This is the place to be if you are interested in Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Visit this site to be posted on the latest concerning Tom Latham and Democratic events in the district. As this site develops, we will have more links to the 28 county parties in the district, as well as other sources of information.
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Did you know that Barack Obama won the 4th District by 8 pts. and carried 21 of the 4th's 28 counties?
Did you know that Senator Harkin carried all of the counties in his re-election?
Did you know that 12 of the district's 20 Iowa House members are Democrats, and 8 of the 10 state senators are Deomcrats?
4th District Campaign Trail
THE SECOND ATTACK FROM CULVER
Posted on 06-22-2010Another blow to Branstad in this second TV ad.
4th District Campaign Trail
THE AD WARS BEGIN! BRANSTAD'S COOKED BOOKS
Posted on 06-21-2010Watch Culver's great ad about Terry Brandstad's real record.
Latham Watch
LATHAM VOTES AGAINST THE UNEMPLOYED
Posted on 07-23-2010It is really no surprise, but Rep. Latham voted against the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010. He can't say with a straight face that it was out of concern for the deficit, because he helped George Bush every step of the way in running up the huge debts we are saddled with today. Latham is still OK with deficit spending if it is to give tax breaks to the wealthy. But people who can't find work? Forget about it!
NO WONDER HE SIDES WITH WALL STREET!
Posted on 07-03-2010It turns out that Tom Latham is the wealthiest of Iowa's congressional delegation, and he has millions in the bank holding company Green Circle Investments, Inc. No wonder Latham is so opposed to Wall Street reform! It's interesting that Green Circle had $2.4 million in TARP bailout money, the program that Latham has vehemently opposed. Our congressman must be the biggest hypocrite in the House.
LATHAM SUPPORTS CORPORATIONS OVER IOWANS
Posted on 07-01-2010I suppose it is no surprise that our congressman would support big corporations over the people and allow the corporations to anonymously savage political candidates. Latham voted no on the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE ) Act.
MASKE VS. LATHAM ON McCHRYSTAL OUSTER
Posted on 06-24-2010Amost every politician saw President Obama making the right call on McChrystal, but Latham can't quite support it:
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames:
"General McChrystal has earned the gratitude of every American with his distinguished service. ... However, I respect President Obama's constitutional authority as our commander in chief to choose the men and women he thinks are best suited to carry out his strategy in Afghanistan. It is unfortunate that the replacement of General McChrystal comes at a time of critical importance in the counterinsurgency strategy he was carrying out under the president's orders."
Bill Maske, in contrast, was spot on:
Bill Maske, D-Truro, 4th District:
"General McChrystal's comments and behavior were insubordinate and undignified. If he had problems with the White House, he should have shown the class and courage to take these issues up directly with the president. President Obama's decision to fire General McChrystal is entirely justifiable and necessary. General Petraeus will provide a smooth and consistent transition in leadership."
LATHAM VOTES AGAINST SMALL BUSINESS
Posted on 06-21-2010He talks like he is pro-small business, but that's only when it favors his pet contributors. As expected, when the small businessperson needs Latham, he votes no, along with his Republican pals. Thank goodness they are in the minority.
No vote on Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.
DOES LATHAM AGREE WITH THE BIGOT KING?
Posted on 06-19-2010Bill Maske had a post on the Daily Kos asking if Tom Latham agrees with Steve King's accusation that President Obama is a racist. Read Bill's statement and some of the other comments to Bill's post.
A VOTE AGAINST DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Posted on 06-02-2010National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Passed (229-186, 17 Not Voting)
The House passed this $760 billion bill authorizing defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate could take up its version of the bill sometime during the summer.
Rep. Tom Latham voted NO
REP FOR IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY VOTES AGAINST SCIENCE
Posted on 06-02-2010America COMPETES Reauthorization Act - Vote Passed (262-150, 20 Not Voting)
This $85.6 billion bill would authorize a variety of science research programs over the next five years. The timetable for Senate action is unclear.
Rep. Tom Latham voted NO.
HOMOPHOBE VOTES AGAINST DADT REPEAL
Posted on 06-02-2010Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment; National Defense Authorization Act, FY2011 - Vote Agreed to (234-194, 10 Not Voting)
During the defense authorization bill debate, the House adopted this amendment that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. The draft of the Senate version of the authorization bill contains a similar provision.
Rep. Tom Latham voted NO
LATHAM VOTES FOR OUTSOURCING
Posted on 06-01-2010In an incredible vote, our representaive voted to protect corporations that send our jobs overseas! Last Friday, the House passed the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, which will strip companies of tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas. Tom Latham voted against the act and for exporting jobs during a recession.
THE "NO" VOTES KEEP ROLLING IN
Posted on 05-10-2010Home Star Energy Retrofit Act - Vote Passed (246-161, 23 Not Voting)
The House passed this measure that would authorize a $6.6 billion rebate program for energy-efficient home renovations for households with incomes up to $250,000. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Rep. Tom Latham voted NO
AN INCREDIBLE NO VOTE FROM "WHO-COULD-CARE-LESS" LATHAM
Posted on 04-20-2010Continuing Extension Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (289-112, 29 Not Voting)
On Thursday, the House passed this legislation that would extend for two months federal unemployment benefits, flood insurance programs, increased payment rates to Medicare providers and COBRA health care premium assistance. It was then sent to the President, who signed it into law later that night.
Rep. Tom Latham voted NO.
LATHAM TRIED TO STOP YOUR TAX CUT
Posted on 04-15-2010DCCC: Rep. Latham could have cost Iowa families $1,115 in tax cuts
A report released this week from the Citizens for Tax Justice shows that if Representative Tom Latham had his way, Iowa families would receive $1,115 less in tax cuts. The major tax cuts enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Latham voted against, reduced federal income taxes for tax year 2009 for 98 percent of all working people.
LOBBYISTS DINE WITH LATHAM FOR DOLLARS
Posted on 04-13-2010Could Latham be any more obvious? That's My Congress has an interesting post on how interest-peddling Tom Latham sells himself to lobbyists and gives them the honor of dinner with him.
"Back in Washington D.C. after a two-week vacation, U.S. Representative Tom Latham is ready to get back to work – or his version of work, anyway. Latham’s version of work involves going to a dinner party where people give him money in exchange for the privilege of sharing his company for an hour or so."
IT'S LATHAM WHO IS NOT LISTENING
Posted on 03-31-2010Carolyn Bolinger in the Ames Tribune makes a good point about Latham's empty rhetoric after losing his battle to stop health care reform:
Republican Iowa Rep. Tom Latham voted “NO” because “Washington has no interest in listening to the American people.” Who voted on Nov. 4, 2008?
MORE "NO" VOTES FROM LAPDOG LATHAM
Posted on 03-30-2010Following his party leadership on every vote, Latham voted against the:
Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act, H.R. 4849, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, extend the Build America Bonds program, and provide other infrastructure job creation tax incentives.
He also voted against H.R. 4899, Making Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.
Also, a no vote on H.R. 1586, to Modernize the Air Traffic Control System, improve the safety, reliability, and availability of transportation by air in the United States, provide for modernization of the air traffic control system, and reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration
WHY HE VOTES NO: LATHAM TAKES MONEY FROM INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Posted on 03-23-2010From the DCCC: Representative Tom Latham Puts Big Health Insurance Companies Before Affordable Health Care for Americans
Today, the House of Representatives took historic action by passing health insurance reform. But rather than vote to help middle class families, seniors, and small businesses finally afford coverage while reducing the deficit by more than a trillion dollars over 20 years, Representative Tom Latham sided with the big health insurance companies instead.
WHO DOES LATHAM STAND FOR?
Posted on 03-21-2010Steve Vince asks Latham if he stands for us or the insurance companies in a LTE in the Ames Tribune:
I want every congressional representative elected by “We the people” to state unequivocally with their vote whether they stand for us or insurance industry corporate special interests.
I want Tom Latham, Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley to spend our money on us with the same enthusiasm they spend it on themselves. I want all Americans to have access to the same health care options Tom Latham, Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley have, including the public one.
A MESSAGE FROM DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BILL MASKE
Posted on 03-19-2010WILL THE REAL TOM LATHAM PLEASE STAND UP?
This morning, I received an e-mail for immediate release from Tom Latham's Office. As I read through this narrative entitled “Latham Restores the Concept of - We the People - to Form New Agenda For America’s Future,” I wondered what he has been doing all these years. This guy has been in Washington for the past 16 years, and he is now pretending to have discovered the concept of "We the People?"
LATHAM WON'T VOTE TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT
Posted on 03-19-2010The DCCC asks a rhetorical question: Will Representative Tom Latham Vote to Reduce the Deficit?
Representative Tom Latham will soon have a chance to back up all of his tough talk about the need to reduce the deficit when the House votes on health insurance reform. Latham can either vote for health insurance reform, which will reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion over 20 years or he can continue protecting the status quo for big insurance companies instead.
Events
7th Annual Wingding Party
August 12th, 5 pmSurf Ballroom, Clear Lake
Funraiser for Bill Maske
August 14th, 6:30 pmAmes
Bob Creech Steak Fry
September 19th, 1 pmBouton, Dallas County
4th District Central Committee Meeting
November 13thMarshalltown