legislation in Congress, have it signed into law, then successfully argue to have it overturned by the US Supreme Court.[7]

Following his work on Clinton v. City of New York, Orton joined Advantage Associates, a consulting firm made up of former members of congress. In 2000, Orton unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Michael Leavitt for the governorship.

Death

Orton died in an ATV accident on April 18, 2009, at Little Sahara Recreation Area in Juab County, Utah.[8] Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. ordered flags flown at half-staff on April 24, the day of Orton's funeral.[9] The U.S. House of Representatives honored Orton with a moment of silence three days after his death with House members and congressional leaders eulogizing him on the House floor.[2]

References

  1. ^ "LONG WEEKS ARE THE NORM FOR ORTON, A WORKAHOLIC". Deseret News. October 7, 1992.
  2. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Orton for governor? Only with the right 'backing'",Deseret News, September 3, 1999.
  4. ^ Davidson, Lee (November 13, 1996). "Utah's Congressional Delegation in Position to Influence Clinton". Deseret News. Retrieved June 4, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Bernick Jr., Bob. (September 30, 1996). "Orton, Utah are Expendable in Clinton's Political Game Plan". Deseret News. Retrieved June 4, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Davidson, Lee (September 25, 1996). "Orton says He's Alive and Well". Deseret News. Retrieved June 4, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "The Deseret News – Google News Archive Search". Google News.
  8. ^ Winslow, Ben (April 19, 2009). "Bill Orton dies in accident". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  9. ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (April 25, 2009). "Orton remembered as 'noble public servant'". Deseret News. p. A5. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 3rd congressional district
1991–1997 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
James Bradley
 Democratic nominee for Governor of Utah
2000 		Succeeded by
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