A Second Mortgage: Iowans Could be Paying Iraq War Tab for Years
Friday, March 21, 2008
Des Moines, IA - As the Iraq war enters its sixth year, the cost to the U.S. national treasury is over a half-trillion dollars and counting. According to the National Priorities Project, that amount includes a heavy cost to Iowa taxpayers; an NPP analysis estimates Iowa's share at $4 billion.
Congressman Leonard Boswell believes that's money the state could really have used here at home.
"Iowa could certainly use some of it for health care for the uninsured and making college more affordable."
He says another cost yet to be tallied is the bill for taking care of Iraq war veterans with both physical and mental scars.
"The care needed by veterans is going to come at an enormous cost. No question it's the right thing to do, they put their lives on the line and they survived and they need to be taken care of. Of course all of us want to see them receive the best, but it's going to be very costly."
Boswell worries that this is just one of the costs that state and federal taxpayers will be bearing for years into the future. Supporters of war funding argue it's a necessary investment in national security.
The report is available on line at www.nationalpriorities.org.
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