BOSWELL TRIBUTE: House Floor Honor

Thursday, Congressman Tom Latham honored a colleague and competitor who is finishing his 8th term in Washington, D.C.

“Mr. Speaker those of us from Iowa would like to recognized the service of fellow congressman, Leonard Boswell,” Latham said.

Latham organized a special tribute on the House floor Wednesday.

It comes after Latham defeated Boswell in a battle of long-term incumbents in November. The two were forced to face off after redistricting.

During the past few weeks, Latham encouraged Iowans to submit letters about Boswell.

Latham read several Wednesday, including one from Gov. Terry Branstad and another from Senator Charles Grassley.

All of Iowa’s congressmen talked about Boswell’s service and character.

“We talk about a lot of us being from Iowa, but I often refer to Leonard Boswell as being of Iowa, he’s an Iowan through and through in every possible way. And I think those of us from Iowa know exactly what I’m talking about the rest of you, I’ll explain it to you at some point If you so desire,” said Rep. Dave Loebsack.

After each of Iowa’s congressmen spoke, Boswell himself took the floor.

“Some suggest to me ‘Well you may want not want to do this, he was your opponent’ and I said no, we’re from Iowa we don’t do things like that,” said Boswell.

He thanked Latham for organizing the tribute and wished him well in his next term.

Boswell says it’s the first time he’s spoken to Latham since the election.