When former Gov. Tim Pawlenty was running for president last year, the Harkin Institute of Public Policy at Iowa State University wanted him to give a speech there.
But when Pawlenty's agent said the fee would be $25,000, plus expenses, university officials decided to pass, AP reports.
It happened after Pawlenty's poor showing in the Iowa Straw Poll.
A university official said the tradition in Iowa is not to pay for politicians' speeches, because they all flock there looking for publicity as part of the Iowa caucuses.