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Martin speaking to a group of voters. (Photo/)

(ST. LOUIS, Mo.) Congressman John Boehner, the Republican Leader in the House of Representatives, will be in Missouri Saturday to endorse republican congressional candidate Ed Martin, who’s running against incumbent Congressman Russ Carnahan.

Ahead of that, Boehner announced Thursday that if circumstances allow – Martin getting elected and the Republicans winning a majority – he would fully support Martin being placed on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

“Ed Martin has my full support for a seat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. America’s warriors and their families need a leader like Ed Martin who listens, understands the challenges they face, and is eager to address them,” Boehner said in a statement. “Ed also knows that the policies coming out of Washington lately – ‘stimulus’ spending sprees, costly mandates, and government takeovers – have failed our veterans.”

Boehner said,”I look forward to working with Ed, the Republican leadership, and the Members of the Steering Committee to place him on the committee at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Martin, who had asked for the support in a letter to Boehner said, “This means so much to me.”

Martin said, “I have a deep and vested interest in being appointed a seat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I vow to honor them and serve their best interest.”

The Carnahan campaign, playing off of rhetoric used by the Martin campaign in the past, said all of this back-and-forth support means Martin will be nothing but a “rubberstamp” for Boehner.

“After this high-dollar fundraiser, here’s no doubt that Ed Martin will be a rubberstamp for Republican Leader John Boehner’s national agenda to dismantle the Social Security and Medicare system so many Missouri seniors depend on every day,” said Angela Guyadeen, Communications Director for the Russ Carnahan in Congress Campaign.

She said, “If Ed Martin wants voters to ‘Ask Ed Anything,’ seniors deserve to know why Ed Martin would back the Republican’s proposal to gamble their Social Security benefits on Wall Street. Missourians preparing to retire can’t afford Ed Martin’s plan to eliminate their safety net – especially during tough economic times.”

Guyadeen points to a Tweet[2] by Martin that says, “Ryan is THE man with THE plan!”

Paul Ryan’s plan, among other things, supports placing social security in private accounts, which would be subject to market fluctuations.

Martin, to a townhall[3] hosted by his campaign said, “I think Paul Ryan’s plan is good,” but “I don’t know it well enough to say if i’d support all aspects.”

To a reporter later, Martin clarified. “Over the years, Congress has taken money set aside, spent it on other priorities and it’s broke. We made a promise to our citizens. We can and should do better.”