WVIK News spoke with Republican incumbent Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the candidate for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, on Thursday, Oct. 28, less than one week before Election Day.
Listen to the interview above or read the transcription below. Editor's Note: The phone line connection had issues, and unfortunately, parts of Congresswoman Miller-Meeks' responses are inaudible.
Thank you for your time today, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. For any Iowans in the 1st District who may not know you, could you introduce yourself with a brief background and why you're running for a fourth term?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Certainly. I am a veteran. I'm a doctor. I am a mother and an independent thinker. I come from a family of eight children. My dad was enlisted Air Force. Mom didn't graduate high school. Both of my parents worked full-time supporting the family of eight kids. It was often that my father would take up extra jobs on the weekends. Even as a teenager, I remember going with him on Sunday mornings at 5 o'clock when he cleaned a pizza parlor. When I was 15, I was burned in a kitchen fire, and despite no one in my family telling me [phone line connection issue inaudible] that I wanted to be a doctor, I enrolled in community college, or junior college as it was at that time, and thought if I got a degree in nursing, I'd be able to put myself through med school. Started working in community college on a degree in nursing. I enlisted when I was 18, got my degree in nursing and master's in education, and ultimately working throughout and being in the military, was able to go to medical school and then came to Iowa to do my residency. So, healthcare affordability, prescription drug prices, allowing people to have the American dream and to take advantage of the opportunities that we have here in the United States is a passion and a priority for me. In seeking reelection, no one deserves to be elected. You have to earn it. And I think all of the work that we have done within the district, helping people with federal agencies, whether it's Social Security benefits, IRS refunds, or working with the IRS, whether it's getting medals for our veterans, helping veterans with their disability benefits, visas, passports. We have worked very hard on all of those to be, to be an office and a congressperson that really does listen to people and try to help them solve problems. We passed legislation for multi-cancer early detection to have earlier detection of cancers. And since this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also education for young women and breast cancer, and HHS just released that today. And then bills for female veterans to be able to get screening earlier and get 3D mammography, and for those that have had breast cancer to get prosthetics. We've also worked hard on our bills on PBM reform to lower prescription drug costs, and we have been effective. Our first bill on PBM reform was as a state senator in 2019, but we've continued to work on that. Working on the affordability price size with gas and diesel where they are right now. I've also put forth a six-point plan in order to help temporarily bring down the cost for both fuel for consumers as well as diesel for farmers and truckers. So these things. And then lastly, corruption. We were very instrumental in getting the stopped insider trading. Members of Congress should not trade stocks. I don't own individual stocks. My husband doesn't own individual stocks. I actually did not have individual stocks coming into Congress. So we've worked on the corruption on that. We have another bill on the administration side, the executive branch, not owning individual stock, but we've also tackled corruption and waste, fraud, and abuse, whether it's in Medicaid and government programs, or if it's in, other programs that have federal government input. And I think that's critically important for people. Our billion-dollar boondoggle act, tackling corruption and waste in federal contracting and in building. And then federal permitting reform, I've been instrumental in getting that passed through the Senate. But I was one of a group of individuals, both bipartisan and bicameral, that have worked over two years to get federal permitting done. And we're happy to see that come to fruition.
And with Election Day less than a week away, where are you meeting voters in the First District?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: We are all over the First District. We're doing both our official work and meeting with people who have requested meetings. So we're continuing to do our official work. We just came from an event in Davenport on affordable housing and the work that we had done on the 21st Century Road to Housing Act and also in the Working Families Tax Cut, tax cut with expanding the low-income housing tax credit, which makes this facility, this senior housing. It makes it viable and feasible. And so happy to help on that. And, but then we're everywhere. We— this is our— we're now on our third 20-county tour. So we're back visiting all the counties again. So we're on the road every single day out to meet voters, going to pancake breakfasts throughout the community, going to church groups, going to soup suppers. And so we're out in the communities. We've even done trick-or-treating in communities, whether it's the square in Mount Pleasant or it's in Keokuk with law enforcement. So we're out being willing to meet with people, talk with them. We did a town hall at the Clinton High School, and so we're very active and very engaged, especially these last days. But we, we actually travel a lot and visit with a lot of people all the time regardless. But as I said, our third 20-county tour out to meet with everybody in the— as many people in the district as we can to let them know what we have voted for, what we stood for, and also the untruths that are being told about us.
And as you travel around the district, what are the main issues that you're hearing from Iowans?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, we actually do hear quite a bit about corruption, especially with what's happened in Minnesota, and then looking across the river in Illinois. We hear a lot about affordable housing, and that's why it was so important for the event we did earlier today, and then meeting with realtors within the community in Scott County, but throughout the district. We have people talking to us about the corruption aspect, affordable housing, tax relief that we've been able to get done. And then we've heard about people on diesel and gas prices, but also, but mostly from the standpoint that they know it's temporary. And we hear about the Iran war, and I get a lot of support and a lot of props for voting to end the Iran war and have the president come to us with a plan. I think 60 to 90 days is typical. We were in the ceasefire, and once the ceasefire collapsed, then the first time I was able to vote to ask the president to bring a plan to us was September. And I was proud to cast that vote as a fellow veteran.
And focusing on the issues that you've mentioned, can you inform voters what policies or bills you would introduce or support in the first 100 days of the 120th Congress?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, certainly I think the permitting reform, if that does not get passed, well, that's critically important that we pass permitting reform. Continuing on our energy and pricing, if the Iran war has not been— will be another thing that we will tackle. As you know, I voted to cap insulin at $35. I have another bill on capping insulin that I'd like to see, and we'll introduce that. We have further bills on reform to lower prescription drug prices as well as healthcare premiums. As you know, subsidies were going directly to the health insurance companies from the, from the ACA, the exchanges, and very important that we tackle health insurance premiums and costs and tackle those with the health insurance companies. And my bill has done that, would lower premiums by 11%. So those are things that we're gonna support going forward into the next Congress when I get reelected.
And if you are reelected, what type of legislation would you support regarding data centers?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, I think when it comes to data centers, I've always said that, that companies that wish to have data centers need to be transparent within a community. I really [inaudible phone line issue] development. I think it's important to have open forums in the community. People can come and bring their questions and have those addressed within the community. [inaudible phone line issue] Oh, my apologies, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. I think I may have lost your connection. Are you still there? Oh, okay. I can hear you now. My apologies. You dropped out for about 10 seconds. So my apologies. So I think we passed the Ratepayer Protection Act in order to— and that's been held up by the Senate Democrats, but so that people would know that their electricity rates would not go up. We also have bills that we're looking at and legislation that says data centers have to pay their fair share. So develop their own power source, and that can be regional grids or microgrids. And so I think transparency, talking with the community, Ratepayer Protection Act, letting them know how much water is utilized. And from my conversations, that is at— [inaudible] data centers use as much energy that's about as much as a Super Walmart would have. I think those are all important. And then jobs, and then how the federal government can help with skills, job retraining if there are jobs that are lost with data centers. And I know that's a concern for young people. So that's what I would do. And as it references data centers, I think that there has not been a lot of conversation from entities as they've gone through this process. And I think that will help to answer people's questions when it comes to data centers. I also have no individual stock in data centers, Meta, Google, Apple, that are within the realm and looking at that legislation. But my opponent interestingly does.
And this is the third time you're running against Democrat Christina Bohannan. Why do you think this time will not be different from the previous two elections?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, I think when you look at her record at not supporting law enforcement, voting against law enforcement. That I think not supporting prohibition of boys and girls sports, her votes to vote against data, or not data centers, but big tech companies stealing your data and stealing your privacy. Her votes to vote against healthcare for law enforcement officers, her vote against every single tax cut. And also said she would get rid of all of the tariffs, which includes the tariff that is allowing the steel mill to occur in Southeast Iowa. So the largest steel mill in America's history in Southeast Iowa, which is game-changing for our economy, and transformational when it comes to 1,700 permanent jobs paying over $49 an hour. So both the Working Families Tax Cut, which allows it to come here, and the tariffs are things that she said she would get rid of. And so that steel mill would not be occurring here in Iowa or the United States if they had their way in her policies. She has put forth and donated money to organizations that want to defund the police, abolish prisons, and support of sanctuary cities. That's where her money has gone to, which is right in line with the Democrat socialist platform.
And the Cook Political Report has ranked the race lean Democrat. This comes as the district is being eyed, among others, by the Trump administration as a key district to maintain control of Congress. And they made claims in the past few weeks that election integrity is a top concern for them nationwide. Has the Trump administration reached out to you discussing sending National Guard, ICE, FBI, or other officials to the 1st District next week?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, we know that Iowa, we have passed election integrity laws. I was part of that when I was in the state Senate, and every election integrity law that we have passed had— has made Iowa a better place to vote, and people can have confidence in their votes in Iowa. So I think what we have seen when we passed election integrity laws, is that the votes the next election never went down, they only increased. And so I think people can be very confident of their votes here in Iowa. And it's not something I think because of the work that we have done over the last several terms in the statehouse that, Iowans can be very confident in their votes. They can also track their votes. And so you can track your vote to make sure that it's being counted. So I feel very confident in Iowa's election and our election integrity.
And since Iowa's 1st District race is considered a toss-up between you and your opponent, Democrat Christina Bohannan, are you concerned your support for President Trump could drive away independent or moderate Republican voters? And do you plan to attend Trump's rally in Dubuque this Sunday?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Well, I think people who know me realize that I'm an independent thinker. So I was one of 12 Republicans to vote to cap insulin at $35. I crossed the aisle to do that. I was one of several Republicans that voted to protect women from violence. I was one of seven Republicans that voted to end the Iran War. So I've done things that already showed that I'm an independent thinker. I didn't contact the White House or the president when I introduced a bill to get rid of and eliminate phosphate fertilizer tariffs from Morocco. And eventually, within several months, that actually— those tariffs were lifted. So I think people see me as an independent thinker. I'm not a politician. I'm a doctor who happened to be elected to Congress to get results for the people that I represent. And so as I travel the district, people are aware of those votes despite what is being portrayed on TV ads by my opponent when they lie about my record. People are aware of that record. And I think being an independent thinker in this district is something that makes you more mainstream. Whereas my opponent, when she did not vote with her party, not only did she not vote with the Republicans, she didn't even vote with the Democrats. She was one of a few Democrats that voted outside of her party and further to the left of their party. So people see me as an independent thinker and mainstream, and they see her as more extreme.
And do you plan to attend Trump's rally this Sunday in Dubuque, or too busy of a schedule to be able to attend?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: Yeah, we're at this time, we're having to look at our schedule and get all the information and times to see if we can fit it into our schedule. But you're correct. Typically, our schedules are set weeks in advance, especially when you're trying to do your last 20-county tour, which is a lot of drive time and a lot of meetings.
And one more thing. What is your final message to voters ahead of the November 3rd midterm elections?
Rep. Miller-Meeks: I would say I'm an independent thinker, veteran, and a doctor who came to Congress not to be a politician, but to help those who insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and PBMs were trying to hurt, including pushing back on the federal government with waste, fraud, and abuse, or making it harder for patients to get access to healthcare. I'm a listener. I execute and solve problems, and I'll continue to do that when elected to another term.
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