Miller-Meeks seeks funding but opposes bill

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who voted against the recent infrastructure bill called "Invest in America Act," figured out the formula to satisfy her Republican overlords: obstruct Democratic legislation then fool constituents by making false statements.

Miller-Meeks requested over $14 million in funding for earmarks before an April deadline long before she falsely stated, in July, that she opposed the bill because the overarching legislation was too costly, unpaid for and would drive up deficits.

Obviously, Miller-Meeks doesn’t care how her 2nd District project requests are funded. She still could receive the funding despite opposing the legislation, if the bill becomes law.

Moreover, it has not been determined who will eventually pay for the earmarks even though Miller-Meeks claimed: "(I) t would continue to drive both our deficit and inflation."

First, the bill is an authorization measure, not an appropriations bill. Second, Rep. Peter DeFazio who sponsored the bill explained that the Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee in the House, "has held a number of hearings and there are members of that committee that have a multiplicity of ideas."

Second District voters need a new representative.

Ellen Ballas

Iowa City