What's the Iraq Occupation Costing New Mexicans?

MoveOn.org has released reports, using data from the National Priorities Project, for every Congressional District in America toting up what Bush's failed occupation in Iraq is costing us. To date, nearly a half-trillion dollars has been spent on an unwinnable civil war—money that could have improved our communities. On average, $275 million is spent every day on the war in Iraq—that is an average of $4,100 for every household in the United States over the course of the war. And those costs are continuing to rise with no end in sight.

Last month, Congress voted for an additional $100 billion in spending. That makes the total funding appropriated for the war in Iraq so far $456 billion. The cost to New Mexico taxpayers alone is $1.39 billion. Click highlighted text for reports on Iraq spending in each of New Mexico's three Congressional Districts:

(Albuquerque area): Taxpayers in the 1st congressional district alone are paying $519 million for the Iraq war. What citizens of New Mexico's 1st District could have gotten instead:

• Health care coverage for 153,012 people—or 203,224 kids, or
• Head Start for 74,180 additional kids, or
• 11,093 new elementary school teachers, or
• 132,540 scholarships to make college more affordable, or
• Renewable electricity for 812,254 homes, or
• 5,298 affordable housing units, or
• 13,788 public safety officers to keep the streets safe

(Southern NM): Taxpayers in the 2nd Congressional District alone are paying $395 million for the Iraq war.

(Northern NM): Taxpayers in the 3nd Congressional District alone are paying $473 million for the Iraq war.

The money being spent in Iraq could be used to improve the lives of Americans instead of putting them at risk. Congress must act quickly to rein in this reckless president and bring an end to this war. With the costs of the war expected to ultimately double, taxpayers in New Mexico cannot afford another $519 million to keep our troops stuck in an unwinnable civil war in Iraq—especially when our communities are paying such a heavy price.

Compare actual war spending vs. Bush administration projections: In late 2002, President Bush's Budget Director estimated that the cost of the war with Iraq could be in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion. When Bush's chief economic adviser, Lawrence Lindsey, publicly estimated that the war in Iraq might cost $100 billion to $200 billion, he was fired. [New York Times, 12/31/02; Time Magazine, 12/23/02]

Speak Up: Congress is currently on its August recess, but we want to make sure our representatives know we mean business. We want them to know what they must do when they return to work next month. Please contact your U.S. Representative and Senators and urge them to stop the war NOW. Congress.org makes it easy.