Minnesota members of Congress react to president's speech

by Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public Radio

In a speech last night at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, President Bush presented his five step plan for creating an Iraqi democracy. He said an interim Iraqi government will have "full sovereignty" starting June 30, but 138,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq to provide security. Bush said the election of a permanent Iraqi government will happen at the end of 2005. The president of the Iraqi Governing Council says Bush's plan falls short of expectations. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District Rep. Republican Mark Kennedy, and Fourth District Rep. Democrat Betty McCollum, to get their reactions to the speech.