PEORIA, Ill. – Two members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation gave differing responses to the United States’ conflict with Iran during appearances in Peoria on Tuesday.
Democrat U.S. Senator Dick Durbin made a visit to City Hall to speak on proposed legislation aimed at cryptocurrency ATM scams.
Durbin says there has been mixed messaging from President Trump in the two-and-a-half months since the conflict started. He says the messaging will switch from wanting to drop bombs on Iran to negotiations to halt the war.
But the Senator adds that consumers cannot afford the conflict to continue.
“Look at the price of gasoline, and tell me how long the American economy and American families can put up with this situation in Iran,” Durbin said.
Gas prices in the Peoria area on Tuesday were reported at an average of $4.82/g, up $1.55/g from one year ago.
Durbin says the higher gas prices are leading to higher prices for customers at grocery and department stores. He would support a suspension of the federal gas tax, but notes it would save about 18 cents per gallon.
President Trump also called on more Arab and Muslim states to sign up to the Abraham Accords, with a goal of normalizing ties between those states and Israel. Durbin reacted to that by saying Israel needs to accept that Palestinians need a safe home land, like the Israelis do. He suggested a two-state solution would lead to lasting peace
16th District Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, believes an “off-ramp” is near for halting the conflict with Iran.
“I think in the next week to ten days, we should have pen to paper,” LaHood said during a visit to Peoria’s Ridgeview Elementary School.
LaHood says a foundation for an agreement to end the conflict is in place. But he wants things codified in writing from Iran, saying they have violated many treaties in the past.
LaHood says Iran not having nuclear weapons would be the best solution for the Middle East, America, and the world. He adds having the Strait of Hormuz must happen for energy supplies, noting it affects fertilizers and diesel fuels.
Some of the things LaHood would like to see codified include Iran agreeing to unfettered access to its nuclear facilities as a watchdog mechanism, as well as taking out any unused uranium from Iran.
LaHood favors Middle Eastern countries making their own Abraham Accords, citing previous ones Israel has with Sudan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. He says those should be built on, adding that they have led to peace between those countries.
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