JOHNSTON -- Democrats who "own" the federal government likely will see a 2010 voter backlash due to massive spending hikes, rising unemployment and proposed reforms that will raise costs for health care and energy, Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, said Friday.

"People are so frustrated over what they see in Washington today," said Latham, a seven-term representative from Iowa's 4th District, and they understand that Democrats control the White House and large majorities in Congress.

"They own the federal government and they're the ones who are going to be held accountable for it," the Republican said during the taping of Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press" show.

Americans are scared by "a huge expansion" of the federal government, outraged over out-of-control spending for Wall Street bailouts and economic stimulus plans that haven't worked, and worried about more intrusion into small businesses and the threat of higher taxes, he said.

"All of these things create a huge uncertainty out there," he added. "There's a lot coming out of Washington and not much that people like."

Latham, who served the old 6th district in Siouxland, said he opposes a public option as part of a health-care reform package before Congress, favoring instead more competition in the marketplace to control costs without involving the government deeper in people's insurance decisions.

He also opposed a "cap-and-trade" energy policy approach that would raise Iowans' utility costs, saying a better solution to reducing dependence on foreign oil and tapping vast U.S. energy resources with more oil drilling and removing obstacles to nuclear power.

Latham defended his fundraising efforts for a political action committee that has come under fire from Democrats who claim the congressman has used it to raise contributions from major health insurers to finance "expensive four-star getaways" where he can "party like a rock star."

Latham called the political jabs from Democrats "outrageous," saying that more than 60 percent of the money raised by his For America's Republican Majority (FARM) committee has gone to helping colleagues get elected and regaining GOP political control in Iowa.

He said that all seven members of Iowa's congressional delegation have similar leadership PACS and others have spent more on travel than the fundraising outings to Atlantic City, West Virginia and Palm Springs that have been gleaned from his reports.

Latham said he favors more transparency in the reporting of political fundraising "so everyone can see what's going on" and people can decide for themselves if they like or disapprove of PAC activities. He said he has a broad base of contributors and spent about one-fourth of the proceeds on travel.