LE CLAIRE, Iowa – On Monday, former U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, a candidate in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District’s Republican primary, called on State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, to endorse the fetal heartbeat abortion ban bill or drop out.
His challenge comes after a 2018 video surfaced from her state senate race, where Miller-Meeks identified herself as “pro-choice” during an event with the Ottumwa League of Women Voters. She then later stated that abortion is a decision “best left to providers, to doctors, and to patients.”
Schilling said that Miller-Meeks should clarify her position on abortion “today,” and commit to supporting the Heartbeat Protection Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.
“This will provide pro-life voters with the peace of mind to be able to vote for her in November should she happen to be the nominee,” he said.
Schilling added if she is unwilling to do that, she should drop out of the race, “immediately.”
“The Republican Party is a party that defends life. Period. If Miller-Meeks can’t do that, she needs to step aside for lying so egregiously on such an important issue,” he said.
Miller-Meeks’ campaign told Caffeinated Thoughts on Saturday that she misspoke during that event and insists that the first-term state senator is 100 percent pro-life and pointed to her vote and remarks in support of the Life Amendment in the Iowa Senate earlier this year, as well as, voting to defund Planned Parenthood.