Democratic legislative leaders today said 2008 may go down as one of the best sessions on record.

Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, served in the 1965 Legislature, which he said made significant strides for the state. He added 2008 will go down as one of the better years in the Iowa Legislature with funding the state's environmental program at $18 million, establishing and continuing funding of the Iowa Power Fund and all the legislation passed for veterans.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and House Speaker Pat Murphy also touted the sound budgeting practices of Democrats.

• Listen to audio from the Dems' press conference
• Watch video from the press conference

But Senate Majority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, tabbed the 2008 session with a failing grade today. Wieck told reporters this afternoon he is upset more wasn't done in terms of property tax relief, illegal immigration and establishing higher standards in Iowa's school classrooms.

• Listen to Wieck's press conference

Labels: 2008_session, audio, video

House Minority Leader Christopher Rants said he was "extremely disappointed" that Gov. Chet Culver pushed "the most divisive issue this General Assembly has faced in a long time, and that's the gutting of Iowa's right-to-work law."

He also said the speech sent the message that "tax increases are on the horizon."

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said she was interested in Culver's rhetoric on cooperation and bipartisan unity.

"We as Democrats, if anything, do that better than anybody in terms of reaching across the aisle and working in a bipartisan fashion," she said.

She also called the proposed bottle deposit increase "an uphill battle" but "do-able."

Labels: 2008_session, Legislature, video

The 2008 session of the Iowa Legislature is under way and top House Dems addressed members of the media about the issues that could arise in the weeks ahead, shooting down discussion that this would be a "do-nothing" Legislature.

Minority leaders Rep. Christopher Rants and Sen. Ron Wieck also addressed the press. They challenged Dems on taxes and spending.

Click below for more video, plus audio and text from today's session.

• Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal
• Prepared text of Gronstal's remarks
• Senate President Jack Kibbie
• Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck
• Prepared text of Wieck's remarks
• House Speaker Pat Murphy
• Prepared text of Murphy's remarks
• Video of Murphy honoring state Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, who had missed the past two legislative sessions while serving in Iraq.
• House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
• Prepared text of McCarthy's remarks
• House Minority Leader Christopher Rants
• Prepared text of Rants' remarks

Labels: 2008_session, audio, Legislature, video

Mike Huckabee's campaign today said it was launching an ad titled "Tax Cuts Matter" in Iowa, even though a Monday note to supporters said the ad would be playing exclusively in New Hampshire.

The ad discusses his record as governor of Arkansas, saying he cut taxes more than 90 times and left behind a budget surplus.

• See the ad script and press release

Labels: ad, Mike Huckabee, video

In concert with a full-page ad his campaign purchased in today's Des Moines Register, John Edwards' campaign is planning to air a 60-second ad featuring former Maytag employee Doug Bishop, who argues that Edwards is ready to fight for "saving the middle class and American jobs in the face of corporate greed.

• See the press release and ad script

Labels: ad, John Edwards, video

Mike Huckabee's new Iowa ad, called "Our Values," highlights his opposition to abortion: "The pro-life position was the one espoused by our founding fathers," he says in the ad.

Huckabee shot this ad and two others in Little Rock on Sunday. One of the other ads was the negative ad he decided not to run today. In a note to supporters, Huckabee explained his decision on that ad:

"This morning, I ordered my staff to pull the ad; I told them I do not want it to be run. If it was run at all, it would be until the stations pulled it off their schedules. And we are now committed, from now through the rest of the caucuses, that we will run only the a ds that talk about why I should be president, and not why Mitt Romney should not.

• Read Huckabee's note about the ad

Labels: ad, Mike Huckabee, video

Republican Mitt Romney has launched his newest television ad, "Everywhere."

The ad talks about Romney's experience "tackling big problems" and says he can "turn around Washington."

• Read the press release and ad script

Labels: ad, Mitt Romney, video

Democrat Barack Obama's new ad, titled "Hope," features excerpts from the newspaper editorials that have endorsed him.

• See video of the ad
• Read the Obama campaign press release and see the ad script

Labels: ad, Barack Obama, video

Common Sense Issues is a 501 c4 non-profit group running this ad, which favors Mike Huckabee in a comparison with Mitt Romney. The ad is titled "Trust."

• Read the group's press release

Labels: ad, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, video

Mike Huckabee has two new Iowa ads. "Founding Fathers," shown above, is an upbeat ad that shows graphics touting his record as governor with audio of Huckabee discussing the values of the country's founding fathers. "Start Now" criticizes the "desperate and dishonest" attacks on him coming from other candidates and outside groups.

• See video of "Start Now"
• Read background on the ads

Two new ads from Barack Obama today:
-- "Interest" highlights the money spent by outside groups to attack Obama's health care plan.
-- "Listening" features footage of Obama's speech before Iowa Democrats at this year's Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner and endorsements from Iowa newspapers.

• See video of "interest"
• See video of "Listening"
• Read the campaign press release and the ad transcripts

Labels: ad, Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, video

Mitt Romney's new ad, "Ready," criticizes rival Mike Huckabee for being "soft on government spending," and granting more than 1,000 pardons and commutations as governor.

Clinton: "President"

Here's the script of Hillary Clinton's new ad, titled "President":

ANNCR: What if we had a different president this year?

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton called for action on America's housing crisis in March… in June… in August.

ANNCR: George Bush and Wall Street did nothing.

ANNCR: Since then home prices have plummeted and millions may lose their homes.

ANNCR: Hillary's plan: freeze home foreclosures, freeze rates on adjustable mortgages, provide real tax relief for the middle class.

ANNCR: When we choose a president next year, let's choose one that would have started fixing our economy this year.

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton: "I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message"

• See video of the ad
• Read the campaign press release

Thompson: "Substance"

Fred Thompson's new ad calls him the "clear conservative choice" and ticks off a list of endorsements and praise for his plans on taxes, immigration and the military.

Here's the ad script:

Fred Thompson: I'm Fred Thompson and I approve this message.

Announcer: The Wall Street Journal says Fred Thompson's tax cut plan "leads the GOP field."

A leading economic group calls it a plan "conservatives can rally around."

The conservative National Review says only Thompson has outlined "specific, conservative policies" on immigration.

Investor's Daily says Thompson's national security plan features a "Reaganesque rebuilding of our military."

And the National Right to Life Committee endorsed him because they know he can win.

Fred Thompson. The clear conservative choice.

• See video of the ad
• Read the campaign press release

Labels: ad, Fred_Thompson, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, video

Republican Ron Paul's new biographical ad, titled "Defender of Freedom," is on the air in Iowa and New Hampshire.

• Read ad background

Democrat Bill Richardson has a new Iraq-focused ad airing today in Iowa. The ad, titled "A Way Out," discusses his plan to pull troops from Iraq.

• See video of the ad
• Read the campaign press release

Democrat Joe Biden's new ad "Office" asks voters to think about the kind of person they want sitting in the Oval Office in 2009. His campaign is using the ad in a fundraising push in hopes of paying for ad time.

• See video of the ad
• Read the campaign press release

Republican Rudy Giuliani has a new ad, titled "Freedom," airing nationally on Fox News. The ad discusses the U.S. response to 9/11.

• Read the campaign press release

Labels: ad, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Ron Paul, Rudy Giuliani, video

John Edwards has unveiled two new ads in Iowa, "Choice" and "Time for Truth." Here are the transcripts:

"Choice" (30 seconds)
I'm John Edwards and I approve this message
Here's the choice:
Keep going the way we are,
Pretend the system works while corporate greed rules,
Insurance lobbyists kill health care,
Energy giant make billions from insane gas prices,
And the middle class is squeezed to the breaking point.
Or tell the truth – the status quo and good intentions aren't enough
We're not going to look our kids in the eye and say corporate greed stole your future.
We're going to say America rose up, saved the middle class, gave you a better life,
And it started right here in Iowa.

"Time for Truth" (30 seconds)
It's time to tell the truth.
These big corporations and their greed,
They are stealing your children's future.
We will never change this country
Unless we're willing to take those people on.
I believe that on the night of January 3rd,
You're going to say enough is enough.
There's going to be a rising that begins right here in Iowa
And it's going to spread across America
And it will be a wave of change that cannot be stopped.
I'm John Edwards and I approve this message.

• See video of the ads
• Read the campaign press release

Labels: ad, John Edwards, video

John Edwards' campaign is airing a new television ad in Iowa, "30 Years." The ad features the Democratic presidential candidate's wife Elizabeth, who discussed her husband's character and strength.

• See video of the ad
• Read the campaign press release

Labels: ad, John Edwards, video

Sen. Hillary Clinton is airing a new television ad in Iowa called "Stakes." The ad focuses on what is at stake in the upcoming election such as the war, foreclosure crisis and national debt.

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, video

This ad boosting John Edwards was funded by the Alliance for a New America, a 527 issue group funded largely by local SEIU units.

• Read background on the ad

Labels: ad, John Edwards, video

Hillary Clinton has a new ad running in Iowa and New Hampshire. The ad, "Proud," features her mother Dorothy Rodham and daughter Chelsea Clinton. It is the first ad Chelsea has appeared in during the 2008 presidential campaign.

• Clinton: "Proud"

John Edwards has released a new television ad called "Voice." The ad features James Lowe, a coal miner from Virginia who lived 50 years without speaking because of a cleft palate he could not fix be due to being unable to afford the surgery.

"This is wrong," Edwards said in the ad. "It is immoral. When are we going to stop letting drug companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists run this country? America belongs to us. James Lowe finally got his voice, now it's time for yours."

• Edwards: "Voice"

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, video

ONE Vote '08, a group co-chaired by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Bill Frist of Tennessee and Tom Daschle of South Dakota, is encouraging caucus-goers to vote for the presidential candidate with the strongest policy proposals to improve global health and alleviate extreme poverty.

• Read more about the ad

Labels: ad, video

Dorothy Rodham, Hillary Clinton's mom, talks about the candidate's childhood and her commitment to helping others in a new TV ad.

• Watch "Dorothy"
• Read the ad script

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, video

• Romney: "Choice: The Record"
• Biden: "Action"

Labels: ad, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney, video

In Hillary Clinton's new Iowa ad the candidate says the country needs a new beginning on health care, education and foreign policy.

• See video of the ad
• Read the press release and ad script

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, video

Republican Mike Huckabee is on the air with two new TV ads beginning Monday. The ad shown above is called "A Better America." The other ad, "Secure Borders," deals with Huckabee's plan to curtail illegal immigration.

• Watch "Secure Borders"

Labels: ad, Mike Huckabee, video

A panel of political reporters and commentators assembled at Drake University to discuss the triumphs and tribulations of the Iowa caucuses and the campaigns running in the 2008 race. The event included: Rick Pearson, political writer for the Chicago Tribune; M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Iowa’s Bureau Chief for the Rocky Mountain News; David Price, chief political reporter for WHO-TV of Des Moines; and Dennis J. Goldford, a Drake University professor and analyst for KCCI-TV of Des Moines.

• Listen to complete audio of the event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Mitt Romney's new ad, "Not Politically Correct," highlights conservative stances he took while governor of Massachusetts.

• See video of the ad
• Read the press release and ad script

Labels: ad, Mitt Romney, video

ClubforGrowth.net has released an ad challenging former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee's record on taxes.

• Read background and ad script

Labels: ad, Mike Huckabee, video

Barack Obama's new 60-second TV ad features an excerpt from his JJ Dinner speech

Labels: ad, Barack Obama, video

AFSCME has a new TV ad in Iowa urging Iowans to caucus for Hillary Clinton.

• Read ad background

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, video

Hillary Clinton's new TV ad features a testimonial from Gen. Wes Clark.

• Watch the ad
• Read the ad script and press release

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, video

• Democratic Courage: 'Blowin' in the Wind'
• John Edwards: 'Twenty Generations
• Tom Tancredo: 'Consequences'

Labels: ad, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Tom Tancredo, video

• Hillary Clinton: 11/29: 'Strong' (TV)
• John Edwards: 11/26: 'Mess'
• Mike Huckabee: 11/26: 'Believe'
• Bill Richardson: 11/27: 'Bold Plan'
• Mitt Romney:
  11/29: 'Historic Choice'
  11/27: 'Take Charge'
• Fred Thompson: 11/27: 'Service' & 'Marie'

Labels: ad, Bill_Richardson, Fred_Thompson, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, video

• John Edwards: 11/13: "Health care" (TV)
• Tom Tancredo: 11/13: "Terrorism" (TV)
• Fred Thompson: 11/14: "No Amnesty" (TV)

Labels: ad, Fred_Thompson, John Edwards, Tom Tancredo, video

• Barack Obama: 11/8: "High and Dry" (TV)
• Fred Thompson: 11/6: "Consistent Conservative" (TV)

Labels: ad, Barack Obama, Fred_Thompson, video

• Chris Dodd:
  - 11/1: "View from the Shop","Duets" (TV)
  - 10/24: "Jim's" (TV)
• John Edwards: 11/1: "Heroes" (TV)
• Barack Obama:
  - 10/29: "Wind" (TV)
  - 10/24: "For Us" (radio)
• Bill Richardson
  - 10/30: "When I Began"
  - 10/22: "Only One" (TV)

Labels: ad, audio, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, video

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson today released an ad touting Richardson's experience as a diplomatic troubleshooter.

The ad, titled "Only One," details a hostage situation in Iraq that then-Congressman Richardson was called upon to defuse. In the 60-second spot, Bill Barloon, the late David Daliberti, and his wife Kathy Daliberti praise Richardson for obtaining the release of the two men from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in July 1995.

• Read the Richardson campaign press release

Labels: ad, audio, video

Mitt Romney's new ad features his wife Ann talking about raising five sons and her devotion to her family.

• Read the press release and ad script

Labels: ad, Mitt Romney, video

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate, speaks out against the war in Iraq and says he brings a new vision for America at a campaign stop Oct. 2 in Des Moines.

• Listen to audio of Obama's speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson speaks Oct. 1 at a campaign stop in Newton.

• Listen to audio of the Thompson event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate, discusses tax cuts for the middle class at a town hall meeting Sept. 22 in Osceola.

• Listen to audio of the Obama event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

State Representatives Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton, and Jodi Tymeson, R-Winterset, along with former Rep. Ed Fallon, D-Des Moines, discuss a proposed water source in Clarke County at the Iowa Capitol. The lawmakers and affected landowners question the potential use of eminent domain and if challenges the current state law.

• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: video

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, proposes her health care plan at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines.

• Listen to audio of the event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

On the first official campaign stop since declaring his candidacy, former Republican Sen. Fred Thompson told more than 200 Iowans that he was ready to run for president to improve the country for his children and grandchildren.

"The preseason is over," Thompson said. "Let's get on with it."

• See part 2
• See part 3
• Listen to audio of Thompson's speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Recounting a story from one of his trips there, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden says it's time to end the war in Iraq.

Biden says his leadership qualities and life experiences prepare him to be president.

• Read the Biden campaign's press release on the ads

Labels: ad, video

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, making his first visit to Iowa of the election cycle, toured the Iowa State Fair with U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley.

• See video of Thompson at the Des Moines Register's soap box
• See part 2 of the soap box video
• See video of Thompson with Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley
• See more photos of Thompson at the fair
• Listen to audio of Thompson
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, photos, video

Watch video clips recorded by IowaPolitics.com after the Aug. 5 Republican presidential debate sponsored by ABC News and Drake University.

• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage of the debate
• Read post-debate coverage

Labels: video

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential candidate, discusses Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' savings plan and other differences he has with Democrats at a July 27 gathering in Madison County.

• Listen to audio of the Romney event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson meets with Des Moines area police officers and fire fighters July 26 in Pleasant Hill.

• Listen to audio of Richardson's meeting with the first responders
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Special interests and lobbyists in Washington have rigged the U.S. government, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Thursday as he rolled out a plan to fix the problems he sees.

Click the video above to see a clip from Edwards meeting with reporters after his speech.

• See Part 1 of the speech
• See Part 2
• Listen to audio of the speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., spoke at a house party July 22 in Indianola. He stressed Democrats should not take November 2008 for granted.

• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage of Dodd in Indianola

Labels: video

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said July 22 in Urbandale that there isn't a doubt in his mind Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina will help determine the presidential nominee for the GOP and Democratic parties.

• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage of McCain

Labels: video

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a GOP presidential hopeful, speaks July 19 about the Republican Party of Iowa straw poll at a West Des Moines house party.

• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: video

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday spoke about the importance of keeping nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists, and also insisted the United States should step up its efforts to move away from nuclear arms.

Richardson, former ambassador to the United Nations, spoke about foreign policy at a noon gathering at the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. He is the fourth presidential candidate to address the group, following Sens. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican.

• Listen to audio of Richardson's speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, video

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate, said he wants to improve the economy by using the money spent on the war in Iraq on fueling people's pocketbooks during a July 10 campaign stop at DMACC in Des Moines.

• See more video of Obama's speech
• Listen to audio of Obama's speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, Barack Obama, video