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2010-04-20T15:31:00.001-05:00

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LOOK, LISTEN: Powell, Bush and Giuliani address motivational seminar in Des Moines

2009-09-18T10:09:00.003-05:00

Former First Lady Laura Bush, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and retired Gen. Colin Powell were among those who spoke Thursday at a motivational seminar at the Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.
The event was also be broadcast live via satellite in the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.

See photos of Powell, Bush and Giuliani

Read below for excerpts from their speeches and links to the audio:

POWELL: America is starting to pay too great a price for the increased security since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and anger has become too much a part of public life, retired Gen. Colin Powell said Thursday at a motivational seminar attended by about 15,000 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

"We are starting to pay too much for our security," said Powell, a four-star general, former U.S. secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Foreign students who normally come to our universities are not coming. It's too hard to get a visa ... so we are losing with this contact with the rest of the world. We are losing money also."

Powell also warned that while America has always been a nation of debates, anger has lately become a large part of public life. "We're slipping into a dangerous period right now where nobody wants to listen to anybody else," he said. "The anger level is rising to the point where it is dangerous for us and dangerous for our political leaders. ... We've got to knock off the expressions of hatred and anger and racism."

Listen to Powell's speech

BUSH: Former First Lady Laura Bush on Thursday gave Iowans insight into how she endured the criticism during President Bush's eight years in the White House, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"One of the questions I'm most often asked is, 'How did you stand it? Didn't it bother you? Didn't it make your blood boil to reap and watch this constant flood of criticism in a vacuum?' Bush told about 15,000 people at a motivational seminar in downtown Des Moines. "And of course, it bothered me. Just as it would bother anyone in this room."

She said it bothered her, but it didn't get to her, because she's confident of who she is and who her husband is -- and because this is America.

"All that blathering and bloviating -- is, in reality, a kind of sacred music or, at least, the clanking gears of democracy," Bush said. "When you live in the White House, you live not just with the ghosts of presidents, but with the echoes of citizens holding this government to account."

Listen to Bush's speech

GIULIANI: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Thursday in Des Moines that "relentless preparation" for everything in life -- from job interviews to football games, court trials to presidential debates and even terrorist attacks -- will even help with the unexpected.

"If you prepare for everything you can think of, you'll be prepared even for the thing you hadn't thought of," said Giuliani, who was one of the final speakers in a daylong motivational center attended by about 15,000 at the Iowa Events Center.

Giuliani recalled the day of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and how he watched a man throw himself off the 101st floor of the World Trade Center. "This is much worse than we've ever faced before," he said. "We're going to have to make up our response because we don't have a plan for this."

But in the hours, days, weeks and months that followed, Giuliani pulled from his knowledge of the city's plans for blackouts, derailments, hurricanes, the West Nile virus, a nuclear attack and high-rise fires to make the necessary decisions. "Every decision I was making, I had made before," he said. "We were prepared. We didn't know we were prepared because we had prepared for other things."

Listen to Giuliani's speech

LOOK/LISTEN: "New face" Roberts announces bid for governor

2009-07-21T17:32:00.004-05:00

State Rep. Rod Roberts, R-Carroll, today promoted himself as a "new face" and touted himself as a fiscal and social conservative who is friendly and approachable as he announced creation of his exploratory committee for governor to about 100 people packed in a Statehouse conference room.

"I want to serve the people of Iowa as their next governor," Roberts said. "I have spoken with countless Iowans who have told me that Iowa needs a change in leadership and a change in direction. ... I cannot think of a time personally when there have been so many people who are unhappy, dismayed and upset with the way things are."

Roberts promised to be real, upfront, candid and transparent with the people of Iowa, and to respect the people as those who hold true political power. "I will be careful with your money as I am with my money, and I am very careful with my money," he said. "I also believe in protecting the life of the unborn. I also believe in the traditional definition of marriage."

Frank Severino of Urbandale, a retired lobbyist, will be Roberts' campaign manager. Diana Clay of Clive is communications director and former Lt Gov. Art Neu is on the leadership team, as is state Rep. Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton. Roberts said former Govs. Robert Ray and Terry Branstad were among those who encouraged him last fall to run, creating a "statewide buzz that has grown ever louder."

LOOK/LISTEN: Barbour downplays effect of Sanford scandal, prospect of 2012 presidential run

2009-06-26T15:13:00.001-05:00

Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., said he didn't think South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's disappearance and extra-marital affair would have any effect at the polls, downplayed the prospect of running for president himself in 2012, and said he thinks Iowa's chances are good to elect a Republican governor next year.

"What happens in these races this year and next year will be what really matter to the party," Barbour said when asked about a 2012 run. "If after that it seems like a reasonable thing, I will consider it. I have no plan to run for president; I have no intention to run for president. But I've been around long enough to say, 'never say never.' And we'll just see where we are after '10. But I would be very surprised if I turned out to be a candidate for president."

Barbour outlined his strategy for rebuilding the Republican Party during his keynote address at the Republican Party of Iowa's "Night of the Rising Stars" night-time fundraiser at Hoyt Sherman Place.

LOOK/LISTEN: Pelosi says GOP working to distract with focus on CIA comments

2009-06-06T18:09:00.001-05:00

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Saturday that Democratic successes in Congress are "driving the Republicans to distraction," and that is why many conservative politicians have focused on comments she recently made regarding the CIA and interrogation techniques.

"You want to be the leader? You have to be there to take whatever hit comes at you," Pelosi said. "So as speaker of the House I knew when I assumed this responsibility that those who did not agree with the new direction that we want to take the country in, the change that the American people asked for, would try to distract from the focus that we have. It is the arena that I have chosen to be in, and I understand what that is, but it will not take us off our course of action."

Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, were at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's impact on Iowa schools. Also in attendance were Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and several state senators and representatives.

LOOK/LISTEN: Harkin pushes single-payer as health care solution

2009-06-06T15:46:00.003-05:00

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin acknowledged the often frustrating gap between popular sentiment and government action at an AARP event on Saturday, saying he has long supported a national single-payer health care system but has never "had the votes" to pass it in Washington.

"There are a lot of things the majority of Americans support that Congress won't do," Harkin said. "If I had my way, we'd have a single-payer system, but I'm not a dictator."

Harkin said he has supported a single-payer system since 1991 and hopes the call for one from voters has now reached "critical mass" and will compel other legislators to support such a plan.

Harkin joined other experts gathered in North Liberty on Saturday for an AARP-sponsored forum on health reform. They concluded that a major overhaul of the federal health care system is needed and this may finally be the year it happens.

LOOK, LISTEN: Dean doubts ballot-box influence of same-sex marriage issue

2009-05-30T12:13:00.001-05:00

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Thursday night in Des Moines that he was "shocked" by the Iowa Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage and said he doubts gay marriage will be a hot-button issue in the coming election cycle as it was in 2004 when he ran for president.

"An awful lot of us, including me, never thought we would get a state in the Heartland this early," Dean said at a One Iowa fundraiser. "It's a sort of testament to the sort of thoughtfulness and fairness of the Iowan people."

The former Democratic National Committee chairman said the country is experiencing a general change in attitude on the issue. He said as gays and lesbians feel more comfortable expressing their identities, they are putting a face with the cause and that is "turning the tide."

"Everyone has gay friends," Dean said. "It is much harder to turn your back on someone you know, someone you see as a human being."

But One Iowa Campaign Director Brad Clark said "we have a lot of work to do, and that is why we're here tonight." Thursday's event, held at One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison's home, drew a crowd of 150 donors all looking to help the organization grow and protect marriage equality.

LOOK/LISTEN: Huckabee, Jindal kick off race for 2012

2008-11-24T17:45:00.001-06:00

Before November 2008 even ended, Iowa saw two visits from men seen as potential contenders for the 2012 Republican nomination. See below for photos, audio and stories from visits by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and current Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Although Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has already been tabbed by some observers as a top potential 2012 presidential candidate, Jindal said he wasn't at the Iowa Family Policy Center banquet Saturday night to speak about politics.

"After the last two years of non-stop political campaigning, if you did come tonight hoping to hear a political speech, you might want to consider enrolling in some kind of recovery program," Jindal said. "America needs to take a break from politics. We have a new president-elect, our country has substantial challenges, and it's time for us to work together on solutions."

Jindal argued that the gains made by Democrats in the last two election cycles did not reflect a change in the country's attitudes but a disenchantment with the way Republicans had governed. In the minds of many voters, he said, Republicans had become the party of "big-government spending and earmarks, the party of corruption in Washington and the party of Wall Street and big corporations."

"What the voters did both in 2006 and in this year ... they fired the Republicans in Congress and they fired us with cause," Jindal said. "Let's be honest about that."

Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee launched his national book tour in Iowa on Thursday, prompting supporters and pundits alike to wonder out loud if the former governor of Arkansas plans to make another run for the White House.

Huckabee appeared first Thursday afternoon in Cedar Rapids before making his Des Moines-area stop. The man who won the Republican Party's Iowa caucuses earlier this year launched a new book called "Do The Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America" with a prologue titled "I Love Iowa."

As people waited to have their books signed, talk turned to Huckabee's prospects for the future. About an hour into the line that wrapped entirely around the flat screen TV section all the way to the eye care department of the Windsor Heights Sam's Club, a woman walked behind the former presidential candidate-turned-author holding a homemade "Huckabee In 2012" sign.

As another supporter pointed to the sign and asked what Huckabee thought of it, the former governor laughed and said, "Hand me that book" and continued signing copies.

LOOK/LISTEN: Greenwald and Miller-Meeks both open to repeat runs at Congress

2008-11-18T17:43:00.000-06:00

The two Iowa women who ran for Congress this year revealed at an IowaPolitics.com forum on women and politics that they both resigned from high-paying jobs to seek public office, and they're both open to running again.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican and a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve who was candidate in Iowa's 2nd congressional district, acknowledged for the first time that she had resigned from her practice as an ophthalmologist to run for Congress.

"The fact that my job ends as of Dec 31st - I had to resign from my practice - I kept that a secret," Miller-Meeks said. "I have some latitude now in what I do in the future and I would definitely not rule out running again. I was working full time and campaigning."

Becky Greenwald, a Democrat who ran in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, also resigned from her position with Pioneer Hi-Bred to concentrate on her campaign. She said she would consider making another run as well.

"I went into this knowing it often takes at least two times to be elected to office," Greenwald said. "I need to concentrate on income production for myself because I did leave my employment back in May. I'm looking forward to the future, and I don't know exactly what that holds for me, but I'm keeping all the doors open."

Miller-Meeks and Greenwald were two of five panelists at a Nov. 14 IowaPolitics.com forum on women and politics. The other panelists were Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, former Iowa Senate President and U.S. Ambassador Mary Kramer, and former Lt. Gov. Jo Ann Zimmerman.

All five panelists agreed that Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Sarah Palin were subject to sexism on the campaign trail.

LOOK: Election-night photos

2008-11-05T17:48:00.001-06:00

Photos by Warren Taylor

A happy crowd at the Hotel Fort Des Moines reacts to Sen. Barack Obama's election.

Gene Reasoner of Des Moines, a self-named "Democrat for McCain", watches returns on television at the GOP gathering at the Marriott Hotel.

LOOK/LISTEN: McCain and Palin rally supporters in Iowa

2008-10-26T19:47:00.001-06:00

Sarah Palin's daughter Piper addresses rally in Iowa

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin continued to talk about Joe the plumber on Saturday, while also tagging Democratic nominee Barack Obama with his own nickname, calling him “Barack the wealth-spreader.”

The Alaska governor hammered away at Obama’s tax plans during her campaign stop at Hy-Vee Hall, saying he was “not being candid” with voters.

“He is hiding his real agenda of redistributing your hard-earned money,” Palin said. “Joe the plumber said to him it sounded like socialism.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley speaks at rally for John McCain

Republican presidential candidate John McCain portrayed himself Sunday as the candidate who would fight for the middle class and working people – unlike those “tax-and-spend” Democrats -- before a crowd of about 2,000 in Cedar Falls, just nine days before Election Day.

“Senator Obama may say he’s trying to soak the rich, but it’s the middle class that’s gonna get put through the wringer,” McCain told the crowd at the University of Northern Iowa’s West Gymnasium. Later, he added: “I’m going to make sure we take care of the working people.”

LOOK/LISTEN: Gore tells Dems country can't afford continuation of last 8 years

2008-10-06T00:49:00.000-05:00

The last time former Vice President Al Gore headlined the state Democratic Party's Jefferson Jackson Dinner it was 1999 and he was in the midst of own his quest for the White House.

Nine years later he was back at the Hy-Vee Hall fundraiser telling approximately 1,200 Iowa Democrats to look to the past in order to decide how to vote for the future.

"If you believe that the last eight years have been good for America, if you believe that our foreign policy and our economic policy and our civil liberties policy and our environmental policy and our health care policy and our education policy have all been handled extremely well, then you may want to reward the party in power by supporting the McCain/Palin ticket," Gore said Saturday night.

LOOK/LISTEN: McCain talks with business leaders in Des Moines

2008-09-30T17:40:00.001-05:00

Calling this the "biggest financial crisis of our lifetime," Republican presidential candidate John McCain today urged action to restore confidence in the system, one day after Congress defeated a $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on a 228-205 vote.

"Inaction is not an option," McCain said repeatedly to more than 300 Iowa business executives, workers and Republican leaders who gathered at EFCO in Des Moines for a roundtable discussion. "The dire consequences of inaction are far more damaging to the economic security of American families."

McCain surrounded himself with six Iowa business executives who helped tell the story of how the nation's economic crisis is impacting their companies.

Their stories helped to back up McCain's assertion that there are franchisees who currently can't borrow, contractors not getting remodeling work, equipment makers losing sales, restaurants going out of business and students unable to get loans.

"One of the reasons why Congress failed to act is because it hasn't really sunk in that the people who are hurting and are being hurt are Main Street families, small businesses – those kinds of people that are the engine of our economy," McCain said. "There is a perception out there that this is just something for Wall Street."

LISTEN: Culver says McCain's issue positions wrong for Iowa

2008-09-29T13:45:00.000-05:00

Republican John McCain's continued and adamant opposition to ethanol subsidies -- a position he repeated during Friday's presidential debate -- is only one of the things that gives him a black mark in Iowa, Democratic Gov. Chet Culver said today.

"His record in Iowa is very poor," Culver said today of McCain. "He's against biofuels of every kind, he's against renewable energy tax credits, he's voted 23 times against renewable energy and he voted against Tom Harkin's farm bill."

McCain arrived in Des Moines today but has no public appearances planned until tomorrow.

"I don't expect the farmers and rural Iowa in particular are going to forgive him for those bad votes," Culver said. "I think he has a lot of explaining to do about that very poor record for Iowa."

Wendy Riemann, an Iowa spokeswoman for McCain, said Iowans are intelligent voters who are looking at more than one issue as they cast their ballot.

"John McCain supports being energy independent and advocates the use of alternative forms of energy, including ethanol, competing in the free market. He believes that the government must be an ally but not an arbiter in the progress of alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, tide and hydroelectric," Riemann said. "John McCain is a strong supporter of alternative forms of energy and he believes the best way to maximize these contributions is through competitive markets."

As for the farm bill, Riemann said: "The farm bill was laced with pork, handouts to corporate farmers and was an obstacle to freer agricultural trade worldwide. John McCain is interested in helping Iowa farmers and in opening the markets to American agriculture."

Listen to Culver respond to reporters' questions about the presidential election, disaster assistance and the economy

LOOK: 'Superman' boosts Obama at Drake

2008-09-26T17:31:00.000-05:00

Brandon Routh, the Iowan who played "Superman" in the 2006 movie "Superman Returns," lent his star power today to Democrat Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign in one of the state's first celebrity appearances since before the January caucuses.

"He's going to do everything in his super powers to make sure Obama is elected," said Drake University student Jordan Oster, in introducing Routh today.

Routh, who grew up in Norwalk, made visits today to Simpson College, Drake University and Coe College. Tonight he goes to the University of Iowa for the homecoming parade and a debate-watching party. And tomorrow he'll be at Mount Mercy College, St. Ambrose University, and with students in Davenport and Knoxville.

At Drake, Routh showed up about a half-hour late, dressed in a white Obama T-shirt and jeans. About 100 students and a handful of staff showed up to hear him speak. He didn't work off a prepared script and even drew chuckles when he said things like, "Voting is important and very good."

Routh described the past seven years under the Bush administration as "kind of crappy" and said he's excited about Obama. He encouraged students to volunteer in the campaign, saying that they could always back out later with an excuse like, "I'm a college student. I'm busy. I have a party to go to." And he ended his speech by saying, "I'll stop boring you."

Two other big stars -- Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore -- will be in Iowa on Saturday for Obama with rallies at Cornell College, Grinnell College, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa.

Iowa hasn't seen many celebrities on the campaign trail since Oprah Winfrey came for Obama in December. Shortly before that, musicians Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt played at a campaign rally in Davenport for then-candidate John Edwards. At the time, Edwards said he didn't expect the star power would win him votes -- just help attract a crowd, get them in the room and gain their interest.

Seems like that was the case with today's visit. Anna McDowell, 19, a Drake University student from Des Moines who is undecided whom she'll vote for in this election, went to see Routh today. "I don't think it will change how I vote, but like, we came to hear him talk," she said.

See more photos of Routh at Drake University

LOOK, LISTEN: McCain, Palin draw enthusiatic crowd in Cedar Rapids

2008-09-19T09:47:00.001-05:00

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin wasted no time at a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids jumping on comments made by Democrat Joe Biden which implied that paying higher taxes is patriotic.

"Raising taxes is not patriotic," McCain told a crowd of about 6,000 at the PS Air hangar at the Eastern Iowa Airport. "It's not a badge of honor. It's just plain dumb."

Biden said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he and Barack Obama want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people. Biden noted that wealthier Americans would indeed pay more, and said: "It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

See photos from the event
Listen to audio of McCain's speech
Listen to audio of Palin's speech
Listen to audio from an interview with McCain-Palin supporter Tiffany Horvath. Horvath, a former resident of Wasilla, Alaska, four months ago moved to Bettendorf, Iowa with her husband, Drew. She spoke of Palin as "a petite woman with a huge presence and a proven track record for change" who "wore lipstick while she did it."
Read IowaPolitics.com coverage of the McCain-Palin event

WATCH: Greenwald, Latham on the air with new TV ads in 4th CD

2008-09-19T09:19:00.000-05:00

Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Latham and Dem Becky Greenwald both have new TV ads in their 4th Congressional District race. The ad is the first one for Greenwald and the second for Latham.

Latham's ad, titled "Trusted Leadership," focuses on his bipartisan efforts to address the nursing shortage in Iowa and includes testimony from members of the medical profession, including state Rep. Linda Upmeyer, a nurse practitioner.

Greenwald's ad, titled "Boots," discusses her roots in the 4th District, her 22-year career in agriculture and her plan to strengthen the economy.

WATCH: New McCain ad - ' Enough is Enough'

2008-09-16T18:27:00.000-05:00

One day after the biggest drop on Wall Street since just after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Republican presidential candidate John McCain launched a cable TV ad in Iowa and across the country.

"The economy is in crisis. Enough is enough. I'll meet this crisis head on," McCain says. "Reform Wall Street. New rules for fairness and honesty. I won't tolerate a system that puts you and your family at risk. Your savings, your jobs ... I'll keep them safe."

LOOK: Schweitzer headlines Harkin Steak Fry

2008-09-15T15:47:00.000-05:00

Despite the cold and windy September weather, nearly 1,000 Iowa Democrats faithfully drove to the Indianola Balloon Field on Sunday for the 31st annual Tom Harkin Steak Fry.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, the event headliner, spent much of his time on stage talking about American sources of alternative energy and bucking the power wielded by “petro-dictators” in the Middle East and Latin America.

"We need to grow our own fuel," Schweitzer said. "We need to do it now. Biofuels are here to stay. Biofuels are the future of America."

In introducing Schweitzer, Harkin called him a valuable "WMD" -- a west-of-the-Mississippi Democrat. He also made reference to the success a previous steak fry speaker had in the presidential arena.

"Four years ago Barack Obama gave that blockbuster speech to the convention. Two years later he showed up here to speak at the steak fry, and now look where he is. Brian Schweitzer gave a blockbuster speech at the convention this year. He is here at the steak fry. Who knows what's next for Brian Schweitzer?" Harkin said.

WATCH: New SEIU ad - 'Family'

2008-09-15T10:43:00.002-05:00

The nation's largest health care union has released a new pro-Obama television ad that is airing in Iowa and five other battleground states.

The Service Employees International Union, which represents 2 million working people and 50,000 retirees, announced Sunday that it is spending more than $2 million on the new television ad campaign that focuses on what's at stake economically for millions of American families in the upcoming presidential election.

The ad, titled “Family,” features a mother talking about the strain of trying to provide for her family in an economy defined by higher costs, lower wages, and lost jobs. The ad goes on to detail the stark differences between Barack Obama and John McCain when it comes to jobs and the economy.

The ad is also airing in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico and Wisconsin.

LOOK: Joe Biden returns to Des Moines

2008-09-08T17:15:00.003-05:00

Joe Biden in Des Moines, originally uploaded by IowaPolitics.com.

In his first visit to Iowa since the caucuses, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden today touted plans to provide adequate health care to all Americans and tax breaks to 95 percent of working families. But his statement that an Obama/Biden administration will end the war in Iraq that drew a standing ovation and the loudest cheers.

Biden spoke at a rally of about 1,200 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds' Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center -- a building that last month was filled with baby animals during the Iowa State Fair. Biden said high unemployment rates and the elimination of pensions are indications of how bad the economy is right now. "Most people are a paycheck away from serious, serious problems," he said.

In a pre-emptive strike, Republican state Auditor David Vaudt told reporters before the rally that it will take significant revenues to pay for the Obama/Biden spending plans. "The taxpayers always pay for the generosity of the politicians," Vaudt said.

But Biden said that while the Obama/Biden plan will cost money, it will not raise taxes for working Americans. Instead, he said it would take away from the Republican tax base. He also assured Iowans that federal money will come to the state for flood damages. "In an Obama/Biden administration, we will never forget you," he said.

LOOK: Nancy Pelosi visits Iowa

2008-09-08T15:46:00.003-05:00

Nancy Pelosi visits Iowa, originally uploaded by IowaPolitics.com.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in Iowa today to assure officials and residents that federal money will come soon to help Iowa's disaster recovery costs. She said the U.S. House will have a bill next week, and the money will then begin to flow.

"All Iowans who need assistance have assurances that they will receive it," she said. "That money will come ... so count on it."

Pelosi met with Gov. Chet Culver, U.S. Rep Leonard Boswell, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, state representatives and others today at North High School, which borders the Des Moines River. Among those talking to Pelosi was Janet Green, a former Birdland resident who lost her house to the floods. The house had been in her husband's family for almost a century.

"There's no reason why that money shouldn't have been released right away," Pelosi said. "We want to honor the compact ... so people know government is there. This compact with government is sacred. They shouldn't lose confidence in it."

Iowa Republicans have criticized congressional leaders for recessing before passing more flood aid for Iowa. GOP congressional candidate Marianette Miller-Meeks, running against Dem U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack in the 2nd Congressional District, today criticized the delay.

"Pelosi and congressional Democrats rushed to approve billions of dollars in aid for New Orleans in the days after Hurricane Katrina," Miller-Meeks said in a press release. "They've waited months now to do anything for Iowans who have suffered at least as much."

WATCH: New McCain/RNC TV ad - 'Expensive Plans'

2008-09-02T13:02:00.000-05:00

This joint ad from the John McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee says Barack Obama and "out-of-touch congressional leaders" are "ready to tax, ready to spend, but not ready to lead."

Read CBS News coverage of the ad

WATCH: New Obama ad - 'Out of touch'

2008-08-22T13:08:00.000-05:00

WATCH: New Obama ad: 'Book'

2008-08-14T08:17:00.002-05:00

Barack Obama has a new TV ad hitting John McCain for his support for President Bush's policies and for backing a policy of spending $10 billion a month in Iraq "while the Iraqis sell oil for record prices."