Democratic challenger Becky Greenwald says Republican Congressman Tom Latham ignored tax credits to benefit Iowa biofuels plants when he voted against the Wall Street bailout bill. "While Tom talks about wanting to invest in renewable fuels of the future, he has consistently voted against taking $18 billion in tax cuts that go to gas and oil companies and moving them over so that we can fund investment incentives for renewable fuels," Greenwald says. "…One of the provisions of that the rescue bill…included was the ability to provide a tax credit incentive for renewable fuels."
Latham defends his vote against the Wall Street bailout. "You have to listen to your constituents and that’s why you’re sent to Washington and I listened. I just didn’t pick up the line and change my mind from voting ‘no’ to voting ‘yes,’" Latham says. "I was consistent and I listened to folks."
The two candidates made their comments this morning (Friday) during a radio debate on K-G-L-O in Mason City, part of which was dedicated to questions from callers. One called asked the candidates for their position on immigration.
"The raids that happened in Marshalltown and in Postville were both in the fourth district and many people don’t even realize that Postville is in the fourth district because it’s been Congressman Braley who’s been taking the lead in asking tough questions…Tom has been in congress for 14 years, 12 of those years with the majority party," Greenwald said, "and so I ask him why hasn’t he done anything to address comprehensive immigration reform?"
Latham responded: "We’ve got the result right now of 20 years of lack of enforcement and they had these ‘show raids" like over in Postville, that is very hard on these individuals on a human scale. It’s devastating and what we also have to do to is have a system to verify the identities and the status of people in this country."
Another caller asked Latham if he supported the health care plan advanced by presidential candidate John McCain, a fellow Republican. Latham said he doesn’t support McCain’s proposal. Greenwald said if McCain’s plan is adopted might prompt businesses to drop health care benefits for up to 200-thousand Iowans. Latham is from Ames, in the southwest corner of the district. Greenwald is from Perry.