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After his surprise trip to Iraq yesterday where he met with the troops in Anbar Province President Bush flew to Sidney, Australia to attend the APEC summit Today President Bush commended the Senate for confirming Jim Nussle as OMB Director I thank the Senate for its strong bipartisan vote confirming Jim Nussle as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Jim's confirmation comes at a critical time for our Nation's budget as Congress considers this year's annual spending bills. With less than a month until the new fiscal year begins, Congress has not sent any of the twelve appropriations...

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee said today he will vote against the nomination of Jim Nussle of Iowa as White House budget chief. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., voted in favor of the nomination in committee "to move the process forward." Conrad said he would oppose the Nussle nomination on the Senate floor Tuesday to protest the fiscal policies of President Bush. "I do not make this decision lightly," Conrad said. "This is not a vote against Mr. Nussle personally. But I refuse to have my vote for Mr. Nussle portrayed as a sign of support for...

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Jim Nussle, the Iowa Republican named to run the White House budget office, rubbed more than a few Democrats the wrong way in his 16 years in Congress. But Nussle's combative style may be just what President Bush desires for a White House budget director whose tenure will be dominated by battles with the Democratic-controlled Congress over spending. Nussle, 46, left Congress last year after a failed bid for governor of Iowa. His relationship with the president dates to 1999, when Bush was seeking his first term and Nussle endorsed him for the Iowa caucuses, a key...

White House budget director Rob Portman is stepping down and will be replaced by former Iowa Republican congressman Jim Nussle, senior administration officials said today. The president is scheduled to make the formal announcement at the Roosevelt Room later this afternoon. Administration officials described the decision as motivated by Portman's desire to spend more time with his wife and three teen-aged children. Since returning to Washington as a congressman 14 years ago, Portman has been commuting weekly to his Cincinnati home, and his press secretary said he had tired of that. SNIP Still, the news of Portman's departure seemed to...

DES MOINES, Iowa (WOI TV5 via the AP wire) Jim Nussle's campaign for governor includes a different stance on abortion than what he proposed in 2002 when he sought another term in Congress. In a recent survey by Project Vote Smart, the Republican says -- quote -- "abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy." Four years ago Nussle expressed another opinion on the matter during a taping of Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press." When asked under what conditions a woman should be permitted to have an abortion, Nussle said -- quote -- "I don't have conditions."...

DES MOINES — U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle has an early lead over Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats in the race to capture the Republican nomination for governor, according to a poll released Wednesday. Among 400 Iowa Republican voters surveyed by Davenport-based Victory Enterprises, 24.75 percent said they would "definitely" support Nussle and another 26 percent said they "probably" would vote for the congressman from Manchester in the June 2006 GOP primary. Vander Plaats received definite support from 10.75 percent and probable support from another 12.25 percent. The poll found that 25 percent were undecided while 1.25 percent refused to...

Vander Plaats wins first Iowa Guv Straw Poll Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats has won the first head-to-head test with GOP rival Rep. Jim Nussle. The first straw poll in the state, held June 18th by the Hamilton County Republicans, proved a strong showing for Vander Plaats. Nussle, who refused to participate, was severely hurt by his decision with the vote being 87 for Vander Plaats and 9 votes for Nussle. During the event, held in Williams, Iowa, Vander Plaats addressed the crowd and stressed the need to work with grassroot organizations. Hamilton County Chairman Roger Hughes encouraged...

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle made his run for governor official this morning, kicking off his campaign in his hometown of Manchester to begin a seven-day tour of the state. In prepared remarks, Nussle said his vision would offer “no more excuses for Iowa’s lack of progress” in education and economic development. “Iowa is a great state filled with good people, but like many of you, I’m just not satisfied with our direction or our progress,” Nussle said. Nussle is expected to make an appearance in Davenport at 2:30 p.m. today at the Steeplegate Inn, Williamsburg Room, 100 W. 76th...

3 GOP Lawmakers May Seek Governors' Seats By DAVID ESPO ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) - Less than a month into a new, two-year Congress, the line is forming among House members considering their next career moves. Republican Rep. C.L. (Butch) Otter of Idaho is all but officially running for governor of his state, and GOP Reps. Jim Nussle of Iowa and Jim Gibbons of Nevada both seem headed in the same direction in theirs. All three have filed paperwork signaling interest in running. "We will run a vigorous campaign," said one former Idaho governor, Phil Batt, leaving no doubt about...

He announced today that he is creating a committee to consider running against liberal Tom Vilsack. He has received in donations more than the $750 required to establish the group.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) today issued the following statement: "John Kerry's baseless health care attacks don't have much credibility in the eyes of Iowa voters considering Kerry's opposition to the President's bill guaranteeing affordable prescription drugs for Iowa seniors and his vote against $25 billion in rural health care funding. President Bush is working to lower health care costs by creating Association Health Care plans enabling small businesses to pool together and pay less for health insurance, but John Kerry is standing in the way of making quality health care more affordable for all Iowans. Kerry's plan...

Washington, DC -- U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) issued the following statements regarding Sen. John Kerry’s visit to Iowa: "President Bush responded to the attacks of September 11th with decisive action. He said that we would fight the war on terrorism on our enemy's soil instead of our own. The war on terrorism cannot be won by indecision and timidity. We can count on President Bush to provide courageous and bold leadership. In contrast, John Kerry's campaign offers only ambiguity. He provides neither solutions nor strategies when it comes to fighting terrorism. Americans can't...

Poll: Vilsack, Harkin in lead By Kathie Obradovich . DES MOINES — Incumbents hold the edge going into the homestretch of the campaign, a statewide poll of Iowa voters shows, including a comfortable, 22-point lead for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and a 13-point advantage for Gov. Tom Vilsack. . The telephone poll of likely voters shows Republican Rep. Jim Nussle holding a lead over Democrat Ann Hutchinson in the 1st Congressional District race. . Incumbent Congressmen Jim Leach, Tom Latham and Leonard Boswell hold statistically significant leads over their opponents, but high number of undecided voters still could make a...

<p>HORSERACE JOURNAL- ISM: Iowa Republicans are starting to feel better about their prospects next week. They've been out-hustled by the Democrats' absentee-ballot program and have been a little down. It looks like Republicans might lose a number of close races because of that program. But GOP polls are looking up, and Democrats appear to be having some problems with their absentee-ballot effort.</p>