Wisconsin Families Suffering Under McCain Iraq Tax

MILWAUKEE — With tomorrow’s tax day filing deadline, Wisconsin taxpayers continue to foot a $8.3 billion and growing “Iraq Tax.” Despite the tragic loss of life and damage to the nation’s economy, Sen. John McCain supports the Iraq War and has said he would continue to do so, even if it lasts 100 years.

“We need investment in Wisconsin families, not in an endless war in Iraq which has cost us over 4,000 lives and trillions of dollars,” said Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now. “We need an end to the war, not 100 more years, as John McCain has said he would support.”

The total war cost will reach $3 trillion, says Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. According to the National Priorities Project, the Iraq war has already cost Wisconsin taxpayers more than $8.3 billion since the war began in 2003. The Iraq war has already claimed the lives of more than 4,025 American troops, including 87 from Wisconsin, all of whom perished after President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” event May 1, 2003.

The Wisconsin cost of the Iraq Tax, reports National Priorities, could have provided nearly 70,000 affordable housing units that, given the current predatory lending and housing foreclosure crisis, is needed more than ever.

“Whether it is families facing the loss of their homes or the endless War in Iraq, John McCain’s solution is to ‘stay the course,” said Carolyn Castore, ACORN Wisconsin Political Director. “We have a national housing crisis, but funding which could help provide families with housing relief continues to go into Iraq.”

The Iraq War has been devastating on the nation’s economy today and for the future, including:

*Nobel Laureate Stiglitz says not only is the full cost of the war is $3 trillion, but also it will have a devastating long term impact on the economy

*The war has caused oil prices to skyrocket – the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Wisconsin has increased from $1.58 a gallon to $3.41 a gallon – an increase of 215 percent – with every indication price hikes will continue

*Nine in ten Americans believe the Iraq War is hurting the U.S. economy

Numerous events calling for investing in America’s future, instead of Iraq are scheduled across Wisconsin on Tuesday. Citizen Action of Wisconsin is hosting events in Green Bay and Eau Claire. In Milwaukee, Citizen Action, Casa Maria and Peace Action-Milwaukee will host an event.

In Madison, One Wisconsin Now will have supporters near the Post Office by the State Capitol at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. on Monday and Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. to remind Wisconsin about the cost of McCain Iraq Tax.