Democratic leaders in Nevada are speaking out against the Iran war, saying the U.S. should be investing in social services and renewable energy instead.
A top Pentagon official testified last week the U.S. has spent about $25 billion on the war since February, not counting the damage to U.S. bases.
Pat Spearman, former president pro tem of the Nevada State Senate, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and a member of the National Leadership Taskforce for the nonprofit Elected Officials to Protect America, said voters need to make their voices heard.
"Everybody ought to contact whoever it is that represents them in Congress and say, 'I don't want to spend one more dime on this war. I want to make sure that we have money for healthcare, we have money for childcare,'" Spearman urged.
The White House maintains the war in Iran is necessary to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Opponents countered the administration has made the world less safe by using the war to justify lifting restrictions on Russian oil, giving Vladimir Putin more money to fund the invasion of Ukraine.
The war costs the U.S. an estimated $1 billion per day, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven gas prices to a four-year high.
Spearman noted higher temperatures linked to climate change mean Nevadans have to spend more money on electricity for air conditioning. She argued reducing energy bills will require reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy.
"Why not send a grant to people in the places where they have an abundance of sunshine?" Spearman suggested. "Every homeowner can then put solar panels on top of their homes to cut down on the expense of electricity."
Congress and the Trump administration have placed a focus on weakening renewable energy. Reports from the Financial Times indicated administration officials paused 165 wind energy projects over the weekend, citing national security concerns. Industry groups called it a major escalation.
Source: Public News Service
