Republican Congressman Tom Latham last night delivered his first public speech in Iowa since voting for the deal that ended the federal government shutdown. Latham spoke for about six minutes at the Polk County Republican fundraiser in Des Moines.
“The fights that we have had, not pretty to watch, but do you think any American doesn’t know where the Republicans stand on the president’s health care bill?” Latham asked the crowd. “…They get it and it will certainly be driven into their heads by the next election.”
Latham was among a minority of Republicans in the U.S. House who joined with all the House Democrats to pass the deal that ended the government shutdown, prompting some Republicans, especially those aligned with the Tea Party, to suggest Latham should face a Republican primary challenge in 2014. Latham didn’t directly mention that last night either.
“I think we’re going to see the greatest opportunity for Republicans in this next cycle if, in fact, we pull together, we make sure we nominate candidates who can carry our message because you are going to see this health care bill only get worse and worse and worse,” Latham said.
AUDIO of Latham’s speech, 6:00
Latham was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994. He intends to seek reelection in 2016.