Governor Terry Branstad announced this morning that he will sign the redistricting bill approved yesterday by the Iowa House and Senate. While taping an episode of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program, Branstad asserted that all four Congressional districts will be competitive.

I’ve posted the Congressional district map after the jump. Click here to view the state House and Senate district maps and other redistricting information on the Iowa legislature’s official site.

Soon after Branstad’s announcement, Representative Tom Latham sent his supportersan e-mail announcing his plans to run for Congress in Iowa’s new third district. I don’t blame him for wanting to avoid a Republican primary against Steve King in the new fourth district. Latham’s move sets up a contest between him and Democrat Leonard Boswell, who lives in Polk County. Boswell currently represents Polk County, the largest in the district. Latham currently represents Warren, Dallas and Madison counties.

Boswell’s campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee already released statements about Latham’s plans today. I’ve posted those after the jump. Boswell is on the DCCC’s list of “Frontline” incumbents who may be vulnerable in 2012. The DCCC will hit Latham and other Republicans hard over their vote today for Paul Ryan’s fiscal year 2012 budget resolution. Boswell’s statement emphasized his connection to the district, noting that during his political career he has represented nearly 70 percent of the new IA-03 population. Boswell served three terms in the Iowa Senate before winning his first term in Congress.

In other redistricting news, State Representative Janet Petersen announced today that she will run for the Iowa Senate in the new district 18 (map). She was first elected to House district 64 in northwest Des Moines in 2000. I’ve posted Petersen’s campaign announcement below.

Any comments about the new maps or Iowa elections in 2012 are welcome in this thread. I will update the post if more state House and Senate candidates announce plans to move, retire or run for higher office.

UPDATE: Boswell spoke to Shane D’Aprile of The Hill this week:

“I would just say that I’ve had a tough race every time and that’s what I expect,” said Boswell, adding that his new district will have “half the counties I’ve served before anyway.”

“The one thing [Latham] would have to think about, or even King for that matter, if he were to move south, is that if you’re going to represent the capital city, you better be ready for a tough competition every year,” Boswell said. “So they’ll have to really think about that. Whereas if one of them wins that new 4th district, they could probably coast a little bit by comparison.”  

SECOND UPDATE: No surprise, King confirmed he is running for re-election in the new fourth district.

THIRD UPDATE: Branstad signed the redistricting plan into law on April 19.

Statement from Boswell for Congress, April 15, 2011:

Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell released the following statement after 4th District Congressman Tom Latham announced that he would be changing residencies to challenge Boswell in the newly drawn 3rd District.

“I respect Tom’s right to run in the newly-drawn 3rd District. The 2012 election is still a year and a half away, and while my campaign operation is humming, my focus is locked on delivering and fighting for the people of Iowa, and serving in my current Committee roles which are of great relevance to every Iowa constituent. It continues to be exciting to represent Polk County and this urban area of Iowa, but I also look forward to serving new-old constituents.  Growing up and raising a family in southern Iowa, this area has always held a special place in my heart and many of these future constituents are Iowans who know me as a farmer and a veteran, not just a Congressman. I have served nearly 70 percent of the people in the new 3rd district during my time in public service.”

Statement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, April 15, 2011:

Representative Tom Latham Seeks Re-Election by Ending Medicare

On the same day Representative Tom Latham voted to end Medicare, he decided to run for re-election in a different Congressional District in 2012. The timing will not be lost on Iowa families who will reject Representative Latham’s extreme, partisan agenda that undercuts seniors and does nothing to create jobs.

“Representative Tom Latham is rolling out his re-election by ending Medicare and hurting Iowa seniors?” asked Haley Morris of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Representative Tom Latham sent a clear message to Iowa families in the third district today of what they can expect from him in Washington: wrong choices. He supports an extreme, partisan agenda that puts Big Oil profits before hard-working taxpayers.”

Background

·         Announced He Will Run in Iowa’s Third Congressional District. In April, Latham sent an email announcing he will challenge Representative Leonard Boswell in Iowa’s third congressional district in 2012. [Washington Post, 4/15/11]

·         Voted for the Republican Budget Proposal. Latham voted in favor of passing the Republican Budget proposal introduced by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11]

·         End Medicare As We Know It. “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/04/11]

·         Republican Plan Brings Back “Donut Hole” Coverage Gap for Prescription Drugs. Ryan’s plan brings back the coverage “gap in Medicare prescription drug” benefit. [Associated Press, 4/06/11]

“The coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit would be brought back. Obama’s health care law gradually eliminates the so-called doughnut hole. Ryan’s plan repeals that provision, the budget office analysis said.” [Associated Press, 4/06/11]

·         CBO: GOP Budget Raises Health Costs for Retirees. “Most future retirees would pay more for health care under a new House Republican budget proposal, according to an analysis by nonpartisan experts for Congress that could be an obstacle to GOP ambitions to tame federal deficits. […] The budget office gave two reasons future retirees can expect to pay more. First, private plans would cost more than traditional Medicare because of such factors as higher administrative costs. Second, the federal contribution would grow more slowly than health care cost inflation, leaving a bigger gap for beneficiaries to pay.”  [AP, 4/06/11]

Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan agreed that his plan for Medicare would be to shift more of the burden of health care costs out of their own pockets to seniors. [Fox News Sunday, 4/03/11]

NCPSSM: Plan would force Americans to foot the bill, make them vulnerable to the whims of the private marketplace.  In April 2011, Max Richtman, executive vice-president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told an audience that Ryan’s 2012 budget plan “forces millions of American seniors to help foot the bill for a budget plan that puts the needs of middle-class Americans far below preserving tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans. […] The Ryan plan would replace the current Medicare program with vouchers and leave seniors and the disabled – some of our most vulnerable Americans – hostage to the whims of the private marketplace,” Richtman said. [NCPSSM press release, 4/05/11]

AARP: Budget Undermines Vital Programs for Older Americans. “Among its provisions, the proposal would drive up costs for people in Medicare, take away needed coverage for long-term care from millions of older and disabled Americans and reduce critical help for seniors facing the threat of hunger.”  [AARP press release, 4/07/11]

·         GOP Budget Would Almost Double Healthcare Costs For Seniors. “The Republican congressman’s proposal to privatize Medicare would mean a dramatic hike in U.S. healthcare costs for the elderly, an independent analysis finds. Seniors would pay almost double – more than $12,510 a year.” [LA Times, 4/07/11]

·         Some in GOP Squirm Over Ryan Budget. “Some Republicans are already squirming over a vote that provides a ready-made campaign ad for their opponents: Rep. Paul Ryan’s fiscal 2012 budget, which will restructure Medicare, alter Medicaid funding and slash $6 trillion from federal spending over 10 years. […]  So rather than taking a strong stand, they’re hedging during the leadup to the roll call.” [Politico, 4/12/11]

April 15, 2011:

Petersen Announces Candidacy for State Senate

(DSM) – With the approval of Iowa’s Congressional district lines for 2012 by the state legislature and expected signature by the Governor, State Rep. Janet Petersen (D-Des Moines) announced today she will run for state senate in 2012.  Petersen is running in the new Des Moines senate seat 18 created through the legislative redistricting process.

Petersen currently represents the northwest side of Des Moines in House District 64. She joined the Iowa House of Representatives in 2001.

“I am excited for the opportunity to continue representing the people in my House district and adding my neighbors to the east,” said Petersen.  “I am proud of my accomplishments in the legislature during the past decade for our neighborhood and state. My goal is to take that experience to the Iowa Senate.”

Petersen is best known for championing legislation in health care, early education, economic development and government accountability.  As Commerce Chairwoman, she sponsored Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act.  Last year, she earned national attention for her work holding health insurance companies accountable for the rates they charge and coverage they provide customers.

“I believe a legislator’s job is to work on issues that matter to people – improving our economy, making education a priority, building up our middle class and making Iowa a place people are proud to call home,” she said.

Petersen is married and has three children.  In 2009, she founded a national nonprofit organization with four other central Iowa women.  The organization, Healthy Birth Day, is dedicated to preventing stillbirths and infant death through education, advocacy and parent support.

Prior to serving in the Legislature, Petersen worked for Strategic America, a marketing communications firm.  A lifelong Iowan who was born in the district she serves, Petersen has a BA from UNI and MA from Drake in Communications.