This year, Iowans made it impossible to talk about affordability without talking about health care. Rising premiums, clinic closures and families weighing doctor visits against utility bills became the story of the year across the First District.
Fairness for Iowa spent two years making sure those stories were heard. That work took many forms: hard-hitting ads across the district, packed town halls and community events where Iowans shared their stories, and research reports breaking down how Congressional Republicans’ policies were driving up costs for working families in order to give tax breaks to billionaires. Iowans spoke up when health care was at risk for over 130,000 of their friends, families and neighbors. They showed up when health care clinics closed, and they kept sharing their stories as they struggled to cover an additional $3,000 this year due to tariffs and rising costs.
That advocacy changed the conversation. When Iowans were facing high costs and the longest government shutdown in history, sharing their stories pushed Rep. Miller-Meeks to finally hold a town hall and hear from her constituents. She then went on to go against their best interests and voted to cut tax credits that kept health care affordable for over one hundred thousand Iowans.
"Iowans showed up for themselves and shared their stories," Jill, a retired healthcare administrator who uses the ACA said. "My own premiums went up tenfold this year, and I know I'm not alone — families across southeast Iowa are making impossible choices between health care and everything else. We're not done. Congress needs to reverse the health care cuts and stop the tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy that are paid for by cutting programs everyday Iowans rely on."