Shortly after 10:00 a.m. It was announced by chairperson Al Bohannon that 191 delegates had been credentialed and seated.

Speeches by Congressman Loebsack and Grassley challenger Roxanne Conlin highlighted the before-lunch session. 

Bob Dvorsky introduced Congressman Loebsack who got standing applause.  The Congressman opened with humor, “I've gotta get the right speech out – I've got six events today.”  It was a positive speech, laying out the Democrats' accomplishments since President Obama took office, and since Loebsack  was elected in 2006.  

The congressman acknowledged and thanked the chair and committees for their hard work in putting the convention together, and gave a nod to Ed Malloy, mayor of Fairfield, who he said is a great progressive, known around the country.

Loebsack then thanked the delegation for sending him to Congress in 2006, and said while legislation is an important part of the job, it is helping people that makes being congressman “truly the most rewarding job I could ever imagine having.”  He said his next event today would be in Walker, where he would participate in a medal ceremony for a now deceased World War II veteran.

Moving on to campaigning and the election season, Loebsack reminded us that in 2006 he ran to restore hope and opportunity and that in 2008 Democrats increased our majority in the House and Senate and elected Barack Obama.  “They [Republicans] think they're going to do this time what we did last time, but we're not going to let them do it…Does anybody really think it is a good idea to turn back the clock on health care?   If they want to run on keeping our children off our insurance policies until age 26, then I say fine, go ahead and run on that, but I think it's a great thing that Democrats passed that law..”

“We have made college more affordable for millions of kids – we've done that in this Congress with the help of President Obama.”

On veterans issues, Loebsack, a member of the Armed Services Committee since he was elected, said that we need to make sure we honor and take care of veterans.  “We broke ground on a community based outpatient clinic in Ottumwa…and obtained  more resources for the VA Hospital in Iowa City.”

Loebsack said it is a tough year for Democrats.  He reminded the delegation that he did not campaign in 2008 because of the floods, but this year would be different.  “We've got to re-elect Chet Culver and make sure Democrats maintain control of the state legislature as well.”

“Everyone knows Grassley is vulnerable.  Everyone get out and work because we want to have two Democratic senators from the state of Iowa.”

Loebsack said that the House was busy passing legislation that is getting held up in the Senate and mentioned the financial reform bill.  “I want to work for Main Street, not Wall Street, so call your senators.”

Moved on to jobs.  “It's all about jobs.”  Mentioned President Obama's upcoming repeat appearance in Iowa this week to talk about jobs.  Southern Iowa is the hardest hit in the state as far as jobs.  Mentioned that he voted for the Recovery and Reinvestment Act which created 2 million jobs.

“The nexus for education and workforce development is our community colleges.  We've got to move further into the 21st century, by electing Democrats this November.”

Grassley challenger Roxanne Conlin took the stage next.  She gave a brief, fired up speech.  Shared her childhood story about her family having no money for antibiotics to treat her ear infection resulting in permanent partial hearing loss.  “I am a product of the American dream and thank God for the American dream.”  Said she was motivated to run because she was angered by Grassley's behavior during the health care debate.  “We're going to pull the plug on Grassley.”

“I'm fed up with endless war, fed up with 15 million people unemployed, fed up with Wall Street bailouts, fed up with tax breaks for the very, very wealthy… I will fight for Iowans every single day…  Let's get our country back to work and let's stop the war on organized labor.  I'm proud to have the support of the Iowa Federation of Labor….  This is the year that we can defeat Charles Grassley.  This is the year we can send two Democratic U.S. Senators from Iowa to Washington….I outraised Grassley in the first quarter…not a penny of it came from PACs.  It all came from real human beings.”  

Gave delegates the text number to contribute to the campaign.  64336