VOICE AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE ISSUES. LOOKING AT IOWA’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WE SIT DOWN WITH REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS TO TALK ABOUT HER REELECTION CAMPAIGN, INVOKED WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR ISSUES. AND MILLER-MEEKS FACES PRIMARY CHALLENGER, REPUBLICAN DAVID PAUTSCH. WHY THE SELF-PROCLAIMED CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE SAYS HE’S THE BEST VOICE FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA. WE ARE IN A MOMENT NOW WHERE WE NEED A CHANGE, AND I SIT DOWN WITH DEMOCRAT CHRISTINA BOHANNAN RUNNING UNOPPOSED IN THE JUNE PRIMARY. WHY? SHE SAYS SHE’S RUNNING AGAIN AFTER LOSING THE LAST ELECTION. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WELCOME TO CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER IN COMMITMENT 2024. WE ARE GETTING TO KNOW ALL THE IOWANS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AHEAD OF THE JUNE 4TH PRIMARY ELECTION. TODAY, WE’RE LOOKING AT IOWA’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS MOST OF SOUTHEAST IOWA. INCUMBENT MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS WAS NARROWLY ELECTED TO REPRESENT SOUTHEAST IOWA IN 2020. SHE WAS REELECTED IN 2022, DEFEATING CHRISTINA BOHANNAN BY SEVEN PERCENTAGE POINTS. BOHANNAN IS RUNNING AGAIN FOR THE SEAT, BUT MILLER-MEEKS IS FIRST UP AGAINST REPUBLICAN DAVID PAUTSCH IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION THIS JUNE. I SAT DOWN WITH MILLER-MEEKS TO TALK ABOUT WHY, WHAT SHE’D FOCUS ON IN A POTENTIAL THIRD TERME REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. IT’S LOVELY TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN. FOR IOWANS WHO MAY NOT KNOW, WHY DON’T YOU START BY TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND OH, JEESH, THAT WOULD, LIKE, TAKE UP THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, BUT SUFFICE TO SAY, I’M THE FOURTH OF EIGHT CHILDREN. MY DAD WAS CAREER ENLISTED AIR FORCE, SO WE MOVED AROUND. MY MOM HAD A GED, SHE WORKED. SO FOR MY ENTIRE UPBRINGING, MOST OF MY LIFE, BOTH MY PARENTS WERE WORKING PARENTS, BUT REALLY INTELLIGENT AND SMART PEOPLE WANTED A COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR THEIR KIDS. SO WHEN I WAS 15, I WAS BURNED IN A KITCHEN FIRE. AND DURING THAT VERY LONG AND PAINFUL HOSPITALIZATION, DECIDED I WANTED TO BECOME A DOCTOR. TOLD MY PARENTS THAT WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND THEY WERE, AS I WOULD SAY, AS A TEENAGER, I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE DISCOURAGING AND SO MY IDEA OF REBELLING WAS TO SAY, I’M LEAVING HOME. SO I LEFT HOME AT 16, ENROLLED IN JUNIOR COLLEGE, GOT A JOB AND I JUST DECIDED A PATHWAY TO HOW I COULD GET TO MEDICAL SCHOOL. SO I THOUGHT IF I GOT A DEGREE IN NURSING, I COULD WORK AT NIGHT. SO I GOT A DEGREE IN NURSING AND LISTED IN THE ARMY WHEN I WAS 18. I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT WOULD LEAD TO 24 YEARS IN THE MILITARY GOING ENLISTED TO OFFICER AND ULTIMATELY RETIRED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL, BUT DID GET A DEGREE IN NURSING, A MASTER’S IN EDUCATION, AND ULTIMATELY WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL. AND THEN I CAME TO IOWA TO DO MY RESIDENCY IN OPHTHALMOLOGY. SO I ENDED UP SPENDING MOST OF MY LIFE IN IOWA AFTER HAVING SPENT MY FORMATIVE YEARS TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH MY PARENTS. AND THEN MYSELF IN THE MILITARY AND YOU’VE NOW SPENT MULTIPLE YEARS IN CONGRESS S WHY RUN FOR REELECTION? WELL, THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. AND I THINK PART OF IT IS, WHY RUN FOR ELECTION TO BEGIN WITH? I WAS A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, LOVED MY PATIENTS, LOVED WHAT I DO, STILL MISS WHAT I DID AS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST, AND HAVING TRAINED AT ONE OF THE BEST OPHTHALMOLOGY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, AND I GOT INTO POLITICS BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE, MAKING IT AFFORDABLE, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T INTERFERE WITH THE DOCTOR’S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PATIENTS AND ADVISE THEIR PATIENTS THAT PATIENT DOCTOR INTERACTION, THE INCREASING BURDEN IN HEALTH CARE OF REGULATION, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN. AND FROM THE TIME I WAS A NURSE, THAT WAS A PROBLEM TO A PHYSICIAN AND EVEN NOW IN CONGRESS, IT REMAINS A PROBLEM. SO I CONTINUE TO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR AND TO PUSH SMART HEALTH CARE POLICY WHERE THERE IS NOT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AND WHERE THERE’S RESPECT FOR THE PATIENT PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP, I THINK IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONVEY THAT MESSAGE AND INFLUENCE HOW POLICY IS MADE IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHETHER IT’S HEALTH CARE, WHETHER IT’S ENERGY, WHETHER IT’S MENTAL HEALTH CARE OR BRAIN HEALTH OR VETERANS ISSUES, I’VE BEEN ABLE TO BE A STRONG VOICE AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE ISSUES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE’S BEEN MANY HEADLINES ABOUT NOT JUST THE DIVISIVENESS IN CONGRESS FROM BOTH PARTIES, BUT AS IOWANS AND AMERICANS WATCHED THE SEARCH FOR FOR A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER, THERE HAS BEEN DISARRAY IN THE HOUSE. REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE. AS SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD IOWANS TRUST TO REELECT YOU? HOW COULD YOU POTENTIALLY BRING SOME MORE UNITY TO CONGRESS IF YOU WERE REELECTED? WELL, HAVING HAVING BEEN THROUGH, YOU KNOW, A PERIOD OF HISTORY MAKING, I’M GOING TO SAY, HISTORIC EVENTS THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, WHERE I OFTEN REMARKED THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE GO BACK TO BORING CONGRESS? AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS IS LEGISLATING AND MAKING LAW IS A MESSY ISSUE. AND DEMOCRACY IS MESSY. THERE. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT VOICES AND YOU’RE TRYING TO BRING IN THOSE VOICES, YOU KNOW, PAY ATTENTION. LISTEN, AND THEN CRAFT GOOD POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION. SO I HAVE MY OVERALL PRINCIPLES, AND I THINK I’M A PERSON WHO’S KNOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND KNOWN IN IOWA TO LISTEN TO VOICES, TO SEEK OTHER OPINIONS. IT DOESN’T MEAN I’M NOT OPINIONATED. I, I AM I HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS AND A CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS, BUT I’M ALSO KNOWN TO BE BIPARTISAN, TO BE ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND TO LOOK FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY. NUMBER ONE, TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR IOWA AND TO TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR OUR COUNTRY. AND SO YOU YOU CAN SEEK TO HAVE THAT COMMON GROUND, BUT FOR ME, YES, GOING BACK TO BORING CONGRESS AFTER BEING A VERY SHORT TIME IN CONGRESS, CASS IN SOME OF THE MOST HISTORIC EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, I’D LIKE TO GO BACK TO WHERE WE’RE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT’S BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TRYING TO PROMOTE THEM AND PROMOTE, PROMOTE THE UNITED STATES, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD. WHAT ACTION COULD YOU TAKE TO HELP TO HELP IOWANS FEEL SOME RELIEF FROM THE HIGH PRICES? THEY SAY THEY’RE STILL DEALING WITH, EVEN THOUGH INFLATION HAS COME DOWN, PRICES HAVE REMAINED HIGH, SO PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE AT THE GAS PUMP. THEY’RE PAYING MORE FOR GROCERIES, YOU KNOW, RENT IS MUCH HIGHER AND IF YOU’RE TRYING TO GET A LOAN, WHETHER IT’S FOR A CAR OR FOR YOUR FIRST HOUSE OR FOR SCHOOL LOANS, THOSE INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER. SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND IOWANS ARE SUFFERING. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND PRIORITIZE WHERE WE SPEND MONEY. THERE ALMOST AS ALWAYS, IT SEEMS TO BE INFINITE WANTS AND NEEDS. BUT WE HAVE TO SPEND WHERE THAT WHERE THE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE GOING TO DO THE MOST GOOD AND THEY’RE NOT GOING TO FLOOD THE ECONOMY AND LEAD TO HIGH INTEREST RATES. SECOND, WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON ENERGY PRICES. SO THE HOUSE HAS PASSED H.R. ONE, OUR ENERGY BILL. SO REOPENING OUR DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION, MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE ABOVE. NEXT IS WHAT WE DO TO HELP GROW THE ECONOMY. BUT GROWING THE ECONOMY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HELPING INDIVIDUALS. KENDALL PALS THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE ON CHILD CARE, SO HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THAT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND THEN THE WORK THAT WE’RE DOING ON VETERANS ALSO TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS, MAKING SURE THEY GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. I WANT TO ASK YOU LAST QUESTION, JOHN. IF YOU’RE TALKING TO A VOTER, WHAT IS YOUR FINAL PITCH ON WHY THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU? I’VE BEEN CONSISTENT. I’VE BEEN ACCESSIBLE. I HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. I LISTEN, I’M TRYING TO CRAFT POLICY THAT BRINGS DOWN HEALTH CARE PRICES, ADDRESSES, ADDRESSES, THE HIGH PRICES FOR THEIR COST OF LIVING, AND MAKING OUR UPCOMING WORLD THE PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO BE, GROW AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL. WHEN CLOSE-UP RETURNS, I SIT DOWN WITH DAVID PORCH, THE REPUBLICAN WHO IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT MILLER-MEEKS IN THE PRIMARY AND OUR CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTINA BOHANNAN, THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP REPUBLICAN DAVID PORCH IS CHALLENGING FIRST DISTRICT INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS IN THE JUNE 4TH REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION. WE SAT DOWN WITH PORCH TO TALK ABOUT WHY HE WANTS TO SERVE SOUTHEAST IOWA. FOR IOWANS WHO MAY NOT KNOW, WHY DON’T YOU START BY TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHERE YOU GREW UP, WHAT YOU DO, AND WHY YOU’RE NOW RUNNING FOR CONGRESS? YEAH, WELL, I SPEND 75% OF MY LIFE HERE IN IOWA, AND I GREW UP IN NORTHWEST IOWA. HUGE METROPOLITAN AREA CALLED IDA GROVE. AND LEFT THERE, WENT AND JOINED THE ARMY TO TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY AS MY TUBA. I WAS IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY BAND BUT STAYED OUT THERE, GOT A DEGREE FROM VIRGINIA TECH IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND LIVED ON BOTH COASTS IN CALIFORNIA, VIRGINIA, EVEN ARIZONA AND COLORADO. BUT ALWAYS HAVE FOUND IOWA’S WHERE IT’S AT AND MY SKILL CAREER HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO MARKET MARKET RESEARCH BEECH MARKETING, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE LIKE. TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET A FEW MORE BUCKS OUT OF THEIR HARD EARNED EFFORTS AND BUT I’M I’M NOW IN MY MY NEXT CAREER WITH POLITICS. I’VE NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE. IT’S NOT EVEN CLASS PRESIDENT. BUT AT 69 YEARS OF AGE, I FIGURED THAT I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER THAT’S BEEN KIND OF SEASONED, UH, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF MY SON OVER IN IRAQ. AND, UH. BUT HE DIED FOR A GOOD CAUSE. BUT MY OTHER SON WAS SERVED OVER IN AFGHANISTAN. HE DID COME HOME, BUT HE GOT BEAT UP OVER THERE EMOTIONALLY. WAR IS JUST TOUGH AND LOUD AND HARD AND HE’S DEALING WITH THESE THINGS. SO I’M RUNNING TO HONOR THEM. BUT I’M ALSO RUNNING TO HONOR THE LORD BECAUSE HE’S THE ONE WHO GIVES MEANING TO LIFE. HE’S THE ONE THAT GIVES POWER. AND WE’RE IN A MESS IN OUR COUNTRY, AND WE’RE IN OVER OUR HEADS, AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT WE CAN REALLY DO ALL BY OURSELVES TO GET US OUT OF THIS FIX, IN THIS MESS THAT WE’RE IN. SO I THINK THERE’S SOME THINGS THAT I BRING TO THE EQUATION THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN’T AREN’T KIND OF EMBARRASSED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THAT’S THE FACT THAT THE LORD WHO GOT OUT OUR COUNTRY STARTED. HE’S THE ONE WHO WANTS TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR US. IT’S BEYOND JUST MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. IT’S TO MAKING IT SPLENDID AND MARVELOUS A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES LOVE EACH OTHER, WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS GET ALONG, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS AND THEY’RE SECURE AND HAPPY AND JOYFUL. SO A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN GOOD, GOOD, GOOD THINGS. WHEN YOU SAY, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO OFFER AND YOU WANT TO MAKE THE COUNTRY THAT WAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO HOLD THIS SEAT? WELL, THERE’S SOME REAL OBVIOUS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, PARTICULARLY THE BORDER. THAT’S EVERYONE’S HOT BUTTON. IF THEY’RE THEY’RE BREATHING. BUT A LOT OF OUR POLITICIANS, POLITICIANS AREN’T, AREN’T, AREN’T THAT CONCERNED ABOUT IT. CONGRESS DOES HAVE SOME LEVERAGE, BUT IT TAKES SOME GUTS TO USE THE LEVERAGE THAT THEY DO HAVE. IT’S BEYOND IMPEACHMENT. IT’S TIME FOR A REST. AND THEY’RE JUST A LOT OF THINGS VERY PRACTICAL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS THING. BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE A BORDER, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY. SO IT’S JUST AN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL SITUATION. AND THEN YOU THROW IN ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE TRANSPIRING BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION AND THE AN ECONOMY THAT’S OUT OF CONTROL, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT’S OUT OF CONTROL. THE REASON WE HAVE INFLATION IS BECAUSE OF THIS INSANE LEVEL OF SPENDING. IT IS PRINT, PRINT, MORE MONEY. WE HAVE MORE GOODS CHASING TWO MORE DOLLARS, CHASING TOO FEW GOODS. YOU WIND UP HAVING INFLATION. THAT’S JUST ALL THERE IS TO IT. THAT’S NOT A REAL CONCEPT, A REAL DIFFICULT CONCEPT. BUT YOU JUST NEED TO GET GOVERNMENT SPENDING UNDER CONTROL. AND I COULD DO THAT WITH. IN FACT, PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED ME, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS? I SAID, BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP YOU SAVE AMERICA. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD DO WITH MY FULL SUPPORT, HE JUST LOP AND SLASHED GOVERNMENT SPENDING. THERE ARE SO MANY WASTEFUL WHOLE DEPARTMENTS, I’D ELIMINATE THEM ALL. LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FBI. THEY’RE DOING MORE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY THAN THEY ARE DOING GOOD. MIGHT AS WELL JUST LEVEL THEM. START FROM THE GROUND UP AGAIN. IT JUST NEEDS TO BE THAT RADICAL BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE JUST THAT SEVERE. YOU MENTIONED SUPPORTING GETTING RID OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BUT ALSO THE FBI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. IF YOU WERE TO WORK TO ELIMINATE THOSE, HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THAT AMERICANS HAVE A SYSTEM TO KEEP THEM SAFE? BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD? WELL, THE THING THAT’S MAKING THEM UNSAFE RIGHT NOW ARE THESE DEPARTMENTS. YOU CAN THROW IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. WELL, THERE ARE THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN THE RANK AND FILE OF THESE PLACES THAT ARE DOING WELL. BUT THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE THINGS ARE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. THEY’RE WEAPONIZING THESE DEPARTMENTS. IT’S INCREDIBLE WHAT THE FBI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAVE BEEN PULLING OFF. SO, AH, IT WOULD BE A TOUGH DEAL NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HARM THAT THESE OPERATIONS ARE DOING NOW, WE’D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM AND JUST STARTED FROM THE GROUND UP BECAUSE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN AMERICA KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. IF YOU JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE AND QUIT WEAPONIZING THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST THEM. SO THERE WOULD BE NO REAL BIG PROBLEM. YOU JUST HAVE TO START OUT WITH GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T BE FIXED. YOU CAN’T TINKER WITH THEM ANYMORE. THEY’RE JUST THE LEADERSHIP IS TOO CORRUPT, JUST ABSOLUTELY CORRUPT. A RECENT DES MOINES REGISTER IOWA POLL LOOKED AT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE FIRST DISTRICT AND FOUND THAT MORE PEOPLE IN THE FIRST DISTRICT WANT A DEMOCRAT IN THIS SEAT AND NOT A REPUBLICAN. HOW WOULD YOU REPRESENT THEIR VIEWPOINTS? WELL, I WOULDN’T REPRESENT THEIR VIEWPOINT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VIEWPOINT. MY FIRST REPRESENTATION IS TO THE CONSTITUTION. I’M SWORN TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. THAT’S MY FIRST JOB. I DON’T THINK IT’S A MATTER OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO REPRESENT. DO I REPRESENT THE LEFT OR RIGHT? I REPRESENT? I REPRESENT THE TRUTH. I REPRESENT WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE. I’M NOT. YOU CAN BE SURE I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ANY ABORTION BILLS. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ANY TRANSGENDER BILL. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR GREAT INCREASES IN SPENDING. BUT IF YOU IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO THIS SEAT, WOULD YOU REPRESENT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT YOU TO DO OR WOULD YOU DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT? I WOULD DO WHAT GOD THINKS IS RIGHT. THAT’S A BIG DIFFERENCE. MY DAD WAS A PASTOR AND HE HAD PEOPLE COMING AT HIM AND SAYING, OH, YOU OUGHT TO DO THIS AND YOU OUGHT TO DO THAT. HE SAYS, I’M ONLY HERE TO PLEASE ONE PERSON. THAT WAS THE LORD, AND THAT’S ALL I CAN DO AS A REPRESENTATIVE. I’M NOT HERE TO TRY AND BE A CHAMELEON IN A BOX OF CRAYONS, TRYING TO REPRESENT EVERY LITTLE OPINION HERE, OR THERE, BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS. THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD IDEAS. SO WHAT’S A PERSON SUPPOSED TO DO? DO A LITTLE BIT OF. THAT’S WHAT MEEKS DOES. SHE TRIES TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT TO THE LEFT, A LITTLE BIT TO THE RIGHT, AND SHE WINDS UP BEING WOBBLY AND INEFFECTIVE. YOU HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT’S RIGHT. THAT’S JUST ALL THERE IS TO IT. STILL TO COME ON, CLOSE UP. I SIT DOWN ONE ON ONE WITH CHRISTINA BOHANNAN. WHY? SHE SAYS SHE’S ONCE AGAIN RUNNING FOR IOWA’S FIRST DISTRICT. IN IOWA’S FIRST DISTRICT PRIMARY ELECTION, MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS AND DAVID POUCH WILL FACE OFF, AND THE WINNER WILL TAKE ON DEMOCRAT CHRISTINA BOHANNAN IN NOVEMBER. I SAT DOWN WITH BOHANNAN TO ASK WHAT SHE’S DOING DIFFERENTLY IN HER SECOND BID FOR IOWA’S FIRST DISTRICT SEAT. SO FOR IOWANS WHO MAY NOT KNOW, COULD YOU START BY JUST SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW? ABSOLUTELY. SO I’M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN IOWA’S FIRST DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE STATE. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE RUNNING FOR THIS POSITION. I HAVE JUST REALLY ENJOYED GOING OUT ALL OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND AND YOU KNOW, WHAT I REALLY HEAR IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SO TIRED OF THE FIGHTING AND ALL OF THE CRAZY WASHINGTON, D.C. POLITICS THAT WE SEE. THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE IT’S TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THEIR DAILY LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR DAILY STRUGGLES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I GREW UP IN A HOUSE WITH TWO PARENTS WHO DIDN’T GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. MY DAD WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER. MY MOM MOSTLY STAYED AT HOME WITH US, BUT WAS ALSO A PART TIME DAYCARE WORKER AND AND EVEN WITH WORKING HARD, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET. AND THEN AT ONE POINT, MY DAD GOT SICK. HE GOT EMPHYSEMA, AND THEY CANCELED HIS HEALTH INSURANCE. HE HAD HIS COVERAGE LIMIT. THEY CANCELED HIS HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE DAY OF PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. THAT DREADED WORD, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE COULDN’T JUST GO OUT AND GET OTHER INSURANCE. AND SO AT THAT POINT, WE REALLY KIND OF LOST EVERYTHING. AND WE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR HIS MEDICINE AND PAYING FOR GROCERIES, PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SO WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE PRICE OF GROCERIES, I GET IT. I REMEMBER BEING IN THAT GROCERY STORE WITH MY MOM AND HER HAVING TO MAKE REALLY HARD CHOICES ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT IN THE CART AND NOT, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BASICS AND HEAR WHAT’S GOING ON IN PEOPLE’S LIVES AND WORK TO ADDRESS THAT, RATHER THAN FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES. IN WASHINGTON, D.C., I WAS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER GROWING UP. YOU KNOW, I DIDN’T GROW UP WITH POLITICS. WE DIDN’T DEBATE ISSUES AROUND THE TABLE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, POLITICIANS DIDN’T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE US. WE DIDN’T HAVE MONEY. WE DIDN’T HAVE INFLUENCE. APPANOOSE. AND SO IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE NOW TO BE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY FEEL LIKE POLITICAL OUTSIDERS, BECAUSE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. REALLY DOESN’T BEAR ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ORDINARY LIFE. AND PEOPLE THINK WHAT’S GOING ON THERE IS KIND OF CRAZY AND REALLY DOESN’T SPEAK TO THEM AND DOESN’T ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I BASICALLY WORKED MY WAY THROUGH ENGINEERING SCHOOL AND THEN LAW SCHOOL. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WENT PUBLIC EDUCATION ALL THE WAY. AND SO I HAD GOOD, STRONG PUBLIC EDUCATION, GREAT TEACHERS WHO TOOK AN INTEREST IN ME AND HELPED ME GET ALONG. AND SO I’M STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TEACHERS FOR THAT REASON. AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WERE REALLY LIFELINES FOR MY FAMILY. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP LIFT PEOPLE UP AND GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD OTHERWISE. AND SO I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL. I’M CURRENTLY A LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. I’VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS. I’VE TAUGHT THOUSANDS OF IOWA SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND HELPED THEM GET GOOD JOBS, AND I ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THEM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL NOW, WHICH IS GREAT. I SEE THEM OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY’RE WORKING HARD, THEY’RE HELPING PEOPLE, THEY’RE COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND I’M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THEM. SO THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IT REALLY ALLOWS ME TO BE IN TOUCH WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT IOWA THAT I WOULDN’T GET TO MEET OTHERWISE. AND WHEN I’M IN CONGRESS, I’M GOING TO FIGHT FOR THEM. YOU RAN FOR THIS SEAT BEFORE AND LOST TO MO REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, WHO’S, YOU KNOW, RUNNING FOR REELECTION. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT CAMPAIGN THE LAST TIME AROUND THAT YOU COULD APPLY TO THE CAMPAIGN YOU’RE RUNNING NOW? YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE AND I THINK THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN IT REALLY PROVIDES A FOUNDATION. YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PEOPLE RUN FOR A SECOND TIME, AND YOU CAN REALLY BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU BUILT BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A HUGE GRASSROOTS NETWORK OF SUPPORTERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY FIRED UP THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW ME. THEY BELIEVE IN THIS CAMPAIGN. AND SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY GETTING OUT IN FORCE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER, YOU KNOW, DOOR KNOCKED BEFORE ARE SIGNING UP TO DOOR KNOCK. THEY WANT TO CALL THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND TALK ABOUT WHY THEY’RE SUPPORTING THIS CAMPAIGN. SO THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST ESTABLISHING THAT GRASSROOTS NETWORK AND REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. THIS DISTRICT IS, UH, ONE OF THE MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR, UM, PART OF THAT MEANS THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS. THERE’S ALSO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN THIS DISTRICT. HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO MAY BELIEVE THINGS THAT DIFFER FROM YOUR YOUR POINT OF VIEW? YEAH, THAT’S SO IMPORTANT. AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT REALLY A LOT OF POLITICIANS ARE NOT DOING TODAY. AND I THINK THAT’S SAD. I THINK IT’S WRONG. I DON’T THINK THAT’S HOW OUR COUNTRY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. SO I AM MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO REALLY GET OUT THERE AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME ON, ON EVERY ISSUE OR WHO THINK THAT THEY DON’T AGREE WITH ME ON EVERY ISSUE. BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, I’M NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY. YOU KNOW, I RAN AGAINST A 20 YEAR INCUMBENT OF MY OWN PARTY WHEN I THOUGHT THAT THAT PERSON WASN’T DOING ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. I WILL ALWAYS STAND UP TO MY PARTY. I THINK THAT’S ONE THING WE SEE RIGHT NOW. WAY TOO MUCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SO BEHOLDEN TO THEIR OWN PARTY. WE ARE IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE PEOPLE IN ONE PARTY WILL NOT VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS PROPOSING, EVEN IF IT’S GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO REPRESENT. JUST BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE PROPOSED IT. JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A WIN FOR THE OTHER SIDE, THAT IS JUST WRONG. AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HOW I’M GOING TO BE WHEN I’M IN CONGRESS. SO I AM MAKING AN EFFORT TO TALK TO PEOPLE ALL ACROSS PARTY. I DO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS ALL THE PARTIES ARE TIRED OF THAT KIND OF TRIBALISM THAT KIND OF COMBATIVE POLITICS. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO REALLY SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. AND I HAVE HAD SUCH GREAT RESPONSE WHEN I’VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THAT AND SHARED THAT APPROACH TO THINGS, THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS, AND THAT’S WHY WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG GRASSROOTS NETWORK ACROSS ALL PARTIES. I’VE BEEN GOING TO EVENTS LATELY WHERE, YOU KNOW, I AM TALKING TO REPUBLICANS ABOUT ISSUES, AND THE FACT IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN IOWA WHO FEEL LIKE THEIR PARTY HAS LEFT THEM BEHIND. THEY DON’T AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE MORE EXTREME POSITIONS THAT MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS AND OTHERS ARE TAKING, AND THEY ARE HEARING ME OUT AND AGREEING WITH ME ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES CLOSE UP. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. STAY WITH US. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. THERE ARE STILL A LOT THAT IOWA LAWMAKERS SAY THEY PLAN TO GET DONE THIS SESSION, LIKE SETTING THE STATE BUDGET IN PASSING NEW TAX CUTS. BUT BUT THIS TUESDAY MARKS THE 100TH DAY OF SESSION. AND THAT’S WHEN LAWMAKERS PER DIEM RUNS OUT. SO THAT MEANS THEY CAN CHOOSE TO KEEP WORKING, BUT THEY WON’T BE COMPENSATED BY THE STATE. IF THEY DO. AND NEXT WEEK ON CLOSE UP, WE’LL LOOK AT IOWA’S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. REPUBLICAN ASHLEY HINSON CURRENTLY HOLDS THAT SEAT. SHE’S BEING CHALLENGED BY DEMOCRAT SARAH CORKERY. WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY