As of September 24, 2007, the Iraq War has cost the United States over $454 billion dollars.
Of that $454 billion, the war has cost taxpayers in Michigan over $12 billion, with an estimated $237 million coming from taxpayers in Grand Rapids.
That money could have–and should have–been used to fund social programs within our community. The money could have:
* Built 2,141 additional housing units
* Hired 4,122 public school teachers for one year
* Paid for 31,507 children to attend Head Start for one year
* Insured 142,442 children for one year
* Provided four-year scholarships for 11,531 students at public universities
Additionally, the war has had significant human costs:
* At least 144 soldiers from Michigan have been killed in the war.
* At least 6 soldiers from Grand Rapids.
* At least 655,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed as a result of the invasion and occupation.
Since the war began, Grand Rapids area congressional Representative Vern Ehlers has voted for every funding package and has consistently opposed any legislation aimed at ending the occupation of Iraq. Similarly, Michigan’s two Senators–Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow–while initially opposing the war, have voted for every funding package and have expressed support for a continued US presence in Iraq.