Page "Leonard Boswell" Paragraph 12

However, Boswell has voted with Republicans on key issues in the past.

In 2000 he voted to phase out the estate tax, a bill that was later vetoed by President Clinton.

In 2001 Boswell voted for the USA PATRIOT Act, and for its reauthorization in 2005.

In 2002 he would authorize the invasion of Iraq.

In 2005 he voted for the bankruptcy bill sponsored by Senator Grassley.

In 2008 he supported passing the FISA bill granting telecommunications companies immunity from prosecution for their involvement in warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, including his sending a letter to Speaker Pelosi encouraging her not to fight the bill.

He voted for the final House version of the bill once he was convinced it provided adequate protection to the telecom companies.

Boswell, a strong proponent of gun rights in a state that supports the issue, wrote an op-ed in the local Council Bluffs newspaper criticizing Mitt Romney for flip-flopping on the issue of gun rights, an issue supported by local Iowans.