Del Latta

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Del Latta bigraphy, stories - American politician

Del Latta : biography

05 March 1920 –

|name=Delbert Leroy “Del” Latta |image=Del Latta 97th Congress 1981.jpg |state=Ohio |district=5th |term_start=January 3, 1959 |term_end=January 3, 1989 |preceded=Cliff Clevenger |succeeded=Paul Gillmor |party=Republican |birth_date= |birth_place=Weston, Ohio |residence=Bowling Green, Ohio

He attended public schools in North Baltimore, Ohio and entered college at Ohio Northern University. Latta served in the United States Army from 1938 to 1941. In 1944, he set up his own private law firm in Bowling Green, Ohio. 

Latta was a Republican member of Ohio State Senate in 1953 to 1958. From 1959 to 1989 he served as a U.S. Representative from the Ohio 5th district. In 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1996 he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Ohio.

Latta served as ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee from 1975 to his retirement in 1989. In 1981, he co-sponsored the Gramm-Latta Omnibus Reconciliation Bill which implemented President Ronald Reagan’s economic program including an increase in military spending and some minor cuts in discretionary and entitlement spending. The law also mandated the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut).

After deciding not to seek another term in 1988, Latta endorsed his son, Bob Latta, for the Republican nomination, however he was narrowly defeated by State Senate President Paul Gillmor, who went on to win the election in November. Gillmor died in 2007, and Bob Latta was elected to succeed him.

Latta is an active member of the Churches of Christ. He has spent most of his adult life with his wife, Rose Mary (Kiene), in Bowling Green.