The two incumbent congressman who’re facing off in this year’s election had their fifth “debate” last night (Tuesday), and it was contentious. Republican Tom Latham of Clive is seeking a ninth term in congress. Democrat Leonard Boswell of Des Moines is running for an eighth term. One tense exchange started with Latham saying: “It was my bill, Congressman Boswell.” Boswell replied: “I know.” Latham then said to Boswell: “You voted for it, you said…” At this point Boswell interjected: “Oh, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.” Latham asked: “Can I be allowed to answer the question, if I may?” Boswell replied: “Well, I don’t want to interrupt you,” to which Latham said: “Well, you have.”

The debate was broadcast live last night (Tuesday) on WHO Radio and the moderator began by asking the candidates if they regret the tone of the campaign. Latham answered first. “Congressman Boswell starting running immediately very, very negative, personal ads against me, so you have to respond,” Latham said. “What I regret is the fact that we can’t talk about issues, only about personal attacks and I don’t think that’s constructive.” Boswell said he had to fire after being attacked by outside groups that support Latham.

“Last Christmas over a million dollars was spent — negative — against me before I did anything,” Boswell said. “…Starting in March, before we ever got started, it was getting up to maybe $2 million and so I thought: ‘Well, I have no choice. I’m going to have to fight back.'” About halfway through the debate, the two quarreled about tax policy. Latham favors extending the tax cuts passed during George W. Bush’s presidency to all wage-earners. Boswell would vote to have Americans who earn 250-thousand dollars a year pay the higher tax rates of the 1990s when Bill Clinton was president.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Officials with the Cass County Democratic Party have announced Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Leonard Boswell will be campaigning in Atlantic next Tuesday, October 30th. Harkin and Boswell will meet with voters at the Cass County Democratic Party Election Headquarters at 511 Chestnut in Atlantic, starting at 10 AM.The public is invited to attend the program. Refreshments will be provided.

Congressman Boswell is running for re-election in Iowa’s new Third Congressional District which includes Cass County. Currently the Congressman who represents the Third District, Boswell is running against Tom Latham, who now represents Iowa’s Fourth District. Iowa lost a Congressional seat in the 2010 redistricting, setting up the campaign between the two incumbents. Latham is a nine-term Congressman while Boswell has been elected to eight terms. The race is one of the most closely watched Congressional races in the country.

Officials with PRIDE (the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise) based in Atlantic, have announced that two legislative coffees have been scheduled to take place in Cass County, in preparation for the 2013 session of the Iowa Legislature. PRIDE President Kenner Baxter says “These coffees are opportunities to have face-to-face dialogue with our Iowa legislators.” It’s the first time the coffees have been held in the fall.

Baxter says reasons for the early coffees include redistricting, which has added a new legislator to our area in Senator Hubert Houser from Carson, and because they “Want to meet before the session begins to express what’s important to our citizens ahead of convening in January to be proactive.” She says  “Our legislators always appreciate coming to Cass County because we have such terrific attendance. People here really want to have input into our state government, so they participate when the legislators make time to come to our towns.”

Legislative coffees will also be held while the legislature is in session. The schedule for those events will be released in December or January. The first Fall coffee is set for Saturday, October 27th, at the Cass County Museum in Griswold, beginning at 10 a.m. Baxter says Representative Jack Drake and Senator Hubert Houser have committed to attending. Representative Clel Baudler has been invited. The second coffee will be on Saturday, November 17th, at the Marne Community Center, beginning at 10 a.m. Senator Houser has tentatively agreed to be present. Representatives Drake and Baudler are invited, but as both have contested races, their presence depends on the outcome of the November 6th election.

P.R.I.D.E. is the economic development organization that works on behalf of the cities of Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, and Marne for Cass County development, plus numerous individual members and businesses in Southwest Iowa. For additional information, or to join P.R.I.D.E., please contact Kenner Baxter, President, at kennermc@metc.net, or Clarke Gerlock, vice-president, at 712-774-5476.