Posted on 01/31/2008 9:00:34 AM PST by BGHater
Home heating oil dealers on Wednesday urged Congress to put extra money in the U.S. economic stimulus package to fully fund a program that helps poor families pay their expensive winter heating bills.
The New England Fuel Institute and the Petroleum Marketer's Association of America asked lawmakers to back a proposal to add $3.6 billion to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as part of the stimulus package that will send rebates to taxpayers to spur the economy.
"No one should have to choose between putting food on the table or staying warm," said Shane Sweet at the New England Fuel Institute.
More than 150 representatives from community action groups and utilities across the country went to Capitol Hill this week to push for more funding.
If the extra money is included in the stimulus package, LIHEAP funds would total $5.1 billion for this year, plus an additional $500 million in contingency funds.
With prices forecast to be up for all heating fuels this winter and home foreclosures at record levels, the poor will need assistance more than ever, the groups maintained.
Low-income families spend on average about 15 percent of their income on home energy bills, compared to 3.4 percent for all other households.
The Energy Department forecasts that households using heating oil and propane will suffer the most, spending an average 38 percent, or $551, more for heating oil this winter than last winter, with propane costs expected to be 25 percent, or $342, higher.
LIHEAP also would help pay for cooling bills this summer.
The American Gas Association on Wednesday also called for the Senate to support the funding proposal, which is sponsored by Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Republican Susan Collins of Maine.
"Increasing funding will immediately get resources out to desperately poor Americans attempting to deal with historically high energy costs and significant economic pressures," said AGA Chairman David McClanahan.
Meanwhile, a new report released by Entergy Corp shows that LIHEAP helps to stimulate the U.S. economy, as each dollar put into the program generates $5.37 of economic activity.
LIHEAP assistance gave low-income families more money to buy other essentials, according to the report. As a result, every $1 million added to LIHEAP creates 94 jobs nationally.
I think I’d save more money if I just became poor. ;]
So, in Taxsachuttus, LOW INCOME means anyone making less than $250,000 per year???
LOL! I have a bumper sticker that I have yet to put on my car, it reads:
Vote Democrat So All Can Be Poor Together!
I do have one on my laptop though.
...as part of the stimulus packa... what? Why in the hell don't they just use their "stimulus" check!!!!????
Yep, demoncraps try and remove all incentives to achieve.
I call bs on these numbers. Anyone who lives in the north or north-east spends a bunch more than 3.4% of their budget on heat in the winter.
I have a better idea...instead of recycling our tax dollars thru the gov’t, why don’t they just retroactively lower tax rates and just let us keep our own money.
So would not global warming be a good thing?
just fly a C-130 of cash across the US and dump money.
I think correct me if I’m wrong but if you make under 70 grand a year in MA you qualify for housing assistance.
Lard it up, boys, makes it that much easier for GWB to veto it...I hope.
Well to be fair we must recognize that Willard considers 200K a year middle class in a state who’s median income is 50K a year..
Yes - that’s why liberals are so stupid. We’d all save money and create less CO output if the north-northeast winters were warmer.
But, noooo, they aren’t capable of logical thought.
why do we need to pay heating bills, after all, global warming is ruining the earth....save the money for cooling needs you congressional morons...
Another thing: I escape the cold by... living in Texas.
Great, now in addition to being already designated against my will by utility companies as a charity, the government is going to do the same.
I should file for 501c(3) tax-exempt status as a charity!
The elites have already decided what the size of the pot will be, so as more greedy hands reach in, the amount the average taxpayer will receive decreases.
It started at $800 for an individual / $1,600 for a couple. It will eventually be $300/$600, just like last time.
IOW, not much of a stimulus, just like last time. And we’re being taxed on it, as if it were really income. Heck, it’s just taxes that we’ve already paid. I’d be stimulated if my taxes were reduced by a large amount, but not this carp (sp).
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