Latham talks Ag bill, campaign finance

The U-S House passed an agriculture appropriations bill Wednesday which included 40-million dollars for the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. Iowa Congressman Tom Latham says the facility is vital to agriculture both in Iowa and the nation.Today, the House is debating campaign finance reform. Latham, a republican from Alexander, says he doesn’t support the democratic proposal which seeks to ban the use of unregulated “soft money” in political campaigns. The republican proposal seeks to limit soft money donations. Latham says the democrat bill would “have a detrimental effect as far as the operations of our state political parties” and parts of it may be unconstitutional. He says the republican bill has full disclosure. Latham says full disclosure is very important, adding, “sunshine is the best disinfectant for any kind of problems in the political system.”