(CNN)Politicians, journalists and conservative activists will swoop into Des Moines this weekend for a major gathering of Republicans that's widely viewed as the first cattle call this cycle for the GOP presidential race. Close to 10 potential candidates will speak at the daylong Iowa Freedom Summit on Saturday, co-hosted by the group Citizens United and Rep. Steve King, a high-profile Republican from Iowa with serious clout among social conservatives. With Iowa the first state to vote in the presidential nominating season, it's considered a must-stop for White House hopefuls on both sides of the aisle, and this weekend gives 2016 players a chance to roll out their message to core caucus-goers, strategists say.Potential GOP presidential candidates will gather in Iowa this weekendThe state holds the nation's first presidential nominating contest next year
Also on the social front, the House, in a battle that pitted _ against each other, passed a measure Thursday banning all taxpayer money for abortions after it failed to pass a bill that would ban so-called "late -term" abortions.