Latham: Economy, Jobs the Focus

1/14/12 Omaha World Herald 

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Jobs and the economy will be the focus when the U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes next week, Rep. Tom Latham said Friday.

The Republican who represents Iowa's 4th District added that it will be a difficult session because of the looming presidential election.

"Normally the first session is more policy driven and the second is politically driven, but I don't know how we can be more political than last year," he said.

Latham stopped in Council Bluffs on Friday after spending the week traveling throughout the newly formed district that now includes southwest Iowa.

Latham is challenging Rep. Leonard Boswell, the Democrat currently representing the 3rd District. Redistricting put Latham into Republican Rep. Steve King's district, so Latham moved into the 3rd District to challenge Boswell.

Latham said fundraising for his campaign has been "beyond what I could have dreamt of."

When financial disclosures are released at month's end, Latham will have, he said, the most money almost one year out from the election of any congressional race in Iowa history.

Latham said he sees the November election as a chance for Republicans to retain control of the House and take the presidency. As for the prospects for Republicans to take the majority in the Senate, he said it is not a matter of if, but by how much. Redistricting, he added, should "solidify" the Republican majority in the U.S. House.

Latham said his focus this session will be on strengthening the economy. One piece of legislation he will propose as the session gets under way would cut pay and operating funding for lawmakers if Congress fails to enact a federal budget.

"It's outrageous that we have $3.8 trillion of spending per year and $15 trillion in debt, but last year for the second year in a row — and this year will be the third — there will not be a budget," he said. "How do you get control of spending if there is no framework?"

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 calls for a joint budget resolution from both houses of Congress by April 15 each year, but Latham said there are no consequences if there is no resolution.

"I say let's have some consequences," he said. "If there is no budget by May 15 we would cut funding for Congress and their staffs."

On another topic, he said a decision to move forward on the Keystone XL pipeline would be a boon to the economy.

"It is a natural job creator; the day it is OK'd, hiring will start," said Latham, who said there will be "20,000 direct jobs and 110,000 supporting jobs."

By the end of February, President Barack Obama must decide the fate of the planned oil pipeline that would run through Nebraska and transport crude from Canada's oil sands to Texas refineries.

Latham said he is concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency's move to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Latham said that if new emission standards are enacted, two to three coal-fired plants in Iowa would close.

"It could make electricity more expensive and less reliable, which is exactly what we don't need now," he said.

While Congress gets back to work Tuesday, Latham said not to expect the session to heat up until after the president's State of the Union address on Jan. 24.