Earlier this month we told you about Congressperson Randy Feenstra’s decision to invite an out-of-state resident, nonconstituent who happened to be a donor to his campaign to the State of the Union Address.
It was the second straight year that Feenstra invited a donor to the State of the Union.
Feenstra wasn’t the only Iowa representative to have someone from out of their district be their guest to the State of the Union, who also happened to be a donor.
As it turns out, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks invited an out-of-district donor as well. George Schneidermann’s son, Scott, was the invited guest of Feenstra. According to George Schneidermann, he told Miller-Meeks about his son’s invite one week before the State of the Union. And, after he told her about it, Miller-Meeks extended an invitation to George to be her guest.
George Schneidermann lives in northwest Iowa, well outside of Miller-Meeks’ district. George Schneidermann donated $2,000 to Miller-Meeks in October of 2023. George Schneidermann donated $2,000 to Miller-Meeks in July of 2022 and $1,000 to Miller-Meeks in April of 2021. Scott Schneidermann donated $1,000 to Miller-Meeks in September of 2022 and another $1,000 in April of 2021.
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson invited the Mason City Police Chief to be her guest. Congressman Zach Nunn had parents of a young Iowan who died from fentanyl poisoning be his guests. Senator Joni Ernst had the mother of Itay Chen, who was thought to be a hostage of Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Shortly after the State of the Union, the IDF confirmed Chen’s death.
Congressperson Feenstra and Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, however, invited donors as their guests.
