EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Today, Rebecca Cooke issued the following statement on war with Iran:
“My heart breaks for the families of the service members who have been lost or suffered injuries, and all of us are praying for no further loss of American life.
“Republicans were elected to handle our country’s enormous economic problems at home and keep us out of forever wars—and they’ve failed on both counts. Starting this conflict breaks a major promise to the country while making life even more expensive for working families fighting to make ends meet. This is a war. The president called it that when he spoke to the country. All the other states involved are calling it that. Families in Wisconsin did not vote for their tax dollars to be spent on a war that increases their energy costs.
“There is no doubt that the Iranian regime was undemocratic, cruel, and brutal. We don’t know exactly what will come next, but I hope it is a government that respects the rights and inherent dignity of the Iranian people. The president’s dangerous decapitation strike on the Iranian government has increased regional uncertainty and led to escalation.
“It was announced today that the United States is sending additional troops to the region as conflict spreads. That is unacceptable. No president can unilaterally declare war, and he must take this to Congress.”