Miller-Meeks faces hostile town hall

KEOSAUQUA – A town hall assembled in Keosauqua Monday night turned into a shoutfest that had local law enforcement on alert at the Roberts Memorial Center.
The event was put together by Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ staff for the 1st Congressional District and was moderated by Kadie Johansson of KILJ AM/FM Radio.
The event was based on questions submitted by constituents and every single question was interrupted by attendees. At one point, one man in attendance was speaking over the Congresswoman and was asked to leave by a Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputy. The man screamed his rights to free speech were being violated as he was escorted out. At one point he tried to pull away from the deputy’s escort and was moved quicker to the rear door.
At several other points, others voicing their discontent with the Congresswoman were asked to leave as well, but no one was forcibly removed.
Miller-Meeks tried to answer questions about a multitude of issues including tariffs, the Epstein files, the shutdown, cuts to Medicare/Medicaid, immigrant rights, etc, but the answers to her questions were regularly stepped on by those in attendance.
The Congresswoman said she supported releasing the Epstein files as long as the victims names were redacted. Many in the audience shouted that many of them had already come forward and then shouted over Miller-Meeks’ response.
“We have to allow those individuals to protect their anonymity if they want their anonymity protected,” she said. “To allow them to tell their stories, which they have. There have been hearings in DC where several victims have come forward with their stories. But we need to seek justice for them, not at their expense, and not re-victimizing them.”
At multiple points she asked the crowd to allow her to answer the question as she wanted to get to all the questions Johansson had in a glass bowl at the table. The bowl was empty after about 50 minutes of what could only be described as organized chaos.
A resident from Mt. Pleasant asked why the Congresswoman supported the largest cut to Medicaid in the program’s history. Miller-Meeks said Medicaid is unsustainable and growth will continue to be 30%. But she said some reforms will keep Medicaid intact for those it was intended for.
“We did put some reforms in so that those Medicaid was intended for – children, pregnant woman, those with disabilities, or seniors and veterans, will continue to have that funding and growth.
She said there are exemptions to the reforms put in place for those who are medically unable to work, volunteer, or be in an education training program.
She said illegal aliens were no longer eligible for Medicaid. She also pointed to CBO reports that acknowledge illegal aliens were receiving Medicaid, prompting shouts of “Prove it”.
In addition to that, she said other reforms to Medicaid to rule out those who should not be on the program would result in a significant savings that would preserve the program.
Another question that raised the eyre of the audience was whether or not Miller-Meeks supported President Trump's tariff programs.
“I think tariffs can be a negotiating tool,” she said.
Farmers have talked to me about the egregious practices of the Chinese Communist Party,” she said. “They talked about grain and commodities that would be sent overseas and go rancid. Farmers have been the one who wanted someone to handle and address the egregious practices of other countries.

She said she supported trade practices that create new trade opportunities.
“It’s important that we open new venues, new trading opportunities, and new products for agriculture,” she said.
She pointed to the working families tax cut, whether it be the estate tax or their property in order to have a family member inherit the property.
One woman yelled her husband was a farmer who is suffering under current tariffs.
Rachelle Dravis, a Fort Madison Community School District Board Director-elect said after the meeting she submitted four questions and none of them were read out loud.
Coleen Rempe, of Fort Madison, said she was approached three times by sheriff’s deputies to quiet down, at the meeting.
“This is a waste of time. I feel like she’s pandering to tell people what they want to hear,” Rempe said.
Matthew Lentz of Sigourney said he didn’t hear a lot that had value to him. Lentz was forced to leave his signs outside and then took them up again following the conclusion on the other side of the street.
“Not a lot,” he said.
“I feel like she did try to answer questions, but then she immediately pivoted to an issue that was tangentially related, but not the question that was asked.
“The most direct answer she gave was that she would support releasing the Epstein files, but I just don’t believe that for a second when it comes to actual voting on it.”
Lentz said the small farmer has taken a beating this year under the President’s policies.
“Farmers have been severely screwed by the policies of this administration this year.”
Trump has hinted at an agriculture bailout yet this year of up to $12 billion, according to an article in Politico. He's also hinted at $2,000 stimulus check to low and mid-income Americans with funding from the tariff programs. He also wants to use revenue generated off the tariffs to pay down some of the country’s debt.
After the shortened town hall, the Congresswoman was ushered away from the event by security and a post-event media session was canceled.
Requests for a phone interview follow-up from a more secure location were not able to be coordinated.