In 2009, Latham was one of the most vocal critics of the Obama administration's plans to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to a correctional facility in Illinois located across the Iowa border. Prior to the White House's announcement in December 2009 confirming the plans, Latham introduced a bill seeking to block the detainees from being kept in 11 Midwestern states. Latham denounced the administration's decision, saying detainees should be kept out of the region, and if brought into the U.S., they should at least be held in a place that has more experience dealing with prominent prisoners.

Before the House approved its version of a climate-change bill in June 2009 seeking to set up a cap-and-trade system on emissions, Latham spoke on the floor criticizing it. During his speech, he pulled out a box as a prop with "To China from the U.S. Congress" written on it. In the box was a hardhat with the words "American Jobs."

Appropriations

Latham has used his seat on the Appropriations Committee to alternately seek funds for his district and oppose Democrats on some spending measures.

Previously a member of the Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, Latham has directed funds to his district. In 2005, he helped allocate the final $58.8 million in federal funding for the $406 million National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. He has been a proponent of the center, calling it essential to "agro-terrorism" prevention.

As a part of the February 2009 $787-billion economic stimulus, $8 billion were dedicated to a high-speed rail initiative championed by President Obama. An additional $4 billion was allocated by a measure passed in July 2009 in response to $100 billion in project proposals submitted across the country. Latham criticized the program, saying, "Are we really ready to embark on a $100 billion endeavor?"

Immigration

Latham has taken a staunch stance in recent years against illegal immigrants, voting in favor of a U.S.-Mexican border fence in 2006.

After the December 2006 Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in which illegal immigrant workers were rounded up from the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Latham's district, Latham criticized the agency and the Department of Homeland Security for ignoring earlier police reports about employers that knowingly employed illegal workers.

In May 2009, ICE officials raided Postville, Iowa, which sits on the border of the 1st and 4th congressional districts, detaining nearly 400 mostly Guatemalan and Mexican undocumented workers at the agriprocessor's kosher meatpacking plant. Latham issued a statement the following month, calling for a bipartisan approach to immigration reform. "The stark reality is that years of neglect and enforcement of our immigration laws have created a broken system of which there is no easy fix," he wrote.

Health-Care Reform

Latham has opposed health-care reform plans that include the public option, but has promoted other proposals. At an August 2009 townhall meeting, Latham said he supported an idea allowing small businesses to pool together across state lines to negotiate plans with private providers. He also supports tax deductions for insurance premiums, regardless of whether coverage is provided through employers.

The Economy

Latham opposed the fall 2009 $700 billion bank bailout, saying in September 2009 he would oppose "any plan that rewards reckless financial behavior...on the backs of hardworking Iowa families."

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