Mariannette Miller-Meeks admits ‘no tax on Social Security’ rhetoric is false

During a telephone town hall held last month, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) admitted to a constituent that the One Big Beautiful Bill does not fully remove taxes on Social Security.

Miller-Meeks and 267 other Republicans in Congress approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. Since President Donald Trump signed the tax and spending megabill in July, many Republicans have routinely and falsely claimed that the legislation removes taxes on Social Security.

This claim has been debunked many times, as the bill only includes a temporary deduction for individuals over 65. According to a fact check conducted by Thomson Reuters, the taxability of Social Security benefits remains unchanged.

At the beginning of her Dec. 18 town hall, Miller-Meeks also repeated the talking point, saying, “We delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security.” About ten minutes into the event, a constituent called in and said he was tired of the no tax on Social Security rhetoric and asked why everyone is claiming otherwise.

Miller-Meeks focused on the fact that the bill provides some tax relief but admitted that she will be paying taxes on her Social Security, despite claiming otherwise minutes before.

Miller-Meeks did not respond to a request to clarify why she continues to repeat the false talking point. 

Miller-Meeks also said her health care premiums increased. The Iowa congresswoman has routinely voted against extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Republicans allowed to expire at the end of 2025. With those tax credits gone, enrollees who were previously receiving the tax credits are expected to see an average increase of 114% to out-of-pocket costs.