Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) appeals to the President to help Americans avoid freezing to death

[Scuba]

[Half-Century Man]

1. And thus the lie of our dependence on foreign fossil fuels die.

The corporations wanted the regulations lowered to extract fossil fuels to EXPORT them for maximum profit. They NEVER intended for American fuel sources to benefit American citizens (other than themselves).

[badtoworse]

3. How much propane are we actually exporting?

Can you cite anything to demonstrate that propane exports are the cause of the shortage?

[Fumesucker]

4. This seems to be relevant

[Half-Century Man]

8. I am basing my statement on the contents of Ms. Baldwin's letter.

In the forth paragraph she says exports have doubled. In the fifth paragraph she asks the President to use executive powers to retard the exportation of propane during the winter.

[badtoworse]

12. I don't think it's that simple

There is more to it than just exports

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/26/us-energy-propane-usa-analysis-idUSBREA0P0K520140126

[KoKo]

2. It's an emergency for those on the edge who've already had food stamp cuts

and now to have to worry about how they pay heating bills if they haven't run out during this severe cold and could be already freezing to death in rural areas along with inner cities.

They sit there in DC doing their deals about how much to cut in Food Stamps so that Big Agra can keep some of their subsidies while people are suffering. I guess they feel it's up to the States to take care of it, though.

[scarletwoman]

5. This is no fucking joke. I live in MN, when I tried to refill my propane tank in December,

I could only get 150 gallons for my 500 gallon tank. Now the price has more than doubled, and the best I can do is get on a waiting list - for almost $6 a gallon if I'm lucky enough for them to deliver to me at all. There have been only 6 days in January so far when the HIGH temperature has been above zero.

I wear long underwear in my house, I have every blanket I own on my bed at night. WTH am I supposed to do if I can't even get any propane delivered? Much less manage to pay the price?

[moondust]

16. Electric space heaters? n/t

[scarletwoman]

18. Yes, I have an electric space heater, which I'm already using in order

to keep my thermostat set low. The thing is, even in my little 20' x 32' house, space heaters alone don't really cut it when it's 25 below zero.

[Ed Suspicious]

19. I'm not sure you understand all the issues. Pipes burst when all you have is "space heaters."

[sabrina 1]

17. Oil AND Propane have gone sky high here in NY also.

As soon as people NEED IT the MOST, that's when they raise it. The colder it gets the higher the price. This is outrageous.

It is CRUEL and criminal what is going on in this country.

We are going to use stoves next hear because aside from the outrageous cost of fuel, we do not want to fund these criminals anymore.

Also wearing jackets and gloves and whatever it takes to stay warm.

Btw, I don't think there is a shortage here, we have no problem GETTING deliveries, but each time the price goes up.

[scarletwoman]

6. *kick* dammit!

[woo me with science]

7. Cutting food stamps, cutting heating aid, pushing the TPP..

[jsr]

22. +1

[Coyotl]

9. One-third of the natural gas in ND is burned off at the well to make quick money on oil.

They just heat the air in ND!

[Beringia]

10. I like Tammy Baldwin

She always paid attention when I wrote her.

[840high]

11. kick

[Brigid]

13. A senator having to write a letter like that . . .

Truly we are fucked. Truly, irredeemably, fucked.

[jaysunb]

14. Letters like this are fairly SOP

even if there's has been other communications on the subject matter. This letter just reinforces what the Presidents cabinet person or staff have already made him aware of.

These letters are a part of the officials records and does wonders for fundraising,

[Cha]

15. Thank you, jay.

[ProSense]

20. Senators write these letters all the time

Senator Warren wrote one too.

The Senate passed a bill allocating about $500 million to LIHEAP, and the President just signed it into law.

Markey, Warren Press Obama Admin. to Release LIHEAP Funds ASAP

<...>

In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Senators argue that budgetary certitude created by passing the 2014 appropriations bill allows the department to immediately distribute the almost $490 million remaining in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Temperatures have fallen in recent weeks to dangerous levels, but home heating prices have risen more than forecast.

<...>

http://www.warren.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=319

[jsr]

21. Recommend

[ananda]

23. This is so sad. She shouldn't even have to ask.

..