(DES MOINES) Six Iowa state senators whose legislative districts are part of U.S. Representative Tom Latham’s Congressional district have asked him to help “reopen the government and prevent a government default.”
In Iowa, Republicans control the Governor’s office and the Iowa House while Democrats control the Iowa Senate. In their letter to Representative Latham, the senators argue that Iowa’s approach to divided government is a model that Washington, D.C., should adopt:
“Despite our differences, we all worked together to cut taxes, invest in education, health care and jobs, AND balance the state budget. We did not threaten to bust the state’s economy in order to get our way.”
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Text of letter to Representative Latham
| 10/10/2013 The Honorable Tom Latham Fax: (202) 225-3301 Dear Representative Latham, As state senators whose legislative districts are included in your Congressional district, every Iowan we represent at the Iowa Statehouse is also represented by you in Washington, D.C. We are writing to urge you to stand up and tell your friend, House Speaker John Boehner, to allow a clean vote to reopen the government and prevent a government default. Political games by you and rest of the House Republicans have already cost Iowans money and jobs. If you force the United States to default for the first time ever, you will permanently harm our economy. Bloomberg News warns of a “financial apocalypse” that would “dwarf” the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. At least one major U.S. bank is already stuffing extra cash into ATMs in anticipation of a run on the banks. In Iowa, we have a Republican Governor, a Republican House, and a Democratic Senate. Despite our differences, we all worked together to cut taxes, invest in education, health care and jobs, AND balance the state budget. We did not threaten to bust the state’s economy in order to get our way. No elected official should ever threaten our country with an economic shutdown to get their way. That’s especially true when your professed goal is overturning a law approved by Congress, upheld by the Supreme Court and then validated yet again by a national election. On August 27, you told residents of Atlantic that "I'm certainly not for any kind of government shutdown for any reason.” Congressman Latham, don’t let this mess get any worse. Please issue a public statement as soon as possible telling Iowans you support a clean vote to reopen the government and pay the bills Congress has already approved. Preventing another economic crisis—especially one that can be avoided—does not mean you are giving in to President Obama and Democrats. It means you are simply doing your job. Sincerely, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, Council Bluffs Senator Dennis Black, Newton Senator Dick Dearden, Des Moines Senator Jack Hatch, Des Moines Senator Matt McCoy, Des Moines Senator Janet Petersen, Des Moines |