leonard boswell. it's not that i don't come to the floor vutch, i do speak for bills, but not during special orders. this is only the third time and it's with very good reason. i also want to note at the outset here too how many members of the iowa dell gation are here. include -- delegation are here, including a former member, jim. it's fantastic that you're here today, yim. i -- this is an honor for leonard. when you say special orders, mr. speaker, it applies in this case. i didn't know leonard boswell very well when i first got elected in 2006. i knew him but not very well. i was not an elected official before i got elected in 2006 but i had been involved in politics, in democratic party politics for a number of years helping other folks get elected. leonard and i, i think it's fair to say that when i got elected, probably and i think he would say this, i think he would admit this, that neither one of us had any idea what good friends we would become over the years. leonard has been helpful for me

leonard boswell, thank you. thanking for serving our country so well, so courageously, so ablely, so conscientiously and with so much decency. you have brought a greater degree of civility and understanding to this institution. it is better for your service. god speed. mr. latham: i'd like to recognize the gentleman from iowa, congressman king. mr. king: i thank the gentleman from iowa for leading this discussion and to have an opportunity to say some things about my friend, leonard boswell, across the floor. i reflect a number of things. in 1996 i aspired to run for the iowa senate. i got there just as leonard boswell was elected to come here to the united states congress. and i got to know a little bit about the iowa that he came from and traveled down in there a good number of times and little did i know a few years later i would arrive in this united states congress, some six years later, representing not congressman boswell, not lieutenant colonel boswell, and i stopped along a number of times and looked ac

the street and see what could happen in a person's life, and i haven't -- have no comparison of leonard boswell to eisenhower as well, but i was born in a tenant farmhouse and got to enjoy the american dream, and i don't have time to tell what you that means to me, but here is an example of the american dream. who would have ever thought abilene, kansas, somebody would end up as supreme allied commander and president of this great country, and did a wonderful job in both places. and so i started really falling in love with this concept where a youngster today could come out of that space museum where they go there by the thousands and go across the street and see there is an example of what can happen if you apply yourself and learn and prepare. who knows what might happen to you in your american dream. so i -- i'm just very impressed with this. i think it's terribly important that we continue to talk with the family, that you'll hear from the family today, to have a memorial to this great, great american. every now and then i'm still reminded of some of his wisdom. we probably all think about

leonard boswell. and was just pointed out, he was born in missouri's sixth congressional district which is the district i represent in harrison county. that's a fact that's probably dogged him throughout his career in iowa politics. we are very happy to have him actually born there. i got to know leonard through his hard work on matters related to aviation. and as has been pointed out today, leonard is a former military helicopter pilot but he later got his fixed rns and most recently been flying a comanche and zoneth. he's been a great a -- zenith. he's been a great advocate for aviation. i have worked on countless pieces of legislation to advance the interests of aviation. in the f.a.a. re-authorization which we just finished this year, parts of last year, there was important provision in it to allow residential defense agreement at general aviation airports. this provision would not have survived the process without leonard's efforts. he's been a leathered in opposing user fees which has been an is

>> democratic congressman leonard boswell is fighting for his job.s been reelected here six times, but this week his race against republican brad zaun is too close to call. >> my wife and i watched the news last night, and i think every ad was a political ad. >> who do you trust with your money, with your future? it's not brad zaun. >> leonard boswell: too wrong for too long. >> incredibly, bruce braley supports building a mosque at ground zero. >> how much relevance does all of that have to you? >> nothing. doesn't have a bit of relevance to me. >> we invited some of the folks in town to the legion hall. how many of you would say that you're angry about politics right now? [people murmuring] oh, that got a big yes. >> i'm sick and tired of people going to congress and washington, d.c., and making a living out of it while we starve to death. >> does it matter much to anyone in here whether the republicans or the democrats control the house, for example? doesn't matter? [people murmuring] >> if a republican says it, the democrats don't listen. if the

congressman leonard boswell reported the government staff with more than a half million dollars in bonuses, bonuses as big as $14,000 paid for by taxpayers to didn't have money to spare. iowan struggle while leonard vaux will spend our money on big bonuses the washington way. >> moderator: congressman latham tell us about that. latham: congressman boswell has given his death since the economic turn down, in fact in 2008 when people were struggling for jobs, losing their homes, congressman boswell apparently found it appropriate to spend $500,000 giving his staff.mrs.. and that really is what washington thinks. to think that maybe no one is going to notice or whatever but the fact is people are hurting here. they are trying to work very very hard to try to save their jobs or to find a good job and we are giving these kinds of taxpayer bonuses just a think is totally inappropriate. >> moderator: we will give congressman boswell a chance to respond. boswell: how disingenuous. we have small staff and they work very hard and we appreciate them. we have to have that to make a constituent service

[applause] leonard boswell. [applause] tom miller.n everybody please give lucas a big round of applause -- not just for the introduction, but for his service to our country. [applause] and it is great to see all of you. [applause] we've got a spectacular day. college football is in the air. [applause] we will try to get you home in time to see the hawkeyes and the cyclones. i know we've got kickoff later. [laughter] and although you guys got to see the nationals and chris cornell perform before i got here - [applause] -- i just want you to know that i could not appreciate them performing -- i could not appreciate more them performing for us. so please give them a big round of applause as well. [applause] now, iowa, this is our first stop on the road to our convention in charlotte, north carolina. [applause] but there was a reason for me to begin the journey right here in iowa, where it first began more than four years ago. [applause] because it was you, iowa, who kept us going when the pundits were writing us off. it was in your livin

leonard boswell lost.licans charlie ousted 6÷ incumbentsents larry lvania democrat mark critz and it,p chandler may lose. ran for the time a row against andybarr. each other. benay mayn. which may be bad news for mitch mcconnell. i'll explain in a minute.;z job you're mitch mcconnellr re-election. >> it'll be see how the minority handles politics heading into his oelection as you just eluded to. >> he's in a vice grip. he's got a p challenge he was worried about. >> here the thing about mitch cconnell. hes a smart political the way. >> i'm going to talk about 2016 minute. i don't know how much mitch mcconnell is able to be a good republiche right toeadyear? this r sure he gets all blame for blame to go know senator cornyn probably will get some of the blame. some of the bl:same indi things. i mean you can't rea himtÑ" mourdock said.oes in there and it happens. >> it's a difference between the the most challenge inside to mcconnell isro t you these disastrous candidates from his right. it doesn't seem there

leonard boswell lost. in new hampshire republicans frank quinta and charlie bas.ounding out the list of ousted incumben incumbents, larry kissell. pennsylvania democrat mark critz and it looks like ben chandler may lose. he ran for the 25,000th time in a row against andy barr. they run against each other. ben chandler always wins. and this time maybe andy barr won. which may be bad news for mitch mcconnell. i'll explain in a minute. sarah, ben chandler without a job is a dangerous potential if you're mitch mcconnell running for re-election. >> it'll be interesting to see how the minority leader handles politics heading into his own election as you just eluded to. >> he's in a vice grip. he's got a potential primary challenge he was worried about. >> here the thing about mitch mcconnell. he is a smart political operative. he will put together a great team there. he's already reached out to rand paul. i think he'll be fine. we're already talking about 2014, by the way. >> i'm going to talk about 2016 in a minute. i don't know how much mitch mcconnell is able to be a

congressman leonard boswell and mayor tom hannafair. you see the sun is coming out. love being back in iowa. now, we're starting here in counsel bluff but we're going to be heading east and i think i'm going to end at the state fair. michelle has told me i cannot have a fried twinkie. but i will be checking out the buttered cow and i understand this year there's a chocolate moose. so i'm going to have to take a look at that if i can. the last time i went to the state fair, secret service let me do the bumper cars, but they said this year i -- i wasn't president yet so i could do that, but not this time. now, before i get started, i just want to say a few words about the drought because it's had such an impact on this state and all across the country. you know, right now folks here in iowa and across the heartland, we're suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years. farmers, ranchers depend on a good crop season to pay the bills and put a roof over their heads, and i know things are tough right now. the best way to help these states is for the folks in congres

leonard boswell, a longtime democratic member from iowa lost his seat. that was a member to member race in redistricting. republican tom laid them to a bad seed from mr. boswell. and then roscoe bartlett, a longtime member from maryland, a republican, lost his seat and in new hampshire, frank guinta along with charles bass. and some republicans also lost their seats in new york. one democrat lost his seat in pennsylvania. and then another republican from texas also lost his seat. this is an ap story out of boston were the brahney/ryan campaign ended up last night. it says paul ryan will return to the house and resumed his role as budget committee chairman. we want to get your reaction to election 2012. our first call is from barbara in hudson, florida. you are calling on the independent line. for whom did you vote? caller: i voted for obama. at women's rights is a very big thing for me. also, medicare, been age 41 and disabled and also a rape victim -- a rape survivor, i should say. i believe obama has the best thing. i was going for mitt romney at first

instead, latham's opting to run against democrat leonard boswell in the new third district.s feature opponents from the same party. take a look at this list. four states, eight republicans going head to head to keep their charge. one of the most heated is the battle for illinois's 16th. adam kinzinger and don manzullo are both trying to paint themselves as the real conservative. kinzinger making not so subtle references to the fact that his opponent is more than 30 years his senior. >> instead of saying, what are we going to spend? i'm part of a new breed of congressman asking, what are we going to cut? >> on the democratic side, off dozen house members doing battle in five states and in a few of these, you're seeing members who were once good friends now trying to tear each other down. there's that race in new jersey's ninth district, bill pascrell and steve rothman were so close that they used to call each other billy and stevie. well, now the race has gotten bitter and personal. one union leader says it's like picking between parents in a twor divorce. and in pennsylvania

congressman leonard boswell. and mayor tom hannifan. the sun is coming out. in council bluffs but we're going to be heading east and i think i'm going to end at the state fa fair. michelle has told me i cannot have a fried twinkie. but i will be checking out the butter cow and i understand this year there's a chocolate mousse so i'm going to have to take a look at that if i can. the last time i went to the state fair, secret service let me do the bumper cars but they said this year, i wasn't president yet so i could do that, but not this time. now, before i get started, i just want to say a few words about the drought, because it's had such an impact on this state and all across the country. right now, folks here in iowa and across the heartland, we're suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years. farmers, ranchers, depend on a good crop season to pay the bills, and put a roof over their heads, and i know things are tough right now. the best way to help these states is for the folks in congress to pass a farm bill that not only helps farmers and ranch

modmac just a few moments ago, a coin flip was one by leonard boswell.m leighton will begin opening statements. >> thank you very much for the chance to here tonight. and for hosting this debate. i'm a small businessperson and a farmer, that is what my life experiences. if they had more opportunities than what their parents and grandparents had, everybody tonight, if we stay on the track that we are on, are we going to leave those children with more opportunities in the future. and i think that that really is the question today. the way that we are going to solve this problem is to finally pull together to work together and listen to each other and have real solutions. latham: we have a very challenging time, as you all well know, we have to come together. we are going after this, but we are trying to get people together and see if we can work things out. i think that we can do that. i'm in the middle, and that's where we have to be if we want to get things done. we can do this. we can. i look forward to this discussion tonight, and we look forward to co

[applause] congressman leonard boswell and your mayor.plause] did you see the sun is coming out? [applause] i love being back in iowa. we're starting here in council bluffs, but we will be heading east and i think i will and at the state fair. michelle has told me i cannot have a fried twinkie, but i will be checking out the butter cow and chocolate moose. -- mousse. i will have to take a look at that, if i can. the last time i went to the state fair, secret service let me do the bumper cars. i was not president yet, so i could do that. not this time. now, before i get started, i just want to say a few words about the drought because it has such an impact on this state and all across the country. right now, people in iowa and across the heartland are suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years. farmers, ranchers depend on a good crop season to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads. i know things are tough right now. the best way to help these states is for the folks in congress to pass a farm bill that not only helps far

[applause] congressman leonard boswell and [applause] did you see the sun is coming out?ve being back in iowa. we're starting here in council bluffs, but we will be heading east and i think i will and at the state fair. michelle has told me i cannot have a fried twinkie, but i will be checking out the butter cow and chocolate moose. -- mousse. that, if i can. the last time i went to the state fair, secret service let me do the bumper cars. i was not president yet, so i could do that. not this time. now, before i get started, i just want to say a few words about the drought because it has such an impact on this state and all across the country. right now, people in iowa and across the heartland are suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years. farmers, ranchers depend on a good crop season to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads. i know things are tough right now. the best way to help these states is for the folks in congress to pass a farm bill that not only helps farmers and ranchers respond to natural disasters but also makes the necessary reforms to g

- the kind of iowa leaders you've always had -- tom and christie vilsack, and tom harkin, and leonard boswellruce braley, and my great friends, tom miller and mike fitzgerald. but there's some principles you got to fight for. there are times where you've got to take a stand. if the price of peace in washington is cutting deals to kick students off of financial aid, or get rid of funding for planned parenthood, or let insurance companies discriminate against kids with preexisting conditions, or eliminate health care for millions on medicaid who are poor, or elderly, or disabled -- i won't pay that price. that's not a deal i will make. that's not bipartisanship. that's not change. that's surrender to the same forces of the status quo that has squeezed middle-class families for way too long. and, iowa, i'm not ready to give up on the fight. i've got a lot more fight left in me. but to wage that fight on behalf of american families, i need you to still have some fight in you, too. the folks at the top in this country, it turns out they don't need another champion in washington. they'll always hav

conferees on the house side, peter defazio, jerry costello, eleanor holmes norton, jerrold nadler, leonard boswell, tim bishop. these individuals stuck with us every part of the way and they were truly -- had their hearts in improving our infrastructure and providing jobs for america. this is a jobs bill, i'm happy to support it and i urge my colleagues to support this conference agreement. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the gentleman from florida. mr. mica: i yield myself the balance of my too -- my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. mica: good to be at this point in the completion of a long-overdue major transportation reform bill for the congress and for the american people. first, i'll take a moment and thank our staff, jim tieman who is necks to me here, tireless staff director of the highway subcommittee, day and night, helping to sort out things, looking out for the people and making certain this bill had the very best provisions. dan, jeff stroback, joy miller, fred miller, steve martinka, justin, he'

another race defeating leonard boswell a democrat. it looks like according to her guru is back in political shop that republicans will lose three or four house seats. much, much better than republicans had not a couple months ago. i would say that the silver lining at the house majority is intact pretty strong. you've got john boehner. he'll be returned to speaker. those reporters don't know what they're talking about. it's unlikely there could be a challenge to john boehner. he will be returned to speaker of the house. eric cantor will be the number two ranking republican in the house. he set up an interesting dynamic, where you have interesting relationships that could possibly lead to some negotiation and potential compromise and that eric cantor, the number two republican devotes quite a good relationship with joe biden, the vice president we've talked about tonight. so there's two relationships, boehner, obama and cantor and biden that could facilitate it be some discussion. we have the romney headquarters that they are come a bu

leonard boswell there is one thing i will respectfully disagree.such a mirror. it is the middle of the country, the state, and it is nearly evenly split, registration-wise. leonard has represented better than 12 of those 16 counties. he has got that kind of edge there where people know him. i can guarantee that pope county democrats understand the need for margin there. interesting race in the fourth district. steve king he has made a name for himself as the face of the tea party. christie vilsack she has been talking for 1.5 year about a local message for those 39 counties, versus national grandstanding. she is against a longtime incumbent, but he is not an incumbent in that district. he has at least 20 counties to introduce himself to. we've got incredibly interesting races underneath the president's race. host: we have a republican caller from georgia. host:-- caller: and watch the sunday news shows to try to get all of the santa the issues. i want to know about the impact on voters that the white house cover-up of the libya murders and the tax

iowa three, leonard boswell against tom latham. louisiana 3, because standy against landry. -- boustany against landry. ohio nine, dennis kucinich against marcy kaptur. and ohio's 16 is jim renacci against betty sutton. and pennsylvania 12, altmire against mark critz. what do you have to say? guest: these races are some of the most fascinating house races because they pit members against members and force other members to choose sides or stay completely out of it. and involve a lot of different interest groups having to choose who their congressional friends are. in fact, since we put together that list, it's already changed. gary miller yesterday after jerry lewis announced his retirement decided he was going to move into the district that jerry lewis had been running in. so that member vs. member race in orange county california. gary miller is moving to a completely new district to try to save his congressional career. part of the challenge for democrats is that they have more of these member vs. member races than republicans. t

your congressman linder boswell -- leonard boswell. mike fitzgerald.nd i want to thank the folks who have been keeping this fired up since the very beginning. we are talking about when we had the dinner, we are going in together, and michelle and i were trying to dance, she was dancing, i was trying to dance. it is good to be back with my friends and seeing all of you. four or five years ago it was you who kept us going, when a lot of pundits in washington had written us off. you remember that. it was on your front porch, it was in your backyard, where our movement for change began. >> we love you! >> i love you back. >> four more years! four more years! four more years! >> you know, it was here where we claimed the basic bargain, that built the largest middle- class on earth. we believe that in america success should not be determined but the circumstances of your birth. if you're willing to work hard, you should be defined a good job. if you're willing to meet your responsibilities, you should be able to start a business. you should be able to give y