FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

Van Orden and Steil vote to continue costly war in Iran, while gas prices continue to skyrocket

After cutting health care and food assistance for working families, Wisconsin Republicans back a billion-dollar-a-day war that is driving up costs at home

MADISON, Wis. — Today, Rep. Bryan Steil and Rep. Derrick Van Orden voted in favor of a resolution to continue giving the Trump administration a blank check for the Iran war, even as this costly war continues raising gas, diesel, food, and energy prices for Wisconsin families who are struggling to make ends meet.

Opportunity Wisconsin Deputy Program Director Rowan Gravlin issued the following statement:

"Congressmen Van Orden and Steil have consistently voted to make life more expensive for Wisconsin families. They’ve voted for cutting Medicaid and slashing food assistance, and failed to stop the expiration of health care tax credits. Now they're again voting to keep spending billions of dollars a day on a war in Iran that is driving up prices at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and squeezing family farmers. Tax breaks for billionaires and blank checks for a war don’t help Wisconsin families and communities succeed. It’s time for our members of Congress to actually focus on lowering costs instead of piling on more."

Since the war began, gas and diesel prices have surged, and energy experts warn prices are unlikely to return to pre-war levels until mid-2027 at the earliest. Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global supplies of oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and food, costs that are passed directly on to Wisconsin consumers. Gas prices in Wisconsin reach an average

$4.51 per gallon and are still climbing. This week diesel reached $5.86 per gallon in Wisconsin, an all-time high, straining local businesses and farmers across the state.

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