Latta serves up milkshakes, politics

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

U.S. Representative Bob Latta was in town Friday to make some milkshakes at the Farm Bureau food stand at the Van Wert County Fair, while also dispensing a large dollop of Republican politics in his spare moments.

Latta, fresh off a trip to Tampa for the Republican national convention, was upbeat about the chances of GOP’s presidential ticket of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to unseat President Barack Obama in November.

The incumbent Fifth District Republican congressman, was following his Democrat challenger, Angela Zimmann, who visited the county on Thursday, appeared pumped up after his trip to the GOP national convention.

“We have someone (Romney) who knows how business is run, a great businessman, and a guy like Paul Ryan who knows the federal budget better than anyone,” Latta said, noting that he feels that’s a winning combination.

The congressman said he had toured 74 Fifth District businesses and farms in August and found four things people were complaining most about: federal regulations, taxes, Obamacare and energy prices.

Latta said energy prices were particularly troubling, stating that gasoline prices had doubled while the president was in office.

“Obama hasn’t done anything (to lower gas prices),” he added.

Latta also talked about Congress’ legislative agenda after it returns from its summer break, noting that the farm bill needs to be passed, along with a balanced budget amendment.

The congressman said it was imperative the farm bill be passed, but said he was afraid that Congress might have to approve another one-year extension of the existing bill if Republicans and Democrats can’t come to a compromise over the legislation.

Latta again touted a balanced budget amendment — something Republicans have tried to pass several times in the past few years — noting that it’s time for the federal government to end deficit spending.

“We will be paying $225 billion in interest on the national debt this year,” he said. “In the worst-case scenario, in 10 years we could be paying a trillion dollars in interest on the debt if something isn’t done.”

Latta said a balanced budget would make the federal government operate under the same restrictions as state and local governments – and the nation’s citizens.

“It’s time we make the federal government live within its means, like the rest of us,” Latta said.