Submitted by Tom on Sat, 2010-02-20 10:35
Tom Latham's government-paid thugs continue to try to intimidate newspaper editors not to publish letters-to-the-editor that are critical of their boss. I've had the Ames Tribune hold up such letters, even after the statements on Latham's votes or his campaign contributions were fully referenced. Eric Fralick recently had a LTE published in the Register, and then Latham's office gave one of their editors a hard time, claiming that Fralick had his facts wrong.
Congressman Latham's office claims your letter today is inaccurate in the 1st paragraph regarding funding for 7 district projects. You said in your e-mail to us you could document this. Can you do that? Otherwise, Latham is sending us a letter saying yours is inaccurate. Thanks.
Rox A. Laird
Editorial writer
The Des Moines Register
Check below to see Fralick's response, fully documenting how Latham took credit for NINE projects he fought against.
As I said in the phone call, the first paragraph of the Register letter was based on a letter written after the stimulus bill, whose formal title is the Omnibus Appropriations Act, passed last year. Here is the relevant portion of the original letter, published in the Ames Tribune March 19, 2009, with the documentation in the text. I've included the portion referring to King because it's too good to leave out:
In press releases dated February 27 http://www.tomlatham.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=112923 and March 2, http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=150716 Latham announced he’d inserted funding provisions in H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, for an Iowa wind energy project and for programs at six Iowa community colleges including Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). In a release dated March 13 http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/03/13/news/latest_news/6f899672bdffd21d862575780060662b.txt King boasted of securing funding in the same bill for the widening of U.S. Highway 20. What neither of them told Iowa voters was that they both had voted against the Omnibus bill on February 25th. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/house/1/votes/86/ ;also http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll086.xml King issued another press release on March 14 http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/03/13/news/latest_news/6f899672bdffd21d862575780060662b.txt blasting both the bill and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which included this memorable sentence: “Our country tried massive government spending to solve economic problems in the 1930’s, and today we call the result the Great Depression.” The government spending that alleviated the Depression began, of course, four years after its onset; it was cure, not cause.
I also have an article from the Cresco Times-Plain Dealer of Mar. 17, 09, on the Wapsi Bike Trail, which includes this quote: “This is a great recreational project that showcases some of the most beautiful areas of our state,” Congressman Latham said. “It’ll add a wonderful new option for Iowans, as well as visitors to our state, who are looking for recreational opportunities.” If that's not taking credit, I don't know what is. The bill referred to in the article is the stimulus bill.
file:///Latham%20hypocrisy%20watch/$570,000%20secured%20for%20Wapsi%20trail%20-%20Cresco,%20IA%20-%20Cresco%20Times-Plain%20Dealer.webarchive
In addition, I have an article from the political blog Bleeding Heartland which extensively details the whole sorry story. After rereading this and adding everything together, I find that the Latham people are RIGHT, there is an error: Latham didn't vote against seven projects in his district, he voted against NINE, six community college projects, a wind energy project, a newborn monitoring initiative and the bike trail. Ironically, my memory was nine projects; I rechecked the original letter, but not all the sources. (In my defense, the last two probably came to light after the original letter was written.)
file:///Latham%20hypocrisy%20watch/Bleeding%20Heartland::%20Republican%20hypocrisy%20watch:%20Tom%20Latham%20edition.webarchive
If there's anything else you'd like, please let me know. The press releases coupled with the record of the vote should be enough on their own (and I'll bet there are others). Again, if statements like "Iowa Congressman Tom Latham continued his steadfast support of renewable energy by securing $1.4 million in federal funds for an Iowa based revolutionary wind energy production plant project that explores new methods of storing wind energy. 'Projects like these will ensure that Iowa continues to lead the way in renewable energy,' Congressman Latham said. 'I’m proud to support innovative initiatives that have the potential to spark economic activity, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our national security,” aren't "taking credit," I don't know what is. The documentation in the other two articles, especially Bleeding Heartland, adds depth and further references.
What I'd like to see is a statement from Latham saying "I supported these projects, but voted against them, so I'm afraid I can't take any credit for them." I'll expect that sometime after I see that he, and his Republican colleagues in Congress, have actually voted for a Democratic bill.
The saddest part to me is that these are all fine projects that fully deserve funding. This is his job; this is what he should be doing. Full credit to him for writing them into the stimulus bill; its passage provides badly needed services and jobs to Iowa. He just should have voted for them. The rules of the playground say you can't take credit for what you don't do.