Pelosi to appear at fundraiser, education event in Des Moines

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is scheduled to meet with Iowa school leaders Saturday to highlight money provided for education as part of the federal stimulus package.Pelosi is scheduled appear with Congressman Leonard Boswell at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines Saturday afternoon.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Iowa already has received more than $94 million to support education. Another $316 million in stimulus dollars is expected to be available for Iowa to prevent the layoff of teachers, according to Boswell's office.

Pelosi's appearance will follow a private luncheon fundraiser at the home of Roxanne and James Conlin for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The event is being hosted by Boswell and congressmen Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack and is closed to the press.

Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Jeff Boeyink said he's surprised any Iowa congressional Democrats would want to appear with her. Pelosi has in recent weeks been embroiled in controversy after alleging Central Intelligence Agency officials lied to her about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects.

"We don't think her values are Iowa values," Boeyink said.