Don Morrison's Testimony in Support of SCR 4022
My name is Don Morrison and I am the Executive Director of NDPeople.Org, a statewide advocacy group.
The case has been made that the American people and most North Dakotans have major concerns about the war in Iraq that have led most of us to oppose sending 21,500 additional U.S. troops. This resolution is a respectful and necessary statement from North Dakotans.
We are not here today to debate whether or not we can talk about our nation's policy in Iraq. It is obviously the duty and responsibility of a person who lives in a democracy to know about and to discuss such a critical issue. Certainly, no reasonable person would expect Americans to follow blindly just because those with power say so.
This morning, others have made the case with overwhelming evidence that a different policy is needed in Iraq. We have come to this conclusion, because of what our nation's troops - particularly our family and friends - are telling us privately. We probably should have had this discussion a long time ago. It is correct and proper that we do this.
Theodore Roosevelt said, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." (Roosevelt, 1918)
Benjamin Franklin warned that those who would "give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security." Our country and our troops will be stronger for what we do today and passage of this resolution - for positive change in US policy - will be part of that strengthening of American democracy.
So, I want to thank you Mr. Chairman and members of this committee for having this discussion in the North Dakota House of Representatives. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you this morning on the impact and cost that the continuation and escalation of the Iraq War has on the states and taxpayers.
I found a variety of estimates of the cost of the War in Iraq. They range from $456 billion to $2 trillion. Of course the studies are measuring different things, but, one thing is obvious: continuing to increase the cost of this war means funds are not available for deficit reduction, health care, education, safety, transportation and other important needs of North Dakotans and Americans. Certainly we know that Iraq War funding continues to increase the deficit. The cost which is compounded with interest will eventually have to be paid by American taxpayers.
Scott Wallsten of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, in September 2005 put the cost of the war at $500 billion with another $500 billion possible with most of the total borne by the United States.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz puts the war cost at between $1 trillion to $2 trillion. That includes $300 billion for future health care costs for wounded troops. Additional costs include an impact from added interested on the national debt and major capital investment to replace military equipment depleted or destroyed by the war.
The war is essentially financed through deficit spending so interest payments over time could amount to another $100 billion more. When the war began, the cost estimates were $50 billion.
The $456.1 billion estimate includes only incremental budgetary costs, not interest costs or future costs. The number is based on the legislation appropriating funding for the Iraq War and Congressional Research Service reports through last year. That is $4,100 for every American household and $1,500 for every American. This is $11 million per hour and $275 million per day. Adding another 21,500 American troops will cost American taxpayers another $5.6 billion per year.
The cost for North Dakota taxpayers so far is estimated at $456.0 million and with pending request from the President it could go to $550.4 million. These numbers come from the National Priorities Project.
The President has asked for nearly $100 billion in additional war spending for fiscal year 2007 and his proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 would cut $13 billion in non-security discretionary spending. Billions more would be cut by restricting eligibility in mandatory programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. These cuts impact the work you do with federal funds in our state's budget.
The human costs of this war are important to us. We honor our friends and family who are serving in Iraq. They are doing their job. The fact that North Dakota ranks fourth among the states in terms of the number of casualties compared to our population is a matter of honor, but it also needs to be recognized by us and by legislators as to its impact on our state and people.
I would suggest that as you legislate you remember how much money the War in Iraq is costing. When you want to improve North Dakota schools, transportation, or the quality of life of people here, and don't have enough money, think about the spending on a war that is a civil war where we are no longer wanted by those we are told we are fighting for. It is fighting in a place that is not a threat to our freedom and - as a matter of fact - our fighting in Iraq is breeding more terrorists. Continuing to spend taxpayers' money for something that is not working is an issue that matters to you as state legislators. We need to keep our eye on what will make America strong.
We need to ask what it means to our security and safety here in North Dakota when so many of our National Guard are serving overseas. We know that well-trained law enforcement officers in North Dakota are serving in Iraq. Obviously, that leaves holes in our state's law enforcement. In addition, emergency services see the costs of the war - in dollar amounts - as federal aid has slowly decreased. Funding for police and fire departments has declined. Rural ambulance services - already struggling for funds - are dealing with reduced federal funds.
Students and families feel the impact of this mismanaged war as funding for education declines.
Farmers in North Dakota and around our country feel the costs of this war. The past summer's drought, disaster aid was denied and the reason given was that the national budget could not afford to provide disaster relief because of the escalating cost of the war in Iraq.
It is important to state that going to war is not decided on how much it will cost. However, in this war especially, going to war was a choice. We were not attacked by Iraq like we were in 1941 at Pearl Harbor. There was no eminent danger to the United States. Actually, the US attack on Iraq was a well-documented major shift in American global policy to a first strike policy. That was a choice. Staying in an Iraqi civil war or redeploying our troops is also a choice.
It is our responsibility to talk here in this room in a respectful, honest way about one of the most important issues facing our nation and our planet. This is one of the places we should have this discussion. I would urge you to be cautious of anyone who says it is not your job to listen and work with your constituents.
We ask that you recommend a DO PASS on SCR 4022 in a form that more closely matches what North Dakota people think about the war.