Latest news with #Miller-Meeks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Protesters wait outside Rep. Miller-Meeks' event in Davenport
There were contrasting emotions in and around Rhythm City Casino Thursday morning. Congressman Jim Jordan, R.-Ohio, joined congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks and her supporters for a reception and discussed president Trump's recent 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' a piece of legislation that passed through the House of Representatives. 'We just want to make sure she wins, and she is going to. She is a great candidate, but we are here just to help,' Jordan said.'There are provisions in (the One Big Beautiful Bill) for every Iowan and every American, and there are provisions that strengthen and preserve Medicaid,' Miller-Meeks said. Outside of Rhythm City, however, some of Miller-Meeks' constituents were not happy. 'Care about your voters, care about people who aren't voters,' said Tracy Jones, one of the protesters. '(Miller-Meeks) doesn't want to be held under the microscope for her terrible decisions, and it's wrong. Protesters were upset with Rep. Miller-Meeks for not holding a townhall meeting and supporting trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. 'Who would vote to take food from children? That's not a good person,' Jones said. 'When you are in Congress, you are supposed to be the voice of the people that put you there, and they deserve to have answers on what you are doing,' said Travis Terrell, a Democratic candidate for Rep. Miller-Meeks' 1st Congressional District seat. Rep. Miller-Meeks, though, feels as if she is doing just that. 'We are absolutely voting in (the constituents') best interest because we voted to preserve and strengthen Medicaid,' Miller-Meeks said. 'Had we not done that, the trajectory of Medicaid spending is unsustainable.' Protesters, however, said they wanted more transparency. 'If you are scared to be transparent with your constituents, it's because you know you betrayed them,' Terrell said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Democrat Bob Krause announces run for Iowa's 1st Congressional District
May 29—Bob Krause, a former state legislator, announced this week he will be running for Congress as a Democrat to oust the 1st Congressional District's Republican incumbent, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. In a May 26 press release, he launched the slogan: "Flip The House With Krause." To him and his campaign, that rallying cry serves as a reminder to voters that control of the entire U.S. House of Representatives hinges on just a few key races. It also reinforces just how competitive and volatile Iowa's first congressional district has been ever since Miller-Meeks was first elected in 2020. It was that same year that widespread recounts determined Miller-Meeks won against Democrat Rita Hart by only six votes. In 2024, Miller-Meeks narrowly retained her seat once again, albeit not as close as her race against Hart; Miller-Meeks won against Democrat Christina Bohannan by less than 800 votes. Republicans in the district were forced to choose between Miller-Meeks and challenger David Pautsch in the primary. Even though Miller-Meeks won with a 12-point lead, Pautsch felt he had a strong showing getting 44 percent of the vote with only six months of work. Pautsch announced in February he's running again. Which makes Krause the third person to announce a campaign for the seat. Krause believes he can beat the incumbent congresswoman and block President Donald Trump's "destructive agenda to implement a reverse-Robin Hood on our nation" that he alleged will impoverish many Iowans and enrich the very few. "It is no secret that incumbent Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks votes like Trump's rubber stamp," Krause said in his press release. "Extremists who appear set on destroying our democracy are given a huge institutional advantage simply because she is part of the House GOP. "That House GOP has surrendered the constitutionally authorized power of Congress and the courts to appropriate, tax and provide for due process of law and public participation through our elected officials. This ceding of power has become simply a slower version of the attempted coup of Jan. 6, 2021." Krause said he will not remain silent as Trump "bypasses Congress" and dismantles critical programs to Iowa's 1st Congressional District without the consent of elected representatives and due process. The candidate stressed this election is vital "to the future of Iowa and the nation." If elected, Krause said he would uphold the Constitution and fight for policies that benefit workers, farmers and families. He is in favor of the reversing inequitable tax cuts and preserving Social Security benefits. He also wants to provide essential services for a safe, clean and prosperous environment. Krause pledged to defend Iowa's education systems, libraries and social safety nets from further erosion. In the 1970s, Krause served in the Iowa House for six years. He then ran an unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer. In 2010, he ran a campaign in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat race against Chuck Grassley, but he lost to fellow party member Roxanne Conlin, who would lose to the incumbent. It wasn't the last time Krause tried to run against Grassley. In 2022, he attempted another race but inevitably withdrew after not receiving enough signatures. He needed 3,500 signatures but only acquired around 1,400. He blamed it partly on the precinct caucuses being held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his experience as a lawmaker, Krause is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard. He previously served as a school board member in Waterloo and is president of the Veterans National Recovery Center. He is married to Vicky Krause and has a large, blended family.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Democrat Bob Krause announces campaign for Miller-Meeks' 1st District congress seat
Former Iowa legislator Bob Krause has announced a campaign for Congress in Iowa's 1st District, saying he would run to help block Republican President Donald Trump's "destructive agenda." Krause, a Democrat, served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and is the president of the Veterans National Recovery Center. He called incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks a "rubber stamp" for Trump. 'Extremists who appear set on destroying our democracy are given a huge institutional advantage simply because she is part of the House GOP," Krause said in a news release. "That House GOP has surrendered the constitutionally authorized power of Congress and the Courts to appropriate, tax, and provide for due process of law and public participation through our elected officials. This ceding of power has become simply a slower version of the attempted coup of January 6th, 2021." In a news release, Krause said he would favor reversing "inequitable" tax cuts, preserving Social Security, protecting the environment and defending education and social safety net programs. Krause unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016. And in 2022, he withdrew from the U.S. Senate Democratic primary race after failing to gain enough signatures to make it onto the ballot. "If losing elections were an Olympic Sport, Bob Krause takes home the Gold Medal," a spokesperson for Miller-Meeks said in a statement. "Iowans have rejected Democrats and elected Dr. Miller-Meeks three times to Congress. She will continue to work with President Trump to deliver tax cuts, secure the border, strengthen and preserve Medicaid, protect women's sports, and keep the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing Iowa farmland." National Democrats have targeted Iowa's 1st District as a key battleground in 2026 after Miller-Meeks won her 2024 reelection by about 800 votes. Krause is the second Democrat to launch a primary campaign in the 1st District, which covers the southeastern corner of the state. Travis Terrell, a Democrat and University of Iowa Health Care employee from Johnson County, announced in April he would also seek the seat. "With all due respect to Bob Krause, who I'm sure means well," Terrell said in a Facebook post. "The last thing Congress needs is another 80-year-old man telling us how to fix a future he won't be around to face." But Miller-Meeks will also face a challenge on her right. David Pautsch, a Davenport Republican, launched a primary campaign in the district earlier this year. Pautsch is a businessman and the founder of the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast. He came within 12 percentage points of Miller-Meeks in a 2024 primary race. Miller-Meeks started off the year with strong fundraising, which would give her an edge going into a primary and general election. She tallied more than $1 million in receipts during the first quarter of the year. 'Iowans rejected Bob Krause half a century ago when disco was cool and Jimmy Carter was in the White House," National Republican Campaign Committee spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement. "If he's the best Democrats can dredge up, it's clear they've hit rock bottom in their pathetic attempt to unseat Mariannette Miller-Meeks." Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrat Bob Krause announces 1st District congressional campaign
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Protestors fear proposed Medicaid cuts would close Newton hospital
May 27—Supporters of Medicaid last week opposed Congress' budget cuts by protesting outside Newton Clinic and MercyOne Newton Medical Center, which they said could now be in danger of closing or eliminating vital health care services for rural Iowans. The hospital already paused all labor and delivery services in 2024. Cindy Pollard, of Newton, said everybody she knows since 1999 has been born at the local hospital, known back then as Skiff Medical Center. Her wife was also born there. No babies have been delivered locally since last fall. Jasper County mothers have had to travel at least a half-hour away for a labor and delivery unit. "They no longer deliver babies here, and it's where everyone was born," Pollard said at the protest on May 21. "Our relatives are going to Grinnell to deliver ... Everything is against rural Iowa — the schools and Medicaid cuts — everything affects us out here. So that's why I'm going to start showing up right here." Progress Iowa and Social Security Works organized the Hands Off Medicaid rally last week in opposition to the House Republican budget bill. Over a 10-year period, it is estimated almost $700 billion in federal funding will be cut from Medicaid and $500 billion will be cut from Medicare. Health care advocates say nursing homes and hospitals could feel the financial effects of these cuts. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents Jasper County, voted in favor of the bill. Her decision was a subject of scrutiny by protestors, who felt betrayed considering her background as a physician. They also criticized a recent social media video in which Miller-Meeks refuses to answer questions from a representative of Social Security Works, a political group that advocates for the expansion of Social Security and for the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations. In the video, Social Security Works confronts Miller-Meeks saying she lied to their faces when she said she wouldn't vote for Medicaid cuts. "But then you've actually voted for the largest cuts to Medicaid in the history of the country," said Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works. "Do you have any comments on that? Do you have any comments on the four hospitals in your district that are gonna close because of your vote?" Larry Anderson, of Newton, said he attended the rally last week because he would hate to see the community affected by these Medicaid cuts. "People don't realize this affects everyone," he said. "This is not just the so-called 'idle poor,' this is our nursing homes and our hospitals. We've already lost some OBGYN services, but we don't need to lose the hospital. And that could very well happen if Medicaid like this." Anderson is simultaneously surprised and not surprised by Miller-Meeks voting for the budget bill. "I think that no doubt she is under a great deal of pressure from her party and her party leadership, but we didn't elect her to do this," Anderson said. "We elected her to stand up for us, her constituents. And she's not doing it if she votes for this."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa representatives tout their votes for extensive budget bill
The U.S. Capitol on Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Members of Iowa's U.S. House delegation, who voted this week in favor of President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' have been defending and promoting their decision amid criticism over cuts to health care and food assistance for low-income Americans. Trump's bill promises multitrillion-dollar tax cuts while simultaneously rolling back programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Congressional Budget Office also estimates this bill could add an additional $3.8 trillion to the national debt. Democrats and advocates held a news conference Thursday urging Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to vote against the bill. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has received criticism for her vote. Derek Eadon, former Iowa Democratic Party Chair, said in a press release it threatens clean energy jobs in Iowa's 1st District by repealing the clean energy credits of 2022, despite past commitment to protect these tax credits. Miller-Meeks is currently a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee which helped to identify budget cuts in the programs it oversees, including Medicare and Medicaid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Miller-Meeks posted in a statement: 'This bill protects Iowa families, seniors, and small businesses while strengthening Medicaid for the vulnerable—not for those who can work and choose not to.' Miller-Meeks said. 'Today's vote is a win for Iowa and for every American who believes in work, responsibility, and a government that serves its people, not the other way around.' Rep. Ashley Hinson also voted for the bill, saying on X: 'Iowans overwhelmingly voted for President Trump's America First agenda — ending illegal immigration and preventing dangerous criminals and drugs from entering our communities, cutting wasteful spending, and unleashing American energy.' Reps. Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra, members of the Agriculture committee, played a role in identifying $230 billion in cuts, which included major cuts to the food program SNAP. 'The bill also safeguards key benefit programs for vulnerable Iowans while eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse,' Nunn said in a statement. 'It bolsters border security, restores accountability, and invests in American energy dominance—where Iowa is already leading the charge.' Feenstra stated: 'Thanks to President Trump's leadership, our families will see big tax cuts, Iowa workers will have higher wages, our farmers will see relief from the death tax, and our small businesses and local manufacturers will grow and thrive.' Grassley and Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for the return of all abducted Ukrainian children before Russia-Ukraine peace agreements are finalized. Ernst was also a co-sponsor of this bill. '[Putin] has kidnapped thousands of children to brainwash and Russify them in an attempt to destroy their cultural identity and heritage,' Grassley said, 'The United States ought to demand these children are returned before inking a deal to end the war in Ukraine.' Trump said he believed his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin went 'very well.' Following the call, he dropped his demands for an immediate ceasefire. The Kremlin has yet to provide a timeframe for ceasefire negotiations. This resolution, while non-binding, condemns Russia's 'abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children,' a prominent war crime allegation against Russia. Its introduction follows a letter sent in April by 40 prominent religious leaders to Trump and Secretary of state Marco Rubio calling for Russia to return an estimated 20,000 children forcibly transferred to Russian territory. Grassley and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, also introduced the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act, which seeks to 'level the playing field for Older Workers,' according to a news release. This bill would recognize the legitimacy of 'mixed-motive' claims and reaffirm the workers' ability to use any type of admissible evidence to prove their claims. The No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, introduced by Miller-Meeks, passed through the House this week. This bill seeks to strengthen the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention grant program by requiring local Veterans Affairs coordination and clearer eligibility standards, expanding access to emergency care, and holding grantees accountable. 'The No Wrong Door for Veterans Act ensures that our heroes are never turned away or left without help. It streamlines access, strengthens coordination, and reaffirms our promise to those who served. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort—and to say to every veteran: we see you, we hear you, and we will fight for you,' Miller-Meeks said in a statement. Additionally, this bill included the Supporting Prosthetics and Recreational Therapy act. The SPORT act ensures that artificial limbs must be furnished to eligible veterans as medical services, which include prostheses and terminal devices for sports and recreational activities. Hinson was announced Thursday as a co-chair for the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, alongside five other representatives. Hinson said she plans to use the position as a means of expanding access to Iowa biofuels, increasing blending targets and securing permission to allow the sale of E15 year-round. Currently, E15, a fuel blend consisting of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline, for the most part is not sold during summer months because it has a higher fuel volatility than allowed under the Clean Air Act. Hinson said in a news release she wishes to increase domestic energy production stating 'biofuels are key to Iowa's economy and key to American energy dominance.' Nunn, Himes introduce FORCE act to 'modernize' Defense Production Act Nunn and Democrat Jim Himes of Connecticut's 4th District introduced the Federal Overhaul of Reserve Command Executive Modernization Act. The Defense Production Act, enacted in 1950, grants the president power to expand and expedite the supply of materials and services from the domestic industrial base. The FORCE act seeks to reintroduce the National Defense Executive Reserve, which would bring private-sector industry leaders and trained civilian experts into a corps for guidance during national emergencies. This bill would also allow federal agencies to partner with private industry more efficiently. The National Defense Executive Reserve was first established in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower through an executive order. 'In today's threat environment, America can't afford a playbook from the 1950's,' Nunn said. 'Let's leverage America's best and brightest in the private and public sectors.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
