2nd District GOP candidates would limit role of federal government

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS – A trio of Republicans hoping to be the party's candidate in the U.S. House 2

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District this fall, are running to get the  federal government our of the way of individuals, families and business.

From abortion to agriculture, education, health care and retirement savings, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Steve Rathje and Christopher Reed agreed Iowans would be better off with less – or even no-federal involvement in many areas of their lives.

“I don't want the federal government educating my children in any way, shape or form,” Rathje, a Cedar Rapids businessman, said.

Iowans need the federal government to “get out of my way and let me succeed,” added Reed, a Marion businessman.

Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa ophthalmologist, called for more personal responsibility in education and health-care and for the federal government to empower consumers to make their own choices.

The Republicans spoke at a forum hosted by the Linn Area Pro-Life United and the Mount Mercy College Political Science Student Group Saturday. They are running in the June 8 GOP primary for the nomination to challenge Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Mount Vernon Democrat.

There were few sharp disagreements between them as they answered a dozen questions before an audience of more than 75 people, many of them writing notes as they listened, and nearly a dozen video cameras at Betty Cherry Heritage Hall at Mount Mercy.

All are pro-life, believe in free markets, would limit immigration and oppose a federal health-care program and cap-and-trade as a way to limit on carbon emissions.

There was a disagreement on ending the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy stopping openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving.

The decision should be left to the military, according to Miller-Meeks.

“For some,” the retired Army Reserve physician said, allowing openly gay soldiers to serve “may be uncomfortable.” However, if someone is willing, they should be allowed to serve as long as that's the decision of the military – not the president, Congress or the courts.

“They're already there,” Reed, a Navy veteran, said about gays in the military. “It's another example of the federal government trying to fix things until they are broken.”

Only Rathje called for continuing the “don't ask, don't tell” policy.

“It's a huge morality issue,” he said. “If the generals in the field tell me it's an issue, I have to believe them.”

Collectively or individually, the candidate called for abolishing the Federal Reserve, as well as the Departments of Energy and Education, including No Child Left Behind, and the Farm Bill. Citing the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the states, they would leave abortion and health care up to state governments.

They would rely on the federal government to control immigration. Reed called limiting immigration to meet the needs of industry. Rathje called for building a fence to limit entry into the United States to “immigrants who have something to offer.”

Immigrants are needed, said Miller-Meeks, advocating rewriting immigration law.

“We're stronger because of our diversity,” she said.