June 24, 2008— Two Nevada Congressional candidates, Carl Bunce and James Smack, have expressed their outrage at House Concurrent Resolution 362, which they consider to be the first steps toward war with Iran. Bunce is a Republican candidate for Nevada’s Congressional District 3, and James Smack is a Republican running against Dean Heller in Congressional District 2. Both candidates champion strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution and favor decreasing America’s military presence around the globe.

"It seems like every day now, our Federal elected officials are finding new and creative ways to violate the Constitution,” said James Smack. “Whatever happened to having a peaceful, non-aggressive foreign policy? Isn’t that what President Bush promised in his 2000 campaign? If Congress wants to declare war on Iran, then that issue should be brought to the floor and debated, which would be Constitutional and proper."

H.R. 362 has 169 co-sponsors, including Dean Heller, Jon Porter, and Shelley Berkley from Nevada. This resolution tightens economic sanctions against Iran, including creating an international blockade to stop Iran from importing refined gasoline, subjecting all cargo entering or leaving Iran to stringent inspections, and tightening economic sanctions against Iran. Many critics believe H.R. 362 is a major step toward war with Iran. "If China were to pass a similar resolution against the United States in order to protect their financial interests, we would consider it an act of war,” said Smack.

Carl Bunce, Congressional candidate from CD 3, agreed, and expressed his concern that many members of the House of Representatives are out of touch with the desires of the American people. “Our Federal Representatives have crossed into uncharted defiance of the people's will,” Bunce said. “Over seventy percent of Americans want out of Iraq, and now our Representatives seem to presume that we would agree to another war with Iran,” he said. "The people must make their will known this August and remove these Representatives from office. War with Iran is not something that Nevada or the nation wants, needs, or can afford."

"We are pressing this country to the brink of war with Iran, and Representatives Heller, Porter, and Berkley have signed on as cheerleaders!” Smack added. "This is an outrage that needs to be stopped!"