On the ballot

MARENGO — People in Iowa’s First Congressional district want the federal government to make living more affordable, according to incumbent Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

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High prices for food and fuel are the most pressing issues, people in District 1 tell her.

Miller-Meeks is challenged by Democrat Christina Bohannan and Libertarian Nicholas Gluba for Iowa’s District 1 seat in the Nov. 5 election.

The second biggest issue for District 1 voters is the southern border, Miller-Meeks said.

The large number of immigrants crossing the border create a strain on communities in housing and education, said Miller-Meeks. People on the terror watch list cross the border and are a threat to U.S. citizens.

Cartels control the southern border, bringing in an untold number of drugs, Miller-Meeks said.

Right now the federal government is also dealing with the disaster of Hurricane Helen and the number of states that have been impacted, Miller-Meeks said earlier this month.

Iowans aren’t concerned only about what’s happening in their state and nation, said Miller-Meeks. “People are very concerned about what is happening overseas,” and the lack of leadership in dealing with it.

Miller-Meeks traveled with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst last month and met with a Prince of Saudi Arabia who was very supportive of going in to the Abraham Accords, Miller-Meeks said.

“To go from that to where we were now” disappoints Miller-Meeks.

Iowans are concerned about wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, about the conflict between China and Taiwan, Miller-Meeks said. People are very concerned about instability.

People don’t feel safe. They aren’t seeing leadership by the United States, Miller-Meeks said.

“It’s also creating disruptions in the red sea, which is disrupting shipping lanes,” said Miller-Meeks. That creates higher prices.

“I think people have a lot of uncertainty, a lot of anxiety,” Miller-Meeks said.

Reducing taxes for people in low- and middle-income brackets, enacting policies that help small business and protecting people from estate taxes can help Iowans financially, Miller-Meeks said.

Several provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire at the end of 2025, said Miller-Meeks. “That will be an immediate tax increase.”

Congress needs to extend the tax cuts which included lower tax brackets, a higher standard deduction and a higher child tax credit.

The nation needs an administration favorable to extend tax cuts, Miller-Meeks said.

Taxing unrealized capital gains, which Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris wants to do, affects everyone — the farmers, the teachers, the police and firefighters, Miller-Meeks said.

Everyone that has investments will be affected, and that’s detrimental to everyone, Miller-Meeks said.

A second way to improve the economy is to spend less, said Miller-Meeks. “Government spending led us into this crisis.”

Congress need to prioritize where the money will help people the most. It should bring in unspent COVID money for use elsewhere.

Congress should get rid of incentives that give breaks to the wealthy — such as incentives for purchasing electric vehicles.

Miller-Meeks would focus on bills that are pro-farmer and pro-agriculture, she said. That includes energy issues.

Energy costs make of 60% of food costs, said Miller-Meeks. The Biden-Harris Administration stopped the Keystone Pipeline and paused permits for drilling.

Miller-Meek cosponsored House Resolution 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which aims to end restrictions on energy production. She also led efforts to allow the sale of E15 fuel.

“All of those are things that can bring down costs immediately,” Miller-Meeks said.

She’s also sponsored bills that she says will save the U.S. $650 million in drug cots and will lower prices for patients.

“I have been a Congresswoman who has been accessible, available,” Miller-Meeks said. “I understand what people feel and how they think.”

People want to know they can still have the American dream, Miller-Meeks said.

(“On the Ballot” is a Hometown Current series profiling candidates in Benton, Iowa and Poweshiek Counties. Articles will run as candidates are interviewed. Candidates who do not respond to requests for interviews will not be included in the series.)