River Bend Times

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D., who represents Iowa’s 1st district in the U.S. Congress, posted a series of tweets on October 6, 2025, criticizing Democratic lawmakers over government funding negotiations and their stance on healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants.

In her first post at 13:45 UTC, Miller-Meeks wrote, "It’s Day 6 of the Schumer Shutdown. Democrats are still putting illegal immigrants ahead of American families. Their proposed funding bill reopens loopholes closed in the Working Families Tax Cut, loopholes that banned illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid. It also https://t.co/gaxVc3ZOat".

Later that day at 16:18 UTC, she added, "$200 Billion That’s the bill hardworking taxpayers would be footing for illegal immigrant healthcare that the Democrat CR would force on us. https://t.co/h8RhoKaub0".

At 18:41 UTC, Miller-Meeks continued her criticism by stating, "Because Democrats shut down the government to give illegal immigrants free healthcare, 18,000 federal workers in Iowa face missed paychecks and 62,000 moms and children risk losing WIC benefits. Iowa families deserve better."

Miller-Meeks has served in Congress since 2021 after replacing Dave Loebsack and previously served in the Iowa Senate from 2019 to 2021. She was born in Herlong, California in 1955 and currently resides in Le Claire. Miller-Meeks holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University.

The ongoing debate over government funding has centered on disagreements regarding immigration policy and social spending priorities. The "Schumer Shutdown" reference alludes to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and is used by some Republicans to describe recent lapses in federal appropriations amid partisan disputes.