As soaring gas prices cast a shadow over American wallets, military veterans took to the streets of Lansing, Michigan, on Friday to voice their frustrations. Demonstrating outside a local gas station, the veterans decried not only the rising costs but also the U.S. military’s ongoing involvement in the conflict in Iran, calling for an end to the war and reforms in veteran healthcare.

With the recent 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks serving as a somber backdrop, veterans from various branches of the military joined forces to express their broader concerns. They argued that the U.S. is once again involved in a conflict without a clear purpose, drawing parallels to their own experiences two decades ago.

Steve Monti, a veteran who enlisted right after 9/11 and served in Iraq, articulated the dissonance felt by many. “I was fighting for freedom, peace, democracy, oil—I couldn’t tell,” he recounted. “Twenty-three years later, I’m still unsure what we accomplished, whose lives were improved.”

As new gas price records are set amid increasing military expenses, Monti raised thorny questions. “Are we better off? Is gas cheaper? Do we feel more secure?” he asked, asserting that it is the working class who is left to shoulder the financial burden of these conflicts.

The frustrations felt by veterans intersect with growing economic concerns. Inflation and rising costs have led many voters to reassess their political allegiances as they gear up for the upcoming elections.

At the rally, organized by the Ingham County Democratic Party alongside groups like Common Defense and Indivisible Michigan’s 7th Congressional District chapter, speakers directed their ire at Republican Congressman Tom Barrett of Charlotte. His constituents are voicing dissatisfaction with his handling of both military funding and veteran healthcare issues.

Barrett has faced criticism for his mixed voting record regarding war powers, including votes against resolutions aimed at limiting military operations. These resolutions were narrowly defeated in the Senate, despite Barrett’s later support for different measures asserting Congress’s war powers.

Critics, including Barrett’s opponent in the upcoming election, Lansing political organizer William Lawrence, have accused him of hypocrisy. “He voted against limiting Trump’s war powers,” remarked retired Army Command Sergeant Major Duane Kleinhardt, pointing out that Barrett’s actions contradict his current calls for withdrawal.

In an interview, Barrett defended his actions, stating his initial votes were in line with the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires troops to be withdrawn within 60 days unless Congress grants an extension. “I take the issue of war very seriously,” he added, leveraging his own military background to emphasize the weight of such decisions.

Lawrence’s campaign further highlighted Barrett’s votes in support of a massive $95 billion budget framework that allocated significant funds for military operations, igniting concerns among veterans. “He could have been the one vote that stopped it, and he allowed it to continue,” Lawrence stated emphatically.

But Barrett countered that the funding was aimed at troop readiness and did not specifically mention Iran. “If Lawrence believes that funding military readiness was going to halt the war, then he’s mistaken,” Barrett replied.

In addition to military concerns, veterans expressed anxiety about the implementation of an electronic healthcare records system. Steven Friday, part of the Stop the Rollout campaign, called for a halt to the rollout, citing significant issues with performance and effective care.

Friday highlighted a recent Government Accountability Office report revealing that of 18 recommendations related to the new electronic health records, only four have been fully implemented, leaving many concerns unaddressed.

Amid these challenges, Barrett, who serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, pointed out efforts to ensure veterans receive necessary healthcare access. He mentioned recent actions to subpoena executives from Oracle Health for delays in the system’s implementation.

“I have sincere intentions to ensure we reach a point where every veteran’s healthcare needs are met,” Barrett asserted, pointing to the complexities involved in transitioning to a fully operational electronic record system.

Ultimately, the growing outcry from veterans is about more than just healthcare—it’s intertwined with larger issues of military engagement and economic stability. As the election approaches, their frustrations may well play a pivotal role in shaping local and national outcomes.

As gas prices and military funding remain central to voter concerns, the representatives of Michigan’s veterans are demanding accountability and change. Their voices echo a call for urgency in addressing not just healthcare but broader questions of national security and economic fairness.